Parent Input

Jerri

Member
*****Parent Input******

WHAT IS IT?
Well under the reauthorization of IDEA 97 we are now full MET team members which essentially means squat if we dont take advantage of it.

Ok everyone here has read "their" reports, and you may or may not undersatnd them, and IF you dont you must request to have them explained to you. ask in writing, better yet put your questions in writing too.

A Parent report is something you write, and you share with the school, and it becomes a permanaent part of your childs educational record.

What is the worst thing about this in terms of next grade, new teacher, new school, new Doctor, new counselor, babysitter, probation officer,Judge etc... etc...????????????


ITS TELLING " THE STORY " AGAIN...........
( DO IT ONCE DO IT WRITE ) THEN UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE!

Ok, heres the outline, and you make however you want, but you need to understand that the better you " build " this the easier it is to get your point across, and ANYONE who will ever be involved in Advocacy for your child will find this a crucial peice.

IE: If you identified a need for your difficult child to learn to tie his shoes, and it was ignored by the MET team, and he trips and falls, then you have a sound position for Liability.
(very simplistic example and I AM NOT saying you should be looking around every corner for a lawsuit... it just shows that you properly shared your concern )

WHAT IT DOES IS PROVIDE FOCUS... A ROADMAP, AND A GUIDE TO YOUR CHILD, ALBEIT THE TWILIGHT ZONE!!!

Cover:

Parent Report and assesment for difficult child 12-15-98

Prepared with love by:

Mr. & Mrs. difficult child

* scan a picture for cover if you like... keep the focus on the difficult child!!!!

1. Intro to difficult child
* describe what your child looks like who he is, what he likes favorite cereal, toys & activities. general positive overveiw of your child. By all means use humor here...

ex: favorite hobby... driving parents nuts etc.

* try to make it humorous as it will entice reader to read on.


2. INTRO TO PARENTS AND HOME

* who he lives with, and what your like, your jobs, interests etc. Sibs, pets, extended family supports ( gma ) Walk them thru your home, when I did mine, i introduced each fam member, then at the end described difficult child'S relationship with that person.
If you have concerns about your home, bring them up only slightly here. Your values... this is good place to include your values, church, community involvement volunteer work etc.

difficult child'S room, describe that, and who sleeps in there, and if he is alone cause he has to be, breifly explain why he has to be alone.

In describing sibs, I told about their awards, grades, challenges, etc.
Pets... this is good time to bring up concerns about the way difficult child has treated pets.

3. MEDICAL HISTORY

* PREGNANCY/ADOPTION/BIRTH/TODDLER/any and all concerns. CHIX POX, infections stitches, broken bones, a chronological, go straight to medications who prescribed / how much.

4. SOCIAL HISTORY

* Ok you may get squeemish here, I really dont like talking about my divorce, whom i lived with etc. But they will ask, and this is your chance to present it in the light in which you veiwed it, without their judgemental interpretations.
Many times they twist what you tell them in their reports to insinuate that the problem's are in the home. So be honest, and tell them how you resolved any negative experiences.
Talk about how your child developed socially, was he eager to play with other toddlers, how does he do with neighbor kids, at church, at school etc. ( Matt cant name any classmates.. and has never been invited to a friends home) sigh.........

5. WHATS WORKED / WHATS FAILED

* When my difficult child does this we have done this... this worked / this didnt. This is what works now! In second grade his teacher was like this, and he responded well to this. In third grade the teacher did this and it was a disaster. We used a point system for chores, and it failed because. We tried Dr. Greens method in dealing with________ and it worked great the first 3 times.
If you are absolutely baffled by a particular behavior, be sure you discuss it and explain that you have no idea how to address it.

6. MAJOR CONCERNS

Today / tommorow / next week /year 5& 10 years from now.

( I started this section with " Well serial killer comes to mind..." )LOL

* I am concerned that my difficult child will not receive an appropriate education this year because....

I am concerned that he will be in jail because...

By not providing him an appropriate education he will be affected next year...
in 5 years.......
in 10 years......
in Life.......

7. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS'S

* In the home........
At school...............
In church.............
In the community.........
difficult child with himself.............

I listed 3 examples in each except home & school, this is where I really went into detail about the two. And as you may guess the weakness's were longer in the home/school stting than strengths, I was not concerned however cause it is an accurate veiw.

8. RESOURCES FOUND/TRIED/FAILED
* These are the things you have found, tried or wish to try and why, and want the district to consider in providing FAPE. Medcial services, residential, summer wilderness camps, one on one aide.

Vocational programs, physical therapy etc.
Alternatives to restraints, Bio feedback, music therapy, art therapy.
If your difficult child does not have freinds, ask for a summer camp ( Over night ) to expose him to positive peer relationships.

If he gets kicked off the bus all the time, ask for a 1 on 1 aide.

NOTE: if your easy child is suffering as a result of all thats happening, ask for parent training and counseling, ask that you and your entire family be trained in preventing / deflecting assaults. Also sensitivity/disabilty awareness training for family/friends/neighbors/ dog!!!( kiddin about the dog, but they should get respite too.)

IDEA 97 OPENS MANY DOORS, YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO ASK...!

9. BEST WAYS TO COMMUNICATE

* this is where you tell the school how you wish to be contacted, how you can best work together, such as conveinent times and locations for meetings, phone calls etc.

*** IF YOU ARE GEETING IN TROUBLE FOR CALLS AT WORK, FORBID THEM TO CALL YOU THERE, AND CREATE AN ALTERNATE PLAN!!!*******

Some districts provide extra books for home, and FAX machines, to parents so that reports and homework can be sent quickly. Fax machines are an excellent way to communicate.

10. DREAMS AND GOALS

* Allow yourself to sit back and dream of the life you want with and for your difficult child, soccer, ballett, singer, spelling bee champ, college, marriage, career, cheerleader, 1st date, Prom, astronaut and parent.

How you would like your difficult child to experience life.

DONT


DO NOT SIT DOWN AND DO THIS IN ONE SITTING!!!

START IT... DO THE OUTLINE... SAVE IT.


COME BACK AND DO IT SOME MORE.

THE MEDICAL PART IS THE MOST TECHNICAL.

As things change update the report, and show the updates.

Send your report to the school and ask for a new IEP or MET, ask that they read it in advance, if thats whats in order.

Next send a copy to the other providers, such as Dr. , counselor, PO, whoever.

Be very proud of yourself for having doen such a neat thing for your child.

Well... hope you all will find this as helpful a tool as I have. Really validates your difficult child and your family.

Hugs N Love!!!

Jerri
 

Guest
Jerri,

Not sure if/how you want to mention this, but people need to be aware of copyrights on studio pictures. I tried to get my studio picture onto the front of the parent report using a color copier, and the copy place refused, since the studio had copyrighted the picture (copyright stamp on the back).

I know very little about copyrights, but I'm assuming this goes for scanning in studio pics as well.

------------------
koco

Megan (7 1/2) difficult child - ODD/ADHD
Katy (3) easy child
 
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