Ohio School for the Deaf has an Educational Outreach Department http://www.ohioschoolforthedeaf.org/Outreach.aspx that I contacted a few months ago when it first became clear that the IEP team was not going to give Connor what I wanted for him. They sent two people to observe him in his school, and I just got the reports last night.
It is fantastic!! The reports are very detailed, they outline his whole history, give a clear depiction of how he does in his class, and talk about what he needs to have better access to communication.
*I did not tell the evaluation team anything about the fight I've had with the IEP team*, I just asked that they come and do an independent assessment and provide recommendations. So this report is not influenced by me at all, I had a lot to lose by asking them to come here in fact, because they could have just as easily have said that Connor's environment is perfect and no changes are necessary.
But, they didn't!! They made very specific recommendations about him having access to signing peers and signing adults; they also made very good suggestions about how to include Deaf culture education into the currifulum; and they made basic recommendations like everyone on the staff receiving basic ASL instruction (so Connor can talk to other people than just his interpreter).
I'm very happy with the report...now we'll see what comes of it! I'm anxious for the next IEP meeting.
It is fantastic!! The reports are very detailed, they outline his whole history, give a clear depiction of how he does in his class, and talk about what he needs to have better access to communication.
*I did not tell the evaluation team anything about the fight I've had with the IEP team*, I just asked that they come and do an independent assessment and provide recommendations. So this report is not influenced by me at all, I had a lot to lose by asking them to come here in fact, because they could have just as easily have said that Connor's environment is perfect and no changes are necessary.
But, they didn't!! They made very specific recommendations about him having access to signing peers and signing adults; they also made very good suggestions about how to include Deaf culture education into the currifulum; and they made basic recommendations like everyone on the staff receiving basic ASL instruction (so Connor can talk to other people than just his interpreter).
I'm very happy with the report...now we'll see what comes of it! I'm anxious for the next IEP meeting.
