Whatever feelings you have about what would be good for your son need to be heard...there may be another side to it, but I believe we know our kids best - and your voice should matter - to everyone involved in your IEP.
Thats what I am doing but I dont feel my son responded well to the school. In my heart I feel its the wrong place for him. I went to a full inclusion program and he went and followed along. In his class there would be four disabled students. I know that is a place for him. I want a home therapy program for him rather then the school.
What is ABA? can it be set up at home?
It's so hard to do anythign when your a single mom!!
My ds and I qualified for financial help to have my ds in daycare when not in school when I was working full time. I had before school, then a taxi then daycare paid.
Now I don't work he goes to daycare p/t and the gov't pays for it as a "social need" called social/medical form. Call your local child subsidy program to see if you can get some help. Also counselling services may be able to hook you up with respit money.
I left my job because the school was slacking and not taking me or ds seriously :( I was too busy at work (busy law firm) and so the school didn't want to bother me. Now I am there everyday, it is a bit better, just still miles to go.
You should qualify for an advocate as well to help with the school.
What does she need an advocate for? The school placed the child in the appropriate program in their school district, according to their district's proticals. 8:15 to 2:20 p.m. is considered a full day. Revisit the issue of placement in six months to a year. Schools and doctors disagree all the time. She wasn't denied services. She just didn't get the child in the mainstream like she wanted and she thought the school day was longer. Those are not violations of the IDEA.
Tammy
[QUOTE=andysmama]It was a disaster they did not give any consideration to a fully included program!
They said he could not do a regular program in regular school he seemed to do well when we visited.
[/QUOTE]
Advocate for a fully included program :)
Once again that is not a violation of IDEA. Violations are denying the kid access to a free education. They didn't do that. Violations is not following the IEP , they didn't do that either. Look at MIchelle and her problems with the school district. They openly violate Tyler's IEP. And she can't get any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And according to the school they placed that kid in the appropriate program. That is not a violation, pure and simple.
Tammy
tHEY HAD ALREADY HAD THERE MIND MADE UP AND THE GOALS ARE RATHER LOW.
THE SCHOOL psychologist said before that all they would offer me is the full program and not inclusion because they do not have it.
MY THING MY SON USUSALLY RESPONS AND DID NOT TO THEM. i AM LOOKING OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR OTHER OPTIONS AS IF THEY COULD NOT get him to respond I do not think they would be good to work with him.
What is ABA and at three could he benefit from an intensive program??? What are the programs and treatments out there??? If I do there program I can not take another job I was offered and I will end up homeless this is my dilema sorry for posting will go away
Well, it may be a violation of IDEA if it is not the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for the child. Also, Andysmama and the doctors she has seen seem to be disagreeing on the severity of the child's disability.
I'm guessing that Andysmama's school district, and I would guess most school districts, have only one type of preschool class. This does not consider the individual child's educational needs if there is only one placement available for all preschool children. Will he have any interaction with typical peers in the placement they are suggesting for him?
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/lre.index.htm
According to the IDEA's LRE or mainstreaming policy, school districts are required to educate students with disabilities in regular classrooms with their nondisabled peers, in the school they would attend if not disabled, to the maximum extent appropriate.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/lre.osers.memo.idea.htm
This recognition that regular class placement may not be appropriate for every disabled student is reflected in the requirement that school districts make available a range of placement options, known as a continuum of alternative placements, to meet the unique educational needs of students with disabilities. This requirement for the continuum reinforces the importance of the individualized inquiry, not a "one size fits all" approach, in determining what placement is the LRE for each student with a disability. The options on this continuum must include "the alternative placements listed in the definition of special education under § 300.17 (instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions). " 34 CFR §300.551 (b) (1).
If Andysmama disagrees with the school's assessment of her son then she can request an Independent Educational Evaluation. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.iee.steedman.htm
Andysmama,
I think the first thing you should do is to find someone who can help you to evaluate this situation objectively. I would advise you to call your local Autism Society, explain the situation, and ask if they can give you the phone number for a parent advocate. All states have a parent advocate organization.
Also, you want to get a copy of all tests and evaluations done by the school if you don't already have them. You may as well go ahead and ask for his whole file. You want to do this in writing. This link tells about the importance of establishing a paper trail. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/ltrs.index.htm
At the bottom of this link are examples of various types of letters you may need to write to the school. One is a letter to request the file. Make sure to say in your letter that you need the file in order to be an informed member of the IEP team, and as such you need it as soon as possible. http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/parent/pa9txt.htm
Once you have the copies of the school's assessments, this is when you need someone objective, and at least somewhat knowledgable about evaluations, to help you go over them. If after reviewing the school's assessments with someone else, you still disagree with the school's classification of your child, then ask for an Independent Evaluation. But you really need someone to help you in deciding this, as you are very emotional right now, plus you are just beginning your IEP journey.
And having said that, remember that you do not want to establish an adversarial relationship with the school. These are people you will need to deal with for a very long time. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.probs.protect.htm
You can't just say to the school that this is what you want for your child, and it is best for you because you work. They don't have to provide what is best for you or your child, they only have to provide what is "appropriate". You must give them concrete evidence that what they are proposing is not appropriate, and does not meed the unique educational needs of your child.
I would advise you to spend some time on the Wrightslaw web site, and if you can get their book "From Emotions to Advocacy". Also, I think it is great that you are going to talk to a counselor. That should be very helpful for you right now in this time of emotional upheaval.
I have an advocate through TASK I will speak with today to set up an appointment well in amonth I will be moving at this point. I have decided that I have an opportunity to put my son in a community activity this summer and I will look outside the school district for an appropriate placement I am interested in Homeschooling and found a group on homeschoolers with autism group.
I will look into ABA and see if I can move in the next two months so my son can be near where I work.
the school district also has to list in the IEP the placements that were considered and the reasons for rejecting/accepting that palcement.. which is a great place to start from if you disagree with the placement.How will you be able to homeschool and work at the same time?Reply I am looking to get into real estate go with the full inclusion child care a few hours a day and work out of the home. Mom and uncle are a great helpThe thing that concerns me the most is they say they kids need structure and routine yet in the next four months he would be at four different schools. . .That alone would cause regression in my son.
It was a disaster they did not give any consideration to a fully included program! They said it is my problem if I can not hold a job
I would place my son as mildly autism but they said severely autistic. The doctors would say mild! They want him in a full time program from 8:15 to 2:20 pm five days a week. They said he could not do a regular program in regular school he seemed to do well when we visited.
They don't care how it financially impacts you. . . .how do you keep hope and help your child and work when they require him much. He likes going to the beach when will he have time for FUN! it seems life is over for fun. . . . I dont see how I can provide financially and do what they ask!
Can I educate my self get group interaction for my son? Can I learn ABA? What works? Anyone Home intervention and do a private preschool?
I am going to go seem a counselor as this is hard to take as a single mom! What do I do next? I do not want special day class I want full inclusion how do you consider options? When you have no money? I wish I can curl up and go away but I can't my son needs me. I broke down and cused at them!
Any positive things in a non positive world?
Andy's mom,
I'm sorry you are having a hard day and can only say things will get better. First of all... No matter what anyone is saying....Dr.s, schools whatever..... they are all agreeing on one thing... your son is delayed.... they aren't arguing that... just to the degree. At this stage in the game I say this... your son is young and even if he is only mild... any therapy and help they are willing to give him right now... take it... I know you want him in full inclusion school... but believe me, that isn't always the greatest if your kid has the MILDEST of a delay in any area.... because then the full inclusion program doesn't want to cater to your kids needs always, look up some of the other mothers threads about IEP meetings and schools... they are struggling to get thier kids services. That sounds like a lot of school time to me also, but... there is a plus side to it... if your son is in school from 8:15-2:20 five days a week.... you can get a job working from 9am- 1:30pm... that's 4 1/2 hours a day.... 22 1/2 hours a week.... that you don't have to find a sitter for him and pay extra money for a sitter. If you need to work full time you can get another part time job on the weekends maybe. That way during the week when you pick him up from school you can designate that time for fun time... go to the beach, get ice cream, go to the park, for an hour or 2... you'll still be home by 5ish.... if you don't need to work full time than weekeneds can be the fun time for beach and other activities. Things are not impossible, they just need planning and stradigizing.... my best friend is a single mom of 2 girls who are now 5 and 6 years old. She has been thier only parent since they were a year and 2 years old. They go to school full time, She works 40-50 hours a week plus makes sure she spends a lot of quality time with them...taking them to the beach, out to ice cream, or to the park *winks*. Being a single mom is one of the hardest things in the world... in my opinion... THE hardest.... but it's not impossible. You'll be tired, but that comes with being a mom I think. Don't give up, just take time to get emotional and freak out, then gather yourself and make a plan of attack.