My advocate meeting is .... | Autism PDD
this Friday. 
I wished that it had happened weeks ago...but that's okay...it's steadily approaching.
This week I'm dealing with a lot. Yesterday was his 17th birthday and a few friends hit him lightly on the arm, but then a few kids that aren't his friends hit him with their knuckles really hard...over and over in class....and then told him that they would be telling others on the bus that it was his birthday so they could also do the same. Like it was some right of passage. 
We celebrated his birthday ...and put that behind us for the evening, but then this morning I went to the school....and spoke with Greg, the nurse and then the dean of boys. This is the 4th assault this school year.
I'm going to ask the advocate about seeing if it's possible to push for home bound assistance for the rest of this school year...to ask for an ESY (extended school year) that will help him catch up if possible and see if the teachers are willing to do this considering that we are still trying to figure out what is causing him to not be able to learn. I don't know what he'll recommend...but it's ridiculous that my son is afraid to ride the bus home in fear that other kids are going to punch him....and I don't want to make him more nervous by switching schools this late in the year....and there aren't any schools in this area that are a possibility nor deal with aspergers. 
I have also found some online courses and I'm going to check and see if there's a way for him to take those in lieu of actually "attending" class...and get an aid to help him with that...so he can sorta catch up if possible? I know it doesn't make sense for him to catch up...but it would be nice if not only could he catch up at this point, but if he could do online classes...and actually get ahead of the game.
Also...he has an allergy appt for Monday. He's still getting the hives...we've tried changing different things (food/detergent etc...) to see what he's allergic to, but can't figure it out. He keeps breaking out...which causes internal and external itching...which turns into the hives. Topical meds are only temp. and he's been taking Costco's allergy pills which are equivalent to benadryl...which is probably making him sleepy during class...that along with warm classes...no wonder he can't stay awake I wasn't giving them to him, but he was helping himself...since he would probably rather sleep in class than to sit there and itch so badly...and the allergy pill stopped the hives. *sigh*...will this ever end??? argh...for now...I'm going to hide the allergy pills...he'll just have to use topical stuff till we talk to the doctor. I'm hoping that the doctor can prescribe something that won't make him tired. 
Ask the advocate about possibly writing a GEBSER NOTICE about the assaults. He should be able to help you with that. I basically DEMANDS that the schools stop displaying deliberate indifference to the disability-based harassment of your son and that you DEMAND that they keep him ssafe or you will claim discrimination and seek monetary damages.
[QUOTE=tzoya]Ask the advocate about possibly writing a GEBSER NOTICE about the assaults. He should be able to help you with that. I basically DEMANDS that the schools stop displaying deliberate indifference to the disability-based harassment of your son and that you DEMAND that they keep him ssafe or you will claim discrimination and seek monetary damages. [/QUOTE]
actually he (my to be advocate for Greg) emailed me the 10 steps of the gebser notice last week ....but it was related to a different matter last week. (I had a teacher tell my son that he was going to fail even if he passed the SOL's and the final because his grades were so bad. Greg said that she pulled up his other classes and said the same thing about those core subjects). I knew he was failing them, but without having the re-evaluation done and the school to change his classification from SLD to AUT yet....I didn't think that I would get the accomodations that he needs right now....I still don't know if we can. I spoke to her today while waiting for the dean to get to us...and she's claiming that she didn't say that to him ..and that he misunderstood. However...right now she's one of the few teachers that is willing to help us catch him up to possibly pass the class....if I can get some help for him and from her....he just might pass her class ...even with a D. I'm going to speak with the advocate about that too...to see what he suggest first ...so I don't undermine anything that he proposes first.
If the advocate suggested a Gebser Notice, you're dealing with a pro. Congratulations.
The truth is that what you WANT is that your son NOT graduate from high school without the appropriate SKILLS he will need. The goal of his IEP is to prepare him to lead an independent life and be economically self-sufficient. It doesn't sound as tho he's "there" yet. As I've mentioned before, failing might be a blessing. It's only two days now until you'll be able to get the best advice from an advocate who has the file right in front of him.
YOu are lucky to have at least one teacher who is willing to really help. Cultivate that relationship as much as you can. And please get back to us about how your meeting with the advocate goes.
I know how frustrating it is, because the evaluations are the key to everything you want and need, and it takes forever to get it done. The only thing I did differently was that I paid for the IE myself to save some time, because I knew we couldn't prove anything without an IE. I was reimbursed the money as part of a mediation settlement. It's great that Dr. Ellis will do the evaluation himself. It really helped me to have a team of people working with me that I was familiar with, and who knew my son. Connor's speech therapist recommended our attorney to us because she did all of his educational evaluations. As soon as I retained him, I had her do the IE, and that evaluation is like a bible to us for getting Connor all the support he needs I got back...and then had to take Greg his tennis shoes for PE and socks too....his big ROTC inspection was today and he remembered his shirt and shorts for PE...and a change of clothes...but forgot the change of shoes and socks. If he isn't dressed properly for PE...he gets a zero.... *sigh*....got there just before gym class.
The advocate gave me homework....and upon leaving the school...Greg gave me more. (He's afraid to ride his bus home anymore...afraid that he's going to get hit or jumped). At this point...he probably doesn't want the dean of boys to make a big deal about it...because that actually makes it worse...since most of the kids will know that it was Greg that doesn't want to ride and is causing the problem....and then tease Greg more
. He so needs to get out of that school. (and no...we didn't even get to that during today's session).The advocate wants me to write to the school and request an IEE and the school to pay for it.....and name him as the psychologist that will do it. (he is a psychologist as well).
Dr. Ellis did tell me that there's a ED school nearby so that might be a possibility. I have to check that out. I spoke to the secretary...and she said that if it's in the IEP that he get 1:1..then they will provide 1:1....so we'll see...I'm not banking on that because this particular ED school may not be the school for him...but I was told I could visit..and they are just a few miles from me and the school district provides bus transportation too.
I feel like he's still stuck in limbo ...having to deal with so much already....and we'll have to continue till some testing gets done.
(sorry it took so long.....I had some business calls come in too)
I'm going crazy waiting to hear how the meeting with the advocate went! Shouldn't you be back by now?!
I hear patience is a virtue 
Since this advocate comes highly recommended, I'd opt for doing what he recommends. The truth is, a lawyer is not going to get you services for your son any faster because the lawyer will insist on your getting all the testing. Testing is the basis for proving whether the student's IEP is appropriate or not. This advocate is giving you excellent advice. Follow it. Your son won't get help any faster by going to a lawyer. The way I see it, advocates work to make all the parties come together. Lawyer work to make their clients WIN. It's a subtle difference, but I see Advocates as Peacemakers and Lawyers as Warriors. There's a place for both and there's a lot of overlap. In NY, advocates can do HEarings. I don't know about Virginia. Take this one step at a time. ANd since you're paying the advocate, call HIM when you have questions. Not that you shouldn't ask us, too. It's just that he's the one who's supposed to be advising you and he knows all the players. Let him explain himself if you're confused. Have you asked for the IEE yet?
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