smallworld
Moderator
Just wanted my CD family to know that after a 3-hour meeting last week, my son J qualified for his very first IEP and was placed in a self-contained program for socially and emotionally fragile high schoolers (called the Bridge Program). He begins tomorrow.
The meeting was very cordial. There were probably 20 people around the conference table, but that included our sped attorney, educational consultant, Js psychiatrist, husband and me. Whenever weve gone into IEP/504 meetings over the years, husband and I have always felt that the school team has already choreographed exactly how the meeting is going to go. I know its not supposed to happen that way, but it always feels like that to us. Last week's meeting was no exception. I think the team was leaning toward the Bridge Program even before we stepped through the door because they knew they didnt have the appropriate services at our home HS to meet Js needs. The team invited the county SD supervisor of ED programming to attend the meeting. She was the one who offered and explained Js placement after the IEP was written.
J is already anxious about starting a new school. When he went for his intake appointment at Bridge on Friday, he wouldn't talk to the program head, social worker or psychologist. He has also shut down anytime we've tried to bring up the tolpic of school this weekend. His psychiatrist increased his Seroquel dose to 800 mg to relieve some of the anxiety.
I have to say theres a tinge of sadness mixed in with the relief I feel in having J in the Bridge Program. I expect many of you can relate. I would like nothing more than for J to be heading off to our home HS with his buddies from elementary school. But in my heart I know that his needs have been underserved for many years, and this is where he needs to be right now.
The meeting was very cordial. There were probably 20 people around the conference table, but that included our sped attorney, educational consultant, Js psychiatrist, husband and me. Whenever weve gone into IEP/504 meetings over the years, husband and I have always felt that the school team has already choreographed exactly how the meeting is going to go. I know its not supposed to happen that way, but it always feels like that to us. Last week's meeting was no exception. I think the team was leaning toward the Bridge Program even before we stepped through the door because they knew they didnt have the appropriate services at our home HS to meet Js needs. The team invited the county SD supervisor of ED programming to attend the meeting. She was the one who offered and explained Js placement after the IEP was written.
J is already anxious about starting a new school. When he went for his intake appointment at Bridge on Friday, he wouldn't talk to the program head, social worker or psychologist. He has also shut down anytime we've tried to bring up the tolpic of school this weekend. His psychiatrist increased his Seroquel dose to 800 mg to relieve some of the anxiety.
I have to say theres a tinge of sadness mixed in with the relief I feel in having J in the Bridge Program. I expect many of you can relate. I would like nothing more than for J to be heading off to our home HS with his buddies from elementary school. But in my heart I know that his needs have been underserved for many years, and this is where he needs to be right now.
