We have an IEP!!!

[danellsar]

Thank goodness!!!!! Someone finally saw what I've been seeing for 10 years, that my super smart (high average to superior range on all academics) kiddo HAS NEEDS!!!! So, starting immediately she will get 1 period of RSP with goals for organization, note taking, study skills, and help with binders and calendars and classroom management. She'll get speech 3x a week for an hour (1/2 hour with SLP and 1/2 hour with behaviorist working on cog. behavioral and pragmatics). She'll get OT 2x a week for 30 minutes working on hygeine and life skills goals, self regulation, sensory integration. She'll also qualify for county mental health service and regional center (been trying to get both for the last 6 years) so they'll give her counseling 1x a week, pay for her meds, followed by a psychiatrist LIFE LONG, pay for her social skills, pay for extended school year so she can MAYBE get ABA and cognitive behavioral therapies in the summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so overwhelming. I cried. I cannot believe how hard it was to get someone to finally see the needs.

KEEP FIGHTING!!!
Ellen

[Allegro]

Well done Mom!:

[pepperlc]

That is the best news I have heard about in awhile. This is so exciting. So glad that you got some good news for a change.
k

[anniemc2000]

Very good to hear! and it sounds like a very good plan! Great job Mom!

[dlp]

D@mn. Way to kick butt and take names!!! I didn't even think about Regioanl Center being in palay. With Regional Center support, you should qualify for respite help, which coyuld be a huge bonus for you. I am soooo happy to read this!!!!

[susan in ca]

I am very happy for you

Just wondering about some of my daughters issues that sound similar. I am also in California and even with 3 student sucess meetings they won't give me an IEP or even a 504. Even though outside testing shows ADD.She is passing everything with at least C's and they say as long as passing they can't do anything. Yet teacher says her grades would definately be higher but she's not always turning in assignments,not remembering to bring books needed for homework etc...She is only in 4th but I have no doubt middle school and up are going to be torture. She has issues with impulsiveness and it affects frienships and socially and would love to have Social skills group but can't afford one and our HMO offers very few options.
How were you able to finally get something done even though she was "passing"?

Susan

[NancyR]

Way to go Ellen!! Woo hooo!!!!

Wonderful!!! It will lighten your burden knowing your dd is in good hands, receiving the support she needs!

congratulations on a job well done!! XOXO!! N

[chaya]

I am so glad to hear this good news!

Hi Ellen - Thank you for sharing this good news. FYI, we have similar life-skill training on our IEP, and it has helped.

[danellsar]

Just wondering about some of my daughters issues that sound similar. I am also in California and even with 3 student sucess meetings they won't give me an IEP or even a 504. Even though outside testing shows ADD.She is passing everything with at least C's and they say as long as passing they can't do anything. Yet teacher says her grades would definately be higher but she's not always turning in assignments,not remembering to bring books needed for homework etc...She is only in 4th but I have no doubt middle school and up are going to be torture. She has issues with impulsiveness and it affects frienships and socially and would love to have Social skills group but can't afford one and our HMO offers very few options.
How were you able to finally get something done even though she was "passing"?

Susan

Susan- Tell them to qualify her under "other health impaired" or "autistic-like". You need to come in able to show DIRECT negative impact on her educational program, and if possible, grades that have dropped over time. My dd went from a 3.6 GPA in the middle of 9th grade to a 2.3 GPA now. Some negative impacts can be: inability to work in a group setting, needing to leave the room due to noise/sensory issues, unable to organize self and assignments, assignments being done late/not at all due to poor organization skills, few or no social contacts impacting classroom performance, impulsiveness in the classroom, disrupting others in the classroom.

Also, our social skills is paid for under our HMO's mental health coverage as "group psychotherapy" and counseling. It's one of the few things they will cover.

Good luck!
Ellen

[susan in ca]

Thanks Ellen

I actually contacted CHADD last night (ADHD orginization) spoke to them this morning and got lots of great refferals. I am now waiting for a call back from a California advocacy group.I am determined to get this child the help she needs.
It is so overwhelming and exhausting to deal with but I just have to be persistant. I am not being told the correct info from the school and I am not going to back down just need to learn how to do this right.

Daughter was crying this morning at drop off because she forgot library books and teacher would make her miss recess.I brought books to school but I am against teacher keeping her in at recess for any reason.She needs the break.She has been kept in 3 days this week because of incomplete homework. She is going to get accomadations!!!

[danellsar]

Susan- What part of the state are you in? So much of how your kiddo gets treated depends on large vs. small districts, and on finding therapists who have advanced training working with certain populations. I think CHADD will give you great advice.

You should be able to get mods to homework in her 504 (we had that). Ask that there be no penalty for homework or assignments turned in late, up to the end of the grading period. Your dd and her teacher can set up an assignment sheet where each thing is listed and then checked off when it's completed. The teacher will not like this, because it means she has to go back and regrade something or re-enter a grade, but it is a pretty standard modification for kids with executive functioning issues (organization, etc). I agree, kids with special needs should not have to lose recess because of homework.
Ellen

[Troy]

Way to go! You so deserve this good news!

[chaya]

Thanks for the info on the homework modification

You should be able to get mods to homework in her 504 (we had that). Ask that there be no penalty for homework or assignments turned in late, up to the end of the grading period. Your dd and her teacher can set up an assignment sheet where each thing is listed and then checked off when it's completed. The teacher will not like this, because it means she has to go back and regrade something or re-enter a grade, but it is a pretty standard modification for kids with executive functioning issues (organization, etc). I agree, kids with special needs should not have to lose recess because of homework.Ellen[/QUOTE]

WOW! This is so interesting to me. We have such issues at my son's school with detention for not completing homework, even though my son has an IEP. The school says that they are preparing my 4th grader for middle school, but he is so very stressed out about the possibility of getting detention. I had posted about the homework issue awhile ago on the PAI Board, but I probably will post about it on this board in the near future.

[Reese14]

Such good news

It couldn't come at a better time.

I think of you and hold your family close in my prayers. I admire your strength, through everything, you are still able to balance the needs of your children. You are an inspiration, Ellen.

[trek]

Glad you were able to get such fantastic help. With all that is going on you deserve some

Everyone else-it truly depends on district/state sadly it does despite federal education law.