ichigo
New Member
Hello, everyone! You have all been such a source of help, hope, inspiration for me since I found you last month. This is truly a "soft place to land."
I find myself at a crossroads today . . . difficult child has been out of school since just prior to Thanksgiving last year, following a frightening couple of days - panic attacks, cutting, disorganized thought. She was admitted to p-hospital until just before Christmas; d/c with medical directive to school for home tutoring until placed in a day treatment program.
Expecting the absolute worst from our SD, I approached the situation armed to the teeth - statements from p-doctor, therapist, caseworker, substance abuse counselor, attending p-doctor from p-hospital. SD pushed for placment at local alternative school, not day treatment. On goes the armor, out comes the sword, warrior mom on the warpath. SD's CSE chair was more than patient with me. She listened to every one of my concerns - at the time I thought merely out of politeness. But, no, she called me back and spoke at great length, addressing every one of my concerns. We went over every available program, and decided on an abbreviated schoolday to transition her back into the classroom, with an eye toward her attending class full time at the alternative school within the next month.
Everything was in place prior to the CSE meeting this past Tuesday. She will begin her abbreviated school days starting next Monday. Today is her final day of home-tutoring. We got her report card yesterday, too. From 40's in all her core subjects, she is up to 70's and 80's thanks to the home tutoring and the exxeptional efforts of her teachers at the High School.
Moreover, her behavior and mood at home over the last 3 weeks has done nothing but improve. She is more stable than she has been in years. She is pleasant to be around, fulfills her responsibilities with a minimum of reminding and is expressing positive feelings about the direction she is heading.
Everything looks fabulous . . . doesn't it? So why am I so suspicious??
It seems too good to be true. After years of banging our heads against the wall, am I just too jaded to know honest-to-goodness improvement when it is staring me in the face??
Upshot is this - *how* do I re-address the IEP we agreed upon Tuesday if this begins to fail miserably? I'm not talking about difficult child having a "bad day" at school; I mean if she honestly cannot keep on task and begins to fall behind again, with that perceived "failure" ratcheting up her anxiety, causing acting out, avoidant behavior, and taking it all out on herself again . . . if she is once again at great risk of self-harm.
I pulled her out of HS *then* got the documentation to back it up. Can I do the same here? Or am I legally bound to continue with the IEP until I get it re-addressed/revised?
I really am optimistic this time - this is the longest period of stability we have seen around here. I am just still nursing the blisters from the last time we got burned.
Thanks to you all. You have let me realize that I am not the only one . . .
I find myself at a crossroads today . . . difficult child has been out of school since just prior to Thanksgiving last year, following a frightening couple of days - panic attacks, cutting, disorganized thought. She was admitted to p-hospital until just before Christmas; d/c with medical directive to school for home tutoring until placed in a day treatment program.
Expecting the absolute worst from our SD, I approached the situation armed to the teeth - statements from p-doctor, therapist, caseworker, substance abuse counselor, attending p-doctor from p-hospital. SD pushed for placment at local alternative school, not day treatment. On goes the armor, out comes the sword, warrior mom on the warpath. SD's CSE chair was more than patient with me. She listened to every one of my concerns - at the time I thought merely out of politeness. But, no, she called me back and spoke at great length, addressing every one of my concerns. We went over every available program, and decided on an abbreviated schoolday to transition her back into the classroom, with an eye toward her attending class full time at the alternative school within the next month.
Everything was in place prior to the CSE meeting this past Tuesday. She will begin her abbreviated school days starting next Monday. Today is her final day of home-tutoring. We got her report card yesterday, too. From 40's in all her core subjects, she is up to 70's and 80's thanks to the home tutoring and the exxeptional efforts of her teachers at the High School.
Moreover, her behavior and mood at home over the last 3 weeks has done nothing but improve. She is more stable than she has been in years. She is pleasant to be around, fulfills her responsibilities with a minimum of reminding and is expressing positive feelings about the direction she is heading.
Everything looks fabulous . . . doesn't it? So why am I so suspicious??
It seems too good to be true. After years of banging our heads against the wall, am I just too jaded to know honest-to-goodness improvement when it is staring me in the face??
Upshot is this - *how* do I re-address the IEP we agreed upon Tuesday if this begins to fail miserably? I'm not talking about difficult child having a "bad day" at school; I mean if she honestly cannot keep on task and begins to fall behind again, with that perceived "failure" ratcheting up her anxiety, causing acting out, avoidant behavior, and taking it all out on herself again . . . if she is once again at great risk of self-harm.
I pulled her out of HS *then* got the documentation to back it up. Can I do the same here? Or am I legally bound to continue with the IEP until I get it re-addressed/revised?
I really am optimistic this time - this is the longest period of stability we have seen around here. I am just still nursing the blisters from the last time we got burned.
Thanks to you all. You have let me realize that I am not the only one . . .
