Hi TeDo. Thank you for the welcome and information.
My difficult child has spastic quad cp, dystonia, complex partial epilepsy and scoliosis. He is confined to a wheelchair. Very dependent for everything. Improving slowly after having a Baclofen pump placed in June of 2010.
This all started with a very bad (I think) IEP for me at the beginning of the year. New teacher never had to deal with before. No notice of change. Did not inform me the speech therapist would not be there and this is the year we are trying to find some form of communication for Joseph to use. I though everyone should be there. Teacher, Occupational Therapist (OT),pt and speech. His aid was there, but she was the first one to speak ( the teacher said she had something important she wanted to talk about). She informed me that my difficult child must have something medically wrong with him because sometime he smells like he pooped, but he did not poop (he is in a diaper). The Occupational Therapist (OT) ask if she had ever had gas. Funny, but not funny. I could not even think straight after that. My son was so upset that they were talking about his bathroom habits he started crying and had a melt down. This is also the first time they insisted my difficult child be at the meeting too. He is to young to understand all this. I am asking for another meeting before the end of the year. I just need help with information on how to proceed. Should I get him an advocate.
As far as school goes he is in the Special Education class room all day except for specials. Gym, music and library he is with his regular 4th grade class.
Oh good grief. My heart breaks for your guy. I have worked with many many kids like yours and for any teacher to treat him like he is not even a person with feelings while in that meeting.... I mean would she talk like that if any typical kid that age was sitting there? I would say if you can get an advocate then YES do it.
First, every team member providing services, a mainstream teacher, admin/district rep MUST all be at the meeting since the new IDEA 2004 was signed unless you sign off that you are allowing them not to attend. So, if he has s/l on his IEP then the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) should have been there.
Second, another member of the team that is mandated if you request (and I assume this is going to be needed for you) is an assisted technology person.
Third, every child is to be taught in the least restrictive environment. Your child has a right to be educated with peers to the extent that is possible. If that means eating lunch at the same time or being on the playground then that should happen. (even if he needs assistance to eat or be outside).
If he is at the other end of the school can he still join in the gen ed. with kids his age for music, art, etc??? (of course with an aide). He has that right if he is cognitively aware of peers and it is a goal you have for him. For some kids it may mean bringing mainstream kids into the sp. ed. room and there are always kids who love to do things like that.
I know it is harder when districts have limited resources but they still have the same laws to follow. I will be interested to hear what you find out and how things go along.
I LOVE that the Occupational Therapist (OT) asked if the ding a ling teacher had ever had gas! That is classic.
OH yeah, keista reminded me... I STILL dont have Q go to IEP meetings. WAY to stressful for him. If he could actually advocate for himself etc...then that would be great and we will work on his doing that in part, but it is just too much for them to attend those meetings when young.
(I have to say I have seen some cool ways to do it though.... like the kid making a power point and presenting it then leaving etc... it is nice for the team to see the bigger picture and realize the potential and desires of the child).