IEP accommodations--anyone know? UPDATE

[kirstenb1]

This thread has made me so sad. So many opinions, with little understanding. Our younger dd has autism. We are so blessed to have friends at church, the Y, our family, and in the community who have so much grace. The grace to understand that many special needs kids have complex disorders, that no matter how much research is done, the kids still remain a mystery. The grace to never offer advice, or criticism. The grace to seek understanding, through thoughtful questions.

My fellow parents who belong to the club that none of us would willingly sign up for, may you too be surrounded with grace, and kind friends. Those of you who have been critical, may you never have firsthand knowledge of what it's like to have a child, sibling, or grandchild with significant special needs.

 

[angwill]

This thread has made me so sad. So many opinions, with little understanding. Our younger dd has autism. We are so blessed to have friends at church, the Y, our family, and in the community who have so much grace. The grace to understand that many special needs kids have complex disorders, that no matter how much research is done, the kids still remain a mystery. The grace to never offer advice, or criticism. The grace to seek understanding, through thoughtful questions.

My fellow parents who belong to the club that none of us would willingly sign up for, may you too be surrounded with grace, and kind friends. Those of you who have been critical, may you never have firsthand knowledge of what it's like to have a child, sibling, or grandchild with significant special needs.

I wouldn't take it personally because anyone with a special needs child or who cares about or for a special needs child are the ones who know because they experience it.

Ignorance of not having experienced such speaks loud when someone is hiding behind their computer monitor. It is interesting and sad to hear what goes on in some people's heads when they assume things that they have no clue about due to lack of experience.

 

[angwill]

They are taking care of it now. All the Alphasmarts are broken, so they will just make sure he has access to a computer in all his classes.

Glad it was an easy fix and things got taken care of so fast.

 

[ugadog99]

This thread has made me so sad. So many opinions, with little understanding. Our younger dd has autism. We are so blessed to have friends at church, the Y, our family, and in the community who have so much grace. The grace to understand that many special needs kids have complex disorders, that no matter how much research is done, the kids still remain a mystery. The grace to never offer advice, or criticism. The grace to seek understanding, through thoughtful questions.

My fellow parents who belong to the club that none of us would willingly sign up for, may you too be surrounded with grace, and kind friends. Those of you who have been critical, may you never have firsthand knowledge of what it's like to have a child, sibling, or grandchild with significant special needs.

My feelings exactly.

 

[torinsmom]

This thread has made me so sad. So many opinions, with little understanding. Our younger dd has autism. We are so blessed to have friends at church, the Y, our family, and in the community who have so much grace. The grace to understand that many special needs kids have complex disorders, that no matter how much research is done, the kids still remain a mystery. The grace to never offer advice, or criticism. The grace to seek understanding, through thoughtful questions.

My fellow parents who belong to the club that none of us would willingly sign up for, may you too be surrounded with grace, and kind friends. Those of you who have been critical, may you never have firsthand knowledge of what it's like to have a child, sibling, or grandchild with significant special needs.

So true! I feel like I am from another planet sometimes!

For some reason, I thought once DS was identified(which took 4 years) and had accommodations, everything would be fine. Boy, was I wrong. Because DS looks and acts like a normal kid, his diagnoses are questioned outright by teachers. He has an overall high IQ of 121, even with performing several grades below level in a few areas, and some assume intelligence precludes a learning disability. I try to be understanding, as I have been through the education classes. We spent all of two weeks on learning disabilities. I have had to educate myself for my child, and also for the ones I have had in my class(typically not identified in K, but the LDs are already there).

Yes, he somehow manages to "cheat" on every neurosychological test he does(3 school ones since he was 6, as well as a few he did for research studies), because he really wants to be different, and embarrassed when he has to ask for extra time on a test, or type when everyone else is writing.

Glad it was an easy fix and things got taken care of so fast.

Me too! I guess those who were worried about the thousands I was milking the system for can rest easy. Money never was part of the equation. That's one of the things that was bugging me the most; they have what DS needs right there at their disposal.

If DS needs a laptop for college, I will get him a netbook then. He is going to community college, b/c most 4 year colleges require higher maths he can't pass due to his learning disabilities

 

[Mermaid02]

So true! I feel like I am from another planet sometimes!

For some reason, I thought once DS was identified(which took 4 years) and had accommodations, everything would be fine. Boy, was I wrong. Because DS looks and acts like a normal kid, his diagnoses are questioned outright by teachers. He has an overall high IQ of 121, even with performing several grades below level in a few areas, and some assume intelligence precludes a learning disability. I try to be understanding, as I have been through the education classes. We spent all of two weeks on learning disabilities. I have had to educate myself for my child, and also for the ones I have had in my class(typically not identified in K, but the LDs are already there).

Yes, he somehow manages to "cheat" on every neurosychological test he does(3 school ones since he was 6, as well as a few he did for research studies), because he really wants to be different, and embarrassed when he has to ask for extra time on a test, or type when everyone else is writing.



Me too! I guess those who were worried about the thousands I was milking the system for can rest easy. Money never was part of the equation. That's one of the things that was bugging me the most; they have what DS needs right there at their disposal.

If DS needs a laptop for college, I will get him a netbook then. He is going to community college, b/c most 4 year colleges require higher maths he can't pass due to his learning disabilities

It certainly isnt' easy to navigate the waters when it comes to IEP's and 504's. We also have teachers question my ds's diagnoses because he's so smart and can appear so "normal", even though it was the schools psychologist who diagnosed him.

Nothing wrong with community college- he should be proud of all his accomplishments.

 

[kirbydog48]

I'm so glad things were resolved. I've run into the same issue with my ds about not being "believed". He has Asperger's, ADHD and many LD's including dysgraphia. Because he has such an amazing vocabulary when he speaks, people make incorrect assumptions. I ran into so many roadblocks when he was in general ed. Basically, teachers and principle felt he was being "noncompliant" when given a written task, and would keep hounding him "C'mon Z, you have to get started, etc", which only served to drive up his anxiety level. The only way he knew to deal with it at age 7-9 was to have a meltdown, which often turned physical. Now he's in a therapeutic program and doing so much better. People just don't understand what we go through. Sometimes I wonder if his teacher even read his neuropsych eval.

 

[angwill]

So true! I feel like I am from another planet sometimes!

For some reason, I thought once DS was identified(which took 4 years) and had accommodations, everything would be fine. Boy, was I wrong. Because DS looks and acts like a normal kid, his diagnoses are questioned outright by teachers. He has an overall high IQ of 121, even with performing several grades below level in a few areas, and some assume intelligence precludes a learning disability. I try to be understanding, as I have been through the education classes. We spent all of two weeks on learning disabilities. I have had to educate myself for my child, and also for the ones I have had in my class(typically not identified in K, but the LDs are already there).

Yes, he somehow manages to "cheat" on every neurosychological test he does(3 school ones since he was 6, as well as a few he did for research studies), because he really wants to be different, and embarrassed when he has to ask for extra time on a test, or type when everyone else is writing.



Me too! I guess those who were worried about the thousands I was milking the system for can rest easy. Money never was part of the equation. That's one of the things that was bugging me the most; they have what DS needs right there at their disposal.

If DS needs a laptop for college, I will get him a netbook then. He is going to community college, b/c most 4 year colleges require higher maths he can't pass due to his learning disabilities

Your son is not alone in going to community college because of the higher math requirement. Mine too has dysgraphia and processing disorder. There is nothing wrong with going to community college our children need to find the job that will work for them with their difficulties. As long as they are productive citizens is what is important.

I don't think some people realize that if they don't get the help they need from the school system using tax dollars they have a good chance of not learning to read, write, and do math which could then result in them using even more tax dollars in adulthood when they can't get a job and are dependent on public aid.

 

[daughtersrus]

For some reason, I thought once DS was identified(which took 4 years) and had accommodations, everything would be fine. Boy, was I wrong. Because DS looks and acts like a normal kid, his diagnoses are questioned outright by teachers.

Sometimes it doesn't matter if the child look and acts normal. My DD#3 is not anywhere close to normal but yet we've still had related service providers (not teachers) want to deny services. We've also had some that go above and beyond and push for things that we didn't even know existed.

Me too! I guess those who were worried about the thousands I was milking the system for can rest easy. Money never was part of the equation. That's one of the things that was bugging me the most; they have what DS needs right there at their disposal.

I'm glad that it's working out. I knew that you weren't trying to take and take away from the other students but wanted him to be able to use what was already there.

If DS needs a laptop for college, I will get him a netbook then. He is going to community college, b/c most 4 year colleges require higher maths he can't pass due to his learning disabilities

The IEP team should be helping you and your DS develop a transition plan. I did a search and came up with this link. It may be helpful for both of you.

http://www.nsttac.org/about_us/about_us.aspx

 

[2girlsmom]

OP, so glad that the simple fix got done, good luck to you and your son!

 

[NHdisneylover]

OP--I am glad the situation is resolved.

 

[torinsmom]

I'm so glad things were resolved. I've run into the same issue with my ds about not being "believed". He has Asperger's, ADHD and many LD's including dysgraphia. Because he has such an amazing vocabulary when he speaks, people make incorrect assumptions. I ran into so many roadblocks when he was in general ed. Basically, teachers and principle felt he was being "noncompliant" when given a written task, and would keep hounding him "C'mon Z, you have to get started, etc", which only served to drive up his anxiety level. The only way he knew to deal with it at age 7-9 was to have a meltdown, which often turned physical. Now he's in a therapeutic program and doing so much better. People just don't understand what we go through. Sometimes I wonder if his teacher even read his neuropsych eval.

I hear you on the vocabulary thing. In 5th grade, DS tested at a college level in vocabulary. In 8th grade, he was off the charts in the superior range. In math, although he has trouble remembering basic math facts, he is amazing at things like matrices. He has done several research studies, mainly because he has a great personality, but also because he has such variations in his scores. He will score in the 15th percentile in one area and then in the 95th percentile for something else.

I know some of DS' teachers haven't read his IEP. I have emailed teachers after seeing the "I can't read this!" on papers and the response was that the teacher didn't even know he had an IEP. I don't know whose job it is to get those to teachers, but that is really important.

Sometimes it doesn't matter if the child look and acts normal. My DD#3 is not anywhere close to normal but yet we've still had related service providers (not teachers) want to deny services. We've also had some that go above and beyond and push for things that we didn't even know existed.



I'm glad that it's working out. I knew that you weren't trying to take and take away from the other students but wanted him to be able to use what was already there.



The IEP team should be helping you and your DS develop a transition plan. I did a search and came up with this link. It may be helpful for both of you.

http://www.nsttac.org/about_us/about_us.aspx

Oh they are working on a transition plan. There is a program called vocational rehabilitation in our state. Their job is to support students with disabilities from their school life to jobs and careers. The VR person was at our meeting and told me that we may qualify for tuition assistance, technology, and job placement. They are available to help even after college. I had never heard of the program, but I told her we would be interested in finding out more about it. DS wants to go to CC for video game design and/or computers.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Torinsmom, I am so glad that this seems to be working out.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Interesting post, Wish. When the school couldn't provide the classroom experience you wanted, you decided to homeschool.

Based on your numerous posts lambasting schools and teachers, you've left many with the impression that your child is a special snowflake that must have the 'perfect' classroom.

All I can say is that you could not be any further from the truth.

I removed my son from the public school system, because, as mentioned, they refused to ANYTHING to meed my son's basic educational needs.
Not even basic SPED math instruction.

My son and his educational progress were suffering.

Assume what you will... but 'perfect classrrom for perfect snowflake'??? Not even within realm of thought.