IEP Meeting today! | Autism PDD

Well, today is the day. I've had these meeting before, but because of his cleft and his special needs because of that (speech therapy he has had since 18 months).

This is the first meeting after the psychological eval and the OT eval, and this is the one that is going to set up the OT, recommend his school placement (more then likely a program they have here for kindergarteners and 1st graders on the autism spectrum), and possibly be assigned a one-on-one.

I'm a bit nervous, but looking forward to it as well. He really needs the extra help - there is no way he is going to be ready for kindergarten, not a chance, and the OT from what I hear will benefit the SID greatly.

Good Luck.

Sounds like you are on the right track. I am jealous that you have a special K program for ASD kids!

Let us know how it goes.
SInce you are in NY, when there is the transition to kindergarten meeting, make sure you have him classified under autism. He'll have more guarantees that way, especially in speech. I would try to get a recommendation for a neurologist who is quite familiar with autism, even if you're not sure he has it. Better than going to a neurologist who really doesn't understand autism -- and not all do. Please keep us posted.My son's behavior is worse in the large classroom than it is in smaller classrooms. Such as when he is in the large mainstream classroom he stims more, is more noncompliant, won't interact with the kids etc., tantrums more frequently etc. This could be some of the problem you are seeing or I could be totallly off base too. I am sorry that you got upsetting news and hope that you get some answers soon. Yeah, that must have been hard to hear. I've had similar comments about my daughters. We see them interact at home, even at the playground, and we wonder how it could be that, according to the school, they are competely aloof in class, even to the point of not acknowledging each other.

[QUOTE=tzoya]SInce you are in NY, when there is the transition to kindergarten meeting, make sure you have him classified under autism. He'll have more guarantees that way, especially in speech. I would try to get a recommendation for a neurologist who is quite familiar with autism, even if you're not sure he has it. Better than going to a neurologist who really doesn't understand autism -- and not all do. Please keep us posted.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely tzoya - that is what they are classifying him under now so that he can receive all possible services, and I'm all for it. He needs all the extra help he can get.

great.

The IEP meeting was interesting. The psychologist said
when she observed my son in his classroom setting, his behavior was
very different then what she observed in the evaluation. She said
his rocking, humming, refusing to interact or participate was quite
disturbing, and much more prevalent then when she saw him in her office.

She then went back to previous evaluations he has had
since the age of 2, and is very concerned about his severe
regression, and I have been instructed to get him into a neurologist
as soon as I can get an appointment.

He is also getting a recommendation for Occupational Therapy 2 days a
week, and a one-on-one teacher's aide to be with him in the classroom
(although there is a waiting list for that.) After the neurological,
we will meet back again. He will also be recommended for a special
eduction year-round program.

Hearing about his behavior in the classroom was rough. Apparently he is stimming constantly, is in his own world, and will not make any eye contact with the teachers or any of his classmates.

NYMommyof339085.5234259259NYMommy. I understand how hard that is for you to hear. Adam was basically good at home with us. From what we understood. He was our first child. But in school. He never talked. Not one word. Stimmed. Did not participate and sounds alot like your son. He also interacted pretty well with the testers one on one. But when they tested him with another child he just sat next to him and didn't talk or interact at all. It was very hard to hear. But he is doing much better now.

Better now then later, I know how hard it must be , at least you know and can move on with the help he needs,

God bless and good luck

NYMommy,

Hope things become clearer soon. Take care!

After thinking things over, I'm wondering about something that maybe we overlooked in the meeting yesterday.

My child had 2 major surgeries in the past year. One in February 2006 and another in November 2006. This was more cleft surgery - the first time for a pharangyeal flap that was supposed to help him speak sounds he was unable to make, and the second one was to redo that operation in a different way as the other operation was unsuccessful (it has a 95% success rate - my poor babe was in the 5%), as well as to basically redo his original cleft surgery that was done when he was an infant, as there was so much scar tissue that needed to be removed.

As I stated, when we were in the meeting yesterday they previous evaluations were read and there was a marked regression from the ones done at the ages of 3 and 3 1/2 to how he is now - he is 4 yrs, 8 months. Because regression in regards to autism usually display itself at 2 1/2 (correct?), they want him in to see the neurologist to make sure there isn't any kind of brain injury that could be causing this severe regression.

But the more I think about it, is it a possibility the regression just wasn't noticed, because we (teachers and myself) attributed many of his behaviors to the surgeries and the recoveries. OR - could something have possibly happened in the OR that may have caused this?

Thinking out loud here, wondering if anyone has any ideas or opinions. I did call the psychologist that evaluated him and left a message on her voice mail about the possibility.