Since it is more restrictive she very well might not need it. You can ask to have a program review after 30 days to determine if she needs the extra support or not.
My 14 year old PDD-NOS daughter was just recommended for an out-of-district placement at a place we are very pleased with. Now the new place says they will not accept her without her 1 on 1 aide. My school district is saying she does not need one in the new placement because it is much more restricted and everyone in the building is well trained. My daughter has been suspended 4 times this school year...the first time ever in her whole life.....and each incident has been with her 1 on 1 aide except for the last. That incident started with the aide, then my daughter hit 2 other teachers. I think maybe she feels too confined with an aide by her side. Also, we have upped her medication just a bit to take the edge off and she has not been aggressive at all. Does anyone has any opinion on this? I need to convince the new school that my daughter truly does not need an aide and to give her a chance.
Thanks :)
Phyllis
IMHO, I would work VERY closely with the prescribing doctor to make sure your daughter's med levels are appropriate. At puberty, between the onset of hormones and my son's growth spurts, we needed to just about double his meds over a period of about a year. It made ALL the difference. At age 14, your daughter's aide should be faded anyway, in an attempt to make her more independent. See if you can get the District to provide an aide for a short period of time with a review built into the IEP. Have them review the need for the aide after the first quarter and, at that point, begin to fade the aide so that your daughter will be on her own by Christmas. During this process, it will become CLEAR if she needs an aide or not. Of course, you can try it the other way around if the school is willing and your daughter REALLY does not WANT an aide. If the school rejects her without an aide, you can make a case that the SD is not providing her with an appropriate placement. If this is a program you think is right for her, I'd let her go without an aide, if the school is willing, rather than jeopardize the placement. Just make SURE there is a DAILY communication with her teacher(s) so that you can call and emergency CSE to get her an aide should things go south. And put the Distirct on written notice that this is what you expect of them -- turning around on a DIME if your daughter does need an aide. I will pm you.
It sounds to me like she doesn't want the aide. See if they will try it on a trial basis...that usually gets my foot in the door at least. Give it 2-4 weeks.We fade out Sarah aide and I was scared to death..actually waited outside her classroom for a whole week peaking in to see if she was handling things and do what all the other kids were doing.. she did great! It was more of an issue for me to let the therapist stop going than ever for her. The love to be independent:) Hopefully the teachers are open in communicating with you how she does for your own anxieties:)
Good luck!
Shelley