School therapy question

[admin]

Hello everyone. I have a question for all the parents who's kids have therapy @ school. My son Joshua is 5 and in kindergarten in public school. He has OT and speech @ school 2x each. My problem is that I have never met the school OT. So far I have volunteered in the classroom 2 xs for 2 months and both times the OT was absent. I have been to the school for open house and curriculim nite and she was not there. I of course have spoken with the teacher and the speech teacher. I have called the OT and it took about 2 weeks and she called me back. I sent her lots of info about BPI and she thanked me for it. We talked about what she was doing with him and how he is doing, but things she told me she was doing with him (on the therapy ball) my son says he never goes on the ball with her. I dont know whether to believe him or her. He tells me he just plays games with her. I know I should look back on his IEP, but shouldnt I be able to met her. It just seems like she's out a lot. And who's keeping track of her sessions with him. He's suppose to see her 2xs a week, something I question. I called the district office where I go for the meetings and they directed me back to the school. My next step is to have an appointment with the principal. Anyone else having these problems with their school therapist? Have you met the school therapist? Just not sure what to do. Advise please. Thanks

[Tessie258]

Unfortunately what we found out about therapy in the school is that it doesn't happen. The therapist would observe our son and make suggestions for better classroom work such as have a left handed desk and write in pen instead of pencil....but they did zero therapy with him....They didn't consider it to be educationally neccesary. We now homeschool.
T.

[Sally]

You have the right to call an IEP meeting anytime you want to. They should have given you a copy of something like "Procedural Rights and Safeguards" (that's what it is called in my state) that explains your rights - which includes the right to call an IEP meeting if you are not happy with your child's progress (which, I think, would include being unsure of the amount of therapy time your child is actually getting)

Good luck

I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can.

Sally

[admin]

Many school therapist are in their own little world. Especially if they service more than one school. Set up a meeting with her, if she does not follow through in a timely manner ask for a meeting with the principal and her. It is not unreasonable to ask for a therapy schedule so you can come in during a session. Also I know our speech therapist is required to submit lesson plans just like the other teachers in the building. A parent can request to see them at any time (This will vary by school though)

[pattisy]

Tessie, my heart hurt when I read your post. There should be no reason why our school districts cannot accomodate our children. I guess I get sort of fired up about this because I work in an alternative education setting where approximately 60% of our students are "special education" students: most labeled emotional support as a way to explain their negative behaviors. The school districts pay upwards of $18,000 a year for their kids to attend this program. It's sad that your school district couldn't make slight accomadations for your child. Are you pleased with the homeschooling process? I have tossed that idea around for my kids when the reach school age.
Patti