IEP tips

[lisadoll93]

We go in a few weeks and I was wondering if anyone had any advice? words to avoid or key words to say.

Thanks!!!

 

[cymomtx]

It would help if you could describe your child and what their disability and needs are.

 

[lisadoll93]

sorry about that. DS is almost 4. He is a HFA with servere speech delay, some behavorial and social issues. He needs ST, OT and our goal is to have in mainstreamed in 2 years. Right now, he is attending a private immersion preschool. I want to keep him in that school 2 days and in the school dist. autist class for 3 days.

Thanks

 

[pcparamedics01]

We go in a few weeks and I was wondering if anyone had any advice? words to avoid or key words to say.

Thanks!!!

Can you give me more info? Who are you bringing to the meeting or is it just youself? What is your child's disability, age, grade, what are you trying to accomplish? Thanks!

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

my advice...document EVERYTHING!!!

and people always remind me that it's all about 'appropriate' and not 'best'

Good luck!!!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

sorry about that. DS is almost 4. He is a HFA with servere speech delay, some behavorial and social issues. He needs ST, OT and our goal is to have in mainstreamed in 2 years. Right now, he is attending a private immersion preschool. I want to keep him in that school 2 days and in the school dist. autist class for 3 days.

Thanks

Do you know if your district allows kids to attend their class for just part of the week? I'm asking because in our district, we don't admit kids unless they come 5 days a week. We've had parents ask if they can do a partial week and the psychologist explains that it's too hard to work on the child's goals if they don't come every day. It's also hard for the child to transition between programs during the week. Perhaps you've already discussed this with your district and it won't be a problem. I'm just giving you a heads-up in case it turns out to be an issue.

I second the idea of writing everything down that you think is important. Write down which services are agreed upon including frequency and duration of each session. For example, if the district says 2 weekly speech sessions of 30 minutes each, write that down and who said it during the meeting. Things have a strange habit of changing once you get the final copy of the IEP form. Ask if missed therapy sessions will be made up - like if the therapist is sick or late. Also, ask the procedure for requesting make-up sessions (phone call, writing, etc.). Another important thing to ask is if OT and speech will be individual or in groups. Some parents are surprised when they hear their child is grouped with 1 or 2 other students for some sessions. They assume it will always be individual but that's not always the case.

At the end of the meeting, you'll be asked to sign the IEP form. Don't hesitate to take time to read it over before signing. Ask questions if anything looks different than what was discussed. Don't feel pressured to sign it right away if you're feeling uneasy about it. Good luck! I'm sure it will be fine!

 

[pcparamedics01]

sorry about that. DS is almost 4. He is a HFA with servere speech delay, some behavorial and social issues. He needs ST, OT and our goal is to have in mainstreamed in 2 years. Right now, he is attending a private immersion preschool. I want to keep him in that school 2 days and in the school dist. autist class for 3 days.

Thanks

What about a regular ed classroom with a assistant for support? Once he is in a self contained environment it is tough to mainstream him. He can get Speech and OT in regular ed as well. Or an inclusion class. If he is HFA then he may do better in a reg ed environment. What sort of behavior issues does he have?

 

[Momof2wCF]

At the end of the meeting, you'll be asked to sign the IEP form. Don't hesitate to take time to read it over before signing. Ask questions if anything looks different than what was discussed. Don't feel pressured to sign it right away if you're feeling uneasy about it. Good luck! I'm sure it will be fine!

Remember, you don't have to sign the IEP until it is written just the way you want!
Hope things go well!

 

[belle&beast]

I am an SLP in our public school preschool and we send draft copies of IEPs a week ahead of time. That way, the parents can come prepared and nobody is surprised by the recommendations. Keep in mind that an IEP is a working document and changes are often made during the conference. If a draft copy is not offered, call and ask for one. In my state the law is that it has to be available 5 days prior to the conference.

You may also want to look into getting a parent advocate if you feel that you need the support or you are not being heard.

As far as signing, in my corporation everyone in attendance signs at the very beginning of the meeting just to document his/her presence. At the end there is a Permission to Place in Services form that is the documentation that makes the IEP active.

 

[belle&beast]

What about a regular ed classroom with a assistant for support? Once he is in a self contained environment it is tough to mainstream him. He can get Speech and OT in regular ed as well. Or an inclusion class. If he is HFA then he may do better in a reg ed environment. What sort of behavior issues does he have?

ITA! My district is total inclusion and we have found that being with typically developing peers offers kids with autism (or any disability) a great opportunity to learn from typically developing peers.

 

[pcparamedics01]

ITA! My district is total inclusion and we have found that being with typically developing peers offers kids with autism (or any disability) a great opportunity to learn from typically developing peers.

Absolutely!

 

[lisadoll93]

Thank you so much!!!

Attending the meeting his current SLP, his current preschool director(she also will run his ABA program), an advocate, both dh and I. I recieved the draft copy of his evalution with the school district. His handicapping conditions are autistic-like behaviors and language or disorder.

The pre-schools that the school had us visit. I did not care for. One was basically a free for all, student driven with a 10 to 1 ratio. 2nd was more school driven it was for mixed needs. 3rd was for autistic kids, it was quite self contained.

His current pre-school is wonderful. 4 to 1 ratio with a strong k-readiness program. Jeremiah is one of 4 ASD kids in the whole school. Social skills and peer interaction are a high priority. I would prefer he be in that school 5 days a week but $$$. The school district does not have anything like this.

Can I tell them that I did not like the choices? That the school he is currently attending are meeting his needs in the least restrictive environment. But I want speech 3x a week?

any thoughts???

 

[pcparamedics01]

Thank you so much!!!

Attending the meeting his current SLP, his current preschool director(she also will run his ABA program), an advocate, both dh and I. I recieved the draft copy of his evalution with the school district. His handicapping conditions are autistic-like behaviors and language or disorder.

The pre-schools that the school had us visit. I did not care for. One was basically a free for all, student driven with a 10 to 1 ratio. 2nd was more school driven it was for mixed needs. 3rd was for autistic kids, it was quite self contained.

His current pre-school is wonderful. 4 to 1 ratio with a strong k-readiness program. Jeremiah is one of 4 ASD kids in the whole school. Social skills and peer interaction are a high priority. I would prefer he be in that school 5 days a week but $$$. The school district does not have anything like this.

Can I tell them that I did not like the choices? That the school he is currently attending are meeting his needs in the least restrictive environment. But I want speech 3x a week?

any thoughts???

Yes you can tell them that! The three mentioned do not appear to be the least resticted environment! It sounds all self contained to me! What about an aide in the a regular preschool that you are in. You will have to pay for the tuition but you can get an aide (parapro)covered by the district. In the IEP tell them he is doing well in the pre school but needs additonal support. Like I said it is very hard to get him out of Self C once he is in there. The District will prove he is doing well there why move him to reg ed in Kindergarten. They will try to keep him in self contained in many districts. Belle and Beast is an exception. It sounds like a great school!

If you allow them to put him in self contained, now you have a track record of S.C. It is so much cheaper for the District to put your child in self contained then it would cost them in reg ed or inclusion (same thing.) The have to have an aide for your child to ensure his success. The aide costs at least 30,000. So you see where I am going with this? Be prepared. The district is a numbers cruncher and not necessarily looking out for the best interest of your child. I have a great District! I did not though with another district! Like I said I had an advocate since he was 3. If you can offord it I would not leave home without one. However, we have given you a lot of great tools to get you throught this IEP. Go in there and use all the buzz words we have given you. They tend to back off and thing you are talking to an attorney if you can talk the talk so to speak.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Thank you so much!!!

Attending the meeting his current SLP, his current preschool director(she also will run his ABA program), an advocate, both dh and I. I recieved the draft copy of his evalution with the school district. His handicapping conditions are autistic-like behaviors and language or disorder.

The pre-schools that the school had us visit. I did not care for. One was basically a free for all, student driven with a 10 to 1 ratio. 2nd was more school driven it was for mixed needs. 3rd was for autistic kids, it was quite self contained.

His current pre-school is wonderful. 4 to 1 ratio with a strong k-readiness program. Jeremiah is one of 4 ASD kids in the whole school. Social skills and peer interaction are a high priority. I would prefer he be in that school 5 days a week but $$$. The school district does not have anything like this.

Can I tell them that I did not like the choices? That the school he is currently attending are meeting his needs in the least restrictive environment. But I want speech 3x a week?

any thoughts???

Oh also. I forgot when my son was in pre school they put him in a reg ed preschool in the elementary school and gave him an aide that was assigned to him only. This is really important, ask them to put him in the district pre school with an aide and they will not be going into your private. They even like that better. There are pre-schools in every elementary school. They eat lunch with the kindergarteners etc. It will be so good for him!

 

[lisadoll93]

Oh also. I forgot when my son was in pre school they put him in a reg ed preschool in the elementary school and gave him an aide that was assigned to him only. This is really important, ask them to put him in the district pre school with an aide and they will not be going into your private. They even like that better. There are pre-schools in every elementary school. They eat lunch with the kindergarteners etc. It will be so good for him!

I love that idea. He will sit still, follow directions. But I worry he will get lost in the class. He needs one on one as much as possible. He does not fit in the special ed classes but does not quite belong in regular classes.

I wanted to be prepared as much as possible. I do not want him getting short changed because I did not know how to play the game, so to speak.

 

[pcparamedics01]

I love that idea. He will sit still, follow directions. But I worry he will get lost in the class. He needs one on one as much as possible. He does not fit in the special ed classes but does not quite belong in regular classes.

I wanted to be prepared as much as possible. I do not want him getting short changed because I did not know how to play the game, so to speak.

Okay so if you love that idea. Do not pay for a private pre school. Tell them you would like a pre school by the District and that he needs additional support. Now you do not have to pay for a private PS. Push for the aide. He will not be lost in class with the aide!!! He does belong in a reg class he just needs support. Please trust me on this!!!

 

[belle&beast]

Thank you so much!!!

Attending the meeting his current SLP, his current preschool director(she also will run his ABA program), an advocate, both dh and I. I recieved the draft copy of his evalution with the school district. His handicapping conditions are autistic-like behaviors and language or disorder.

The pre-schools that the school had us visit. I did not care for. One was basically a free for all, student driven with a 10 to 1 ratio. 2nd was more school driven it was for mixed needs. 3rd was for autistic kids, it was quite self contained.

His current pre-school is wonderful. 4 to 1 ratio with a strong k-readiness program. Jeremiah is one of 4 ASD kids in the whole school. Social skills and peer interaction are a high priority. I would prefer he be in that school 5 days a week but $$$. The school district does not have anything like this.

Can I tell them that I did not like the choices? That the school he is currently attending are meeting his needs in the least restrictive environment. But I want speech 3x a week?

any thoughts???

You definitely can tell them exactly what you want. He sounds to me like a child that would benefit from an inclusive classroom given support from a paraprofessional as pcparamedics01 said.

As far as speech 3 times per week, that may be difficult, but you never know what you can get until you try. With the kids I see that have full time aides in an inclusive classroom, generally I see them weekly and give their aides things to work on with them throughout the week. Now, I am in the classrooms almost daily, but see them specifically weekly. Of course there are exceptions, given different needs, but this is the way it works most of the time because the aides are there to target the goals throughout the school day. And I should add that I do often see kids for more time than their IEPs indicate because I am there in the building and if there is something that arises, I am there to help.

 

[pcparamedics01]

You definitely can tell them exactly what you want. He sounds to me like a child that would benefit from an inclusive classroom given support from a paraprofessional as pcparamedics01 said.

As far as speech 3 times per week, that may be difficult, but you never know what you can get until you try. With the kids I see that have full time aides in an inclusive classroom, generally I see them weekly and give their aides things to work on with them throughout the week. Now, I am in the classrooms almost daily, but see them specifically weekly. Of course there are exceptions, given different needs, but this is the way it works most of the time because the aides are there to target the goals throughout the school day. And I should add that I do often see kids for more time than their IEPs indicate because I am there in the building and if there is something that arises, I am there to help.

My son gets SLP during a lunch bunch. I will not take him out at any other time!!!!

 

[belle&beast]

My son gets SLP during a lunch bunch. I will not take him out at any other time!!!!

Oh, I should have mentioned that I do not pull kids out of the preschool classroom- I join them. It is a great way to work on social goals and to help them to use their new skills in a real environment. I work on oral motor practice during snack, I join circle and do group activities to bombard with sounds to target sound production and help with sensory integration during messy play. I really use play based therapy most of the time and follow the student's lead.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Oh, I should have mentioned that I do not pull kids out of the preschool classroom- I join them. It is a great way to work on social goals and to help them to use their new skills in a real environment. I work on oral motor practice during snack, I join circle and do group activities to bombard with sounds to target sound production and help with sensory integration during messy play. I really use play based therapy most of the time and follow the student's lead.

I love it! However my son is the 4th grade!!!