Cross Post from Community Board re: IEP meeting

[punkin]

My DD15 has severe anxiety (due to Tourette's Syndrome). She has been seeing a psychiatrist for it and the psychiatrist is of the opinion that a lot of her anxiety can be reduced if she had extra time on tests. OK, so I write the school and request that. They schedule this meeting next week. What is going to be discussed? All I have is a letter from the psychiatrist. No other testing or anything.

Now keep in mind that my child is in 10th grade taking 5 honors classes, one AP and one regular class. For next year she is registered for 2 APs and 5 honors. Her grades are: 3 As; 2 Bs; and 2 Cs. Are they going to laugh me out of there?

I have never done anything like this before and I could use some help knowing what to expect and what I should do to prepare.

 

[SueM in MN]

If there is no other testing, they will probably just discuss the subject of extra time for the tests. They may say that she doesn't need extra time and that their opinion is based on her grades.
But, it sounds like you are not asking for extra time because she is not doing well, but because extra time would help her to decrease her anxiety.
I'd be prepared with what signs of increased anxiety in your DD might look like and how you hope the extra time might impact that - things like, even though she is apparently doing well on tests, is she experiencing increased Tourette's symptoms when she is under stress?
Is the school already aware she has Tourette's?
Is she getting already getting any accomodations for her Tourettes?

Also, if it would help you, you are entitled to bring a support person for yourself. This website (www.pacer.org) has good information. The PACER Center is based in Minnesota, but it is a resource for the whole country.

Here are some things from the PACER site that might be helpful to you:
self advocacy for teens
pre-planning for an IEP meeting(this is kind of aimed at parents of younger kids, but might still be helpful)
Be your own best advocate
There used to also be one about what to expect in an IEP meeting, but they recently re-did their website and I can't find it.

 

[punkin]

If there is no other testing, they will probably just discuss the subject of extra time for the tests. They may say that she doesn't need extra time and that their opinion is based on her grades.
But, it sounds like you are not asking for extra time because she is not doing well, but because extra time would help her to decrease her anxiety. Yes, that's it exactly. I will use your words at the conference.
I'd be prepared with what signs of increased anxiety in your DD might look like and how you hope the extra time might impact that - things like, even though she is apparently doing well on tests, is she experiencing increased Tourette's symptoms when she is under stress? Yes, she does
Is the school already aware she has Tourette's? No. It was really never an issue before this year. Now her tics and vocalizations are getting worse and her anxiety was always high but it was usually centered at home. Now for the first time her psychiatrist thinks school is making it worse.
Is she getting already getting any accomodations for her Tourettes?

Also, if it would help you, you are entitled to bring a support person for yourself. This website (www.pacer.org) has good information. The PACER Center is based in Minnesota, but it is a resource for the whole country.

Here are some things from the PACER site that might be helpful to you:
self advocacy for teens
pre-planning for an IEP meeting(this is kind of aimed at parents of younger kids, but might still be helpful)
Be your own best advocate
There used to also be one about what to expect in an IEP meeting, but they recently re-did their website and I can't find it.

Thank you for the links. I will look them over.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Sue's given some good advice.

As well, know that she will need different documentation for the College Board (the company that does AP tests) to get extra time. My memory was that it was not all that different from the letter you have, but I think it may have had to be on their form. I have mobility issues that include very slow fine motor and got approval to take my APs using my laptop for essays instead of handwriting (which would have been disastrous) and they gave me both that and extended time (I didn't use it) with really no hassle. One thing, however, is that if she's taking any APs this spring, this documentation needs to be done ASAP. I think mine had to be done by the end of March.

Good luck!

 

[punkin]

Sue's given some good advice.

As well, know that she will need different documentation for the College Board (the company that does AP tests) to get extra time. My memory was that it was not all that different from the letter you have, but I think it may have had to be on their form. I have mobility issues that include very slow fine motor and got approval to take my APs using my laptop for essays instead of handwriting (which would have been disastrous) and they gave me both that and extended time (I didn't use it) with really no hassle. One thing, however, is that if she's taking any APs this spring, this documentation needs to be done ASAP. I think mine had to be done by the end of March.

Good luck!

Thanks, yes. She is taking the Government AP. Even if we are too late for that, she could at least get some accommodation for next year.

 

[BCBug]

I second the suggestion of contacting Pacer. My sister turned me on to Pacer; she lives in the Twin Cities, and has used them for her DS. I called them, explained my DS's situation, and they set me up with a similar agency here in Iowa. We were given an advocate, who helped tremendously! Our advocate made suggestions for the IEP meeting, accompanied us there, and helped with follow-up. I got the phone number off the Pacer website, it is definitely worth a call!

 

[punkin]

Thanks. I will look at that too.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Okay I am going to hit you with a lot of quiestions. How old is the child in quiestion. Do you have an IEP or 504. Has the child been coded in anywa. A child can be coded and recieve one of these plans if the anxiety affects her ability to learn. Contact a local educational advocacy center they can help with this. Make sure that the agency you contact is a nonprofit charitable foundation. If you are not sure where to go contact the disability rights center in your state they should be able to give you the name of a few good ones. If all else fails go to wrightslaw.com they can point you in the right direction. Just because a person is inteligent doesn't mean they don't need help in certain areas. There are all kinds of supports out there. You just need to know who to ask.

 

[punkin]

Okay I am going to hit you with a lot of quiestions. How old is the child in quiestion. Do you have an IEP or 504. Has the child been coded in anywa. A child can be coded and recieve one of these plans if the anxiety affects her ability to learn. Contact a local educational advocacy center they can help with this. Make sure that the agency you contact is a nonprofit charitable foundation. If you are not sure where to go contact the disability rights center in your state they should be able to give you the name of a few good ones. If all else fails go to wrightslaw.com they can point you in the right direction. Just because a person is inteligent doesn't mean they don't need help in certain areas. There are all kinds of supports out there. You just need to know who to ask.

Sorry, didn't see this earlier. Was at Disney She's 15 in 10th grade. Not coded, no IEP or 504. The meeting actually took place last week and the only thing they agreed to do was to let the teachers "informally" give her extra time on tests. All she has to do is request it in advance. That means no IEP (which I do not really think she needs anyway) and no 504. This is fine for now and we will see how it goes. It still does not help me with getting anything done with the college board. I need more documentation for that. I have looked at wrightslaw and they have a link to a local organization. I will contact them and see what they suggest.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

For the College Board stuff you might want to look at http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/index.html which talks about the requirements in terms of documentation and everything else for students with disabilities who require things like extra time. One thing to know is that if you do get extra time approved, any test she uses it on through the College Board (SATs, APs, etc.) will be "flagged" as having been taken using non-standard testing accommodations so that anyone who receives the scores (such as colleges) will know that she had extra time or some other accommodation.

 

[punkin]

Is there a problem applying to college if the test is "flagged"? I would think that would be discriminatory. I am not sure what to do at this point anyway. I think I will just wait a while and see if the extra time even helps her at all before I start making waves and screaming.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I didn't have any problems with applying to colleges with the flag. I think it's just their way of letting colleges know that testing conditions weren't exactly the same as anyone else and therefore not as completely "standard" (since it's "standardized testing"). Putting the flag is not discrimminatory, but for a college to make a decision based on the flag would be.

 

[punkin]

Thanks, that's really helpful to know.


I hope the extra time on her tests helps. She is so nervous about school that her tics are just about getting unmanageable. I am on the verge of medicating and I have avoided doing that for 10 years.

 

[punkin]

I just wanted to update in case anyone is interested. DD asked for extra time right before the end of the last quarter on some of her tests. She got two As in Math pulling her average up to a B, and and two As and a B in her AP class. Her average in that is still a C, but just barely below a B. She pulled Bs in Biology and French. She got As in her other 3 classes. She is on honor roll this quarter. I am very proud of her.

Her tics have not gotten better, but she seems less anxious about tests.

 

[bookwormde]

Congratulations for getting your daughter the accommodations she needs to show her talents, and congratulate her for all the hard work to get through the honors/AP classes, been there done that and it is not easy.

Sounds like a good excuse for a mother/daughter getaway to WDW this summer to celebrate.

bookwormde

 

[av8trx]

Just reading your thread and sympathize with you. My daughter is only 10 but has severe lyme disease which causes anxiety and severe headaches. When I asked about an IEP for her when we entered public school(3rd) I basically got the same response but no one felt she needed accomodations. She did fine but did end up with and IEP as she was identified as gifted which in Kansas qualifies for an IEP. Sounds like your daughter has a great deal on her shoulders and in spite of it is succeeding in school which is awesome! The IEP did make a tremendous difference in her school day- the school pretty much adusted her day schedule and every class- Many of her tests were eliminated all together as they caused her so much stress and she was simply evaluated to make sure she knew the material completely- much easier to do in fourth grade than 10th. Even with all these changes she still had so much trouble with self impossed stress that we decided to homeschool her. What a tremendous difference it has made in all our lives. She is relaxed and learning has become exciting and fun again. I know in our school system there are many choices especially with AP classes do do a half day at school and a half day at home working independently( usually through the internet). Don't know if it even an option in your area but it has worked out great for many people we know. You are still technically a full time student you just have more flexibility in your day.

 

[punkin]

Sounds like a good excuse for a mother/daughter getaway to WDW this summer to celebrate.
bookwormde

Ha, I actually was sort of planning a family trip in June. We'll see.

Just reading your thread and sympathize with you. My daughter is only 10 but has severe lyme disease which causes anxiety and severe headaches. When I asked about an IEP for her when we entered public school(3rd) I basically got the same response but no one felt she needed accomodations. She did fine but did end up with and IEP as she was identified as gifted which in Kansas qualifies for an IEP. Sounds like your daughter has a great deal on her shoulders and in spite of it is succeeding in school which is awesome! The IEP did make a tremendous difference in her school day- the school pretty much adusted her day schedule and every class- Many of her tests were eliminated all together as they caused her so much stress and she was simply evaluated to make sure she knew the material completely- much easier to do in fourth grade than 10th. Even with all these changes she still had so much trouble with self impossed stress that we decided to homeschool her. What a tremendous difference it has made in all our lives. She is relaxed and learning has become exciting and fun again. I know in our school system there are many choices especially with AP classes do do a half day at school and a half day at home working independently( usually through the internet). Don't know if it even an option in your area but it has worked out great for many people we know. You are still technically a full time student you just have more flexibility in your day.

Homeschooling will not work for DD. She LOVES school. She does very well socially and has lots of friends. Every time I have brought up homeschooling, she thinks I'm trying to punish her. She wants to be "normal" and even fought me somewhat on this extra time thing because her friends might make fun of her. At this point in her life, social acceptance is a lot more important to her than academics. She's brilliant (IMO) which is why she has been able to do so well academically for so long without any accommodation, but her course load is really tough and she took even tougher courses for next year (she has 2 APs, Eng. Lit. and World Hist.). Anyway, that's where we are.