IEP arrived - HA what a joke!!

[Francine_Litz]

had to laugh my a** off... The conclusion they reached is that Maia's priority is that she's a child
with a.... are you ready??

SPEECH IMPAIRMENT

she qualifies for being put into a special education class for her lisp... now what's THAT about????

They copied another child's evaluation - we actually know this child. I highlighted the whole thing - edited the whole thing and sent it back with a disapproval. The fight begins......

HAHAHAHAHA it's so laughable.

So HOW do parents work full time and fight all these things we have to fight? I think I've been on the phone full time for 4 weeks now.

[Melissa_Allison]

Francine,

OH MY GOD..... I cannot believe what you have gone through. Another thing to fight....I can't fathom for the life of me why these "professionals" do not understand the extent of Brachial plexus and how it affect the entire body but they are still the "Professional". I think they need to educate themselves a bit more so they can have somewhat an understanding of it.

I wish you all the best of luck in this battle.

Melissa & Allison

[Sally]

Francine,

I am so sorry. IEPs are such a fight to begin with for a child that has a "common" issue (by that I mean that my older son has an IEP and he has had a fine motor/gross motor/speech delay since he was 18 months (has been in therapy since then - he was a 3.5 lb preemie) - coupled now with ADHD and Tourettes Syndrome - most of which are "common" in the school system and it's *still* a fight. Sigh. I am not looking forward to the process when Michael is school aged.

I am *shocked* that they copied someone else's IEP like that. I would show that to the Superintendent of Schools in your area - and the head of Special Ed, too. That doesn't seem like they are doing their job *at all* - and how will that help/accomodate Maia? That is what an IEP is - at least, to me....

Many hugs!!

Sally

[PeggyF]

Did they even comment on her BPI? How does a lisp take priority over a limb???
I know that you'll soon educate them correctly.

The good news is, once you are set with the IEP (something YOU agree with) it's a year before you have to gear up to battle again. Until then, you are your child's active advocate and have to get the job done!

Peggy

[sunflowers]

Let me tell you our first year dealing with IEP has been the same... they say he doesn't "qualify" under BPI, but his IEP is for WRITING, his writing is not up to his potential, he finds it so hard to write Mike refuses to put any more than bare minimum on the page, this was not a problem until 4th grade and essay questions, began,... we switched him to public scholl this year for hisIEP and all the "HELP" he would recieve... what a joke it has been, they haven't accompished jack, Your right francine it is a full time job, I stopped fighting that battle two years ago and now stay at home.. (MIke is 11)It has killed our finances though and is very difficult for us, we get no help from the Gov, like most... and since we lost the trial no help there either...
Keep fighting... we are... I'm so glad most of you seem to have gotten at least to the right agencies, however lame... when Mike was little we didn't know early intervention existed. When I called to find out if anything was avilable for Mike. they shut me down before word, one... I wished I had pushed harder then...Live and learn... I'm about the pushiest broad around now...some times I jump too early though. just cinical I guess..
Keep up the good fight. don't give up!

[admin]

Francine,
That's ridiculous! She qualifies for an IEP for a "lisp". I've never heard of that, and did they copy another child's because it's easier for them, less work? Your daughter is not a carbon copy of that other child.

you'll straighten them out, you go girl....

Gwen

[Joni]

Francine,

Hang in there! Out of Machera's disabilities which include: ROBPI, Spinal cord injury, Scoliosis, and Stroke, she also qualified for Speech therapy only. The system is a joke. Also they mentioned with her Horner's, and if she has peripheral difficulties they would maybe re-evaluate. Our children deserve so much more. Good luck fighting the ridiculous system. My thoughts are with you!

[Cara]

AFter reading your post and the comments I just have to stress this: IEP stands for Individual Educational Plan.

First off, if it is individual it can not be a copy of someone elses! Duh! I am a teacher I have seen schools use xerox sheets that are check list for IEP's. IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO WORK THAT WAY. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

Second, be honest, how much did you know about BPI before your child had it happen? HOw many other BPI children have these people dealt with? Does it mean that they should have a pass, no, but it does explain a lot. You need to be an advocate for your child. You need to educate them. Things work a lot better if you can treat the special ed people as part of the same team instead of the enemy.

Second the EP part stand for educational plan. This is not a plan for just PT or OT services. These services must be connected to an educational objective. That is why things like the term "written expression" end up on an IEP. Written expression may be a big deal for BPI kids. IT means that you can think, and say ideas but for some reason you have a hard time getting it down on paper. Special adaptations can be made to help this.

The other thing is that the special ed teachers have to show progress and set goals. Francine, Mia's Lisp may be a blessing in disguise. It gets her in the door for special services, it is something that they can set goals for and show improvement. Since she is already in Specail services, it is easier to add items like PT and OT. We are going through the whole IEP thing now with Rosalynn. We have our big meeting on May 21st. Because of Rosalynns cognative and speech ablities (I don't want to brag, but she is an amazing little kid) They only way we will get anything is tie in how her injury will impact her educationally. The general idea is its ok if they don't use both hands, as longs as they can do it somehow. It is not right, but it is how most systems handel it. They will wait until there is a problem instead of taking preventive measures.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I believe the parents need to be the biggest advocates for their child, at the same time I had a parent go off on me because her kid asked an obscure question that I could not answer off the top of my head. She went into "well you are the professional, you are the teacher you should now all this." Just like in any other profession there are people who are good and bad at their job. Not all special ed people are going to be educated about BPI, that does not make them incompetent, just not informed.

[Tessie258]

That's why after 8 years we do homeschool!!! It is so infuriating to deal with the dadgum system year after year after year.........!!!!
Hope you can fight it out with them!!!
T.