So, I spoke to difficult child's school counselor again today (the one who thinks he might be an "idiot savant"). I told her I wanted to start the IEP process for difficult child.
She's really trying to talk me out of it. "We can make all the modifications you want without having them in that document." "He's not academically challenged enough to need that..." BLah blah..
He IS academically challenged. He hears/comprehends differently than others.
She wants me to start wraparound services (which means I have to get him on Medical Assistance since the school can't provide them, an outside source has to) and get a TSS to be with him full time in school.
Granted, I do think that would be beneficial for him but I'm not crazy about that being the only thing we do.
I am definitely going after the IEP...I want everything they'll do for him IN WRITING!
At the IEP meeting I want to explain his academic challenges like this:
Imagine that loud noises overwhelm you. Imagine that too many colorful objects in a room make you spin in circles. Imagine you are afraid of the red fire alarm in the corner. Imagine that being in a large group of people who are talking all at once makes you want to hide under the table. Imagine you are smaller and more uncoordinated than everyone you are with. Imagine that you don't make transitions well at all and need to focus on one task at a time. Imagine that sometimes people's words get kind of jumbled up as they speak. Imagine you can't interpret facial expressions or gestures like most other people. Imagine you crave physical touch and get yelled at a lot for getting in other people's personal space. Imagine that you can read at a 3rd grade level so you get pulled out of the room all the time to go read the same books over and over to someone you don't know. Imagine you are five.
Now...go to kindergarten and just learn everything you can!!! You'll be GREAT!!
No academic challenge? His whole life is an academic challenge lady.
She's really trying to talk me out of it. "We can make all the modifications you want without having them in that document." "He's not academically challenged enough to need that..." BLah blah..
He IS academically challenged. He hears/comprehends differently than others.
She wants me to start wraparound services (which means I have to get him on Medical Assistance since the school can't provide them, an outside source has to) and get a TSS to be with him full time in school.
Granted, I do think that would be beneficial for him but I'm not crazy about that being the only thing we do.
I am definitely going after the IEP...I want everything they'll do for him IN WRITING!
At the IEP meeting I want to explain his academic challenges like this:
Imagine that loud noises overwhelm you. Imagine that too many colorful objects in a room make you spin in circles. Imagine you are afraid of the red fire alarm in the corner. Imagine that being in a large group of people who are talking all at once makes you want to hide under the table. Imagine you are smaller and more uncoordinated than everyone you are with. Imagine that you don't make transitions well at all and need to focus on one task at a time. Imagine that sometimes people's words get kind of jumbled up as they speak. Imagine you can't interpret facial expressions or gestures like most other people. Imagine you crave physical touch and get yelled at a lot for getting in other people's personal space. Imagine that you can read at a 3rd grade level so you get pulled out of the room all the time to go read the same books over and over to someone you don't know. Imagine you are five.
Now...go to kindergarten and just learn everything you can!!! You'll be GREAT!!
No academic challenge? His whole life is an academic challenge lady.