IEP arrived - HA what a joke!!

[Lenni]

Hi Francine, so sorry things are so frustrating for you an Lou at this time. I have to agree with what Claudia said about teaching Maia to speak up for herself.......it is a very smart idea! Of course speaking to her teacher is important as well, sharing information about Maia's injury and so forth, but ultimetley Maia will be the one dealing with the issues at the time. Some things she will be able to do, and should too , other's are just out of the question.

Ashley is her own boss, I inform her Teachers of that right off the bat........my exact words,"Ashley knows best , please ask her if she would like to try it and encourage her to take her turn, but understand that she is limited and often times will not be able to particicpate!" Her teacher has told be that 90 percent of the time Ashley does try at least once, and the teacher can plainly see for herself whether Ashley can follow through or not. If she is having a hard time, or it causes her pain, she tells the teacher and becomes the helper instead! So far so good, and Ashley is confident and trusts her teacher completely.

All the best getting this worked out!

Lenni

[LeeAnne]

I have to agree with Lenni. I made sure The pe teachers new about BPI with all the info i could print and that she was 4 months post op at the time. One of the teachers fortunately had a sister with parsonage turner syndrome so she was more up to speed. I told them that Michaela knows her limitations and she will tell them if she can't do something and that is what they are to do --Listen to her.Sadly though this does not qualify her for adaptive pe because most of the kindergarten activities are running and games.They do some pushups and things like that. I had Michaelas therapist make a list of things she couldn't do without being spotted because her arm and shoulder would have to be in the right postion and of course the teachers can't spot one child while working with the whole class. Some of the things we have adapted. Instead of floor push ups Michaela has to do wall push ups. If something came up throughout the year Michaela would tell me and her therapist sent instructions to the school (e.g. the pushups). Fortunately the school will work with me but she does not qualify for special programs.

Also art. Michaela needs a clip board and handitak for doing tracing since she has trouble holding down the object being traced. She eventually gave these up as her friends wanted to help her by holding the object being traced, but sometimes they don't get theirs finished so the teacher makes her get out the clipboard.

Music has not been a problem this year with triangles drums and sandblocks and sticks but in the future will be. I've already prepared the music teacher with info i got from this message board about playing one handed and adaptive instruments.

Just remember that you may not just be helping your daughter but other BPIs as well. Another little girl will be starting Kindergarten next year with a ROBPI and we have paved the way for her in this school. they now know what to expect.

Good luck in your endeavors and Happy Mothers Day!!

[Nettie]

Try having two children with special needs and working full-time, and the BPI being the easier of the two differently abled children to deal with and that has been an uphill battle...It is not easy but it is my life and they are my kids. I realized my husband and I are the only ones who really care about them getting what they need. I wouldn't make a big deal of the speech issue as most often if the child does not qualify for ST issues they will not qualify for other therapies. Been there done that...maybe you had a well-meaning ST who by looking at Maia knew she needed other services but perhaps would not get without speech...Yes, she should not have perhaps copied another child's report, but give her the benefit of the doubt and ask her about your suspicions...My brother who works in a large school district as the Director of Student Services and has devoted 20 years to helping kids get services has been invaluable giving me advice along the road for both my kids and the best piece of advice is "A cooperative, respectful, and understanding parent will get alot farther than one that is not." As difficult and frustrating as it is for us some days with the school district, I am always on my best behavior and it has worked fairly well so far...but I have lots of years to go.

[Francine_Litz]

Thank you to everyone for all of this invaluable information! Maia thanks you too because this information is going to "shape" her school experience and how I deal with it.

I am very grateful for all the voices and support on this message board!!



francine

[Jody]

Our son has a 504 plan at school. This covers all instructional accommodations / adaptations such as curriculum modifications, lesson accommodations, environmental accommodations, and modifications to assignments, and/or testing procedures.

They included:

Any activity requiring two hands will need to be adapted.

Running / Phys Ed. activities may need to be adapted.

Extra set of books for home use (so that he does not have to carry / lift heavy books on shoulder)

One-handed keyboard and training (mouse moved to left side in computer lab)

Access to electric pencil sharpener.

May need preferential seating

May need access to special bathroom / water fountain

One on one assistance from a teacher for cutting and gluing activities

Instructors should be knowledgable of injury

Less emphasis should be placed on neatness of assignments

This Plan can also include accomodations for testing, such as:

-breaks during test
-preferential seating
-adaptive furniture
-large answer bubbles
-masks or markers to maintain place
-ability to have teacher mark answer sheet and student respond verbally
-ability to have test done on computer
-large diameter/special grip pencil
-ability for student to mark book and teacher transfer answers to sheet
-Pencil grip


In our county, IEP's are used more for learning / speech difficulties and 504's are used more for accomodations for students with disabilities.

Hope this helps.