Since then, we also had our actual PPT Meeting last week. They asked Nicole's EI PT to go over her final evaluation #s with them. She did a great job reviewing the #s and giving more info. to qualify how things were accomplished, etc. You see Nicole's scores came out good and the scores alone would not have qualified her to continue to receive services. Her EI PT was a great advocate for Nicole though. This is to what extent that Nicole's EI therapists helped support us -- when they completed Nicole's evaluation, they emailed the write-up to me (at my request) so that I could review it and suggest changes. It was accurate, but I added lots of qualifying comments throughout the document (mainly as to the quality of output and length of time it takes, etc.). I'm so thankful that they let me do this to make the evaluation more complete and give a better picture of the "whole story." We will really miss those therapist!!
(Anyway, back to the meeting, I think the school already had their minds made up before we met and didn't really seem to care what the evaluation said (as far as in determining svcs). I mean, they let the PT go over it, but it seemed to be as more of a formality. The SPED said that based on Orthopedic Impairment that Nicole qualified for services. She's going to get 1/2 hour of PT 1x/wk. She's also going to go to a Playgroup 1x/wk for 1 hour and during the last 15 minutes, and OT will work with her. Then, the OT will continue to work with Nicole 1-on-1 for another 15 minutes for a total of 1/2 hour / week. We're also getting OT summer svcs 1/2 hour / week. The present plan was also set up for next school year and we can meet in the meantime if we feel that there are any issues or changes that need to be made, etc.
I'm writing not only to share this info., but to thank you all for your support and info. Rich from MA has a never-ending list of websites and I got a lot of info. from them which was very helpful. I also know for a fact that the UBPN School Awareness Info. document was great and the SPED commented about it! I will also tell you that some the people we met with at the school last week seemed so different to us. I am quite certain that the meeting would've had a much different outcome had we not been so prepared and "armed" with info. That is just my feeling (and my husband's too) based on how these individuals first came across to us. So, if anyone needs help and I can offer any suggestions please feel free to email me.
Here are some things we did that I believe helped: we brought a huge stack of papers with us (after much research), I tape recorded the meetings (after asking permission at the beginning of the 1st meeting), we gave them a 3-page writeup on Nicole incldg. a picture of her in the splint, we gave them the UBPN School Info. document, we brought someone else with us as an advocate (Nicole's EI PT and OT), and most importantly, we have always prayed prayed prayed for wisdom and strength from Jehovah. He has not let us down and has always guided us to whatever info. we needed to obtain and given us extra strength that we've needed.
Thank you to those who helped and I hope this novel I've written helps others. LOL
-Tina
)P.S. I'm so relieved that this is behind us. AAAHH!!