If you requested it in your child's IEP that they can use a word processor/computer....

[StephandOwen]

did the school give you any trouble or agree without much fight? Who provided the computer?

Writing is becoming a bigger and bigger struggle for ds as the days go on. His therapists/teachers/we believe it's a result of multiple issues- he lacks some hand strength which makes writing hard for him and he more than likely has OCD (undiagnosed at this time) so if his writing isn't "perfect" then he explodes, rips up the paper, freaks out, etc and the whole day is ruined (he also has ASD). This happens on a daily basis (at school and at home). Right now he has a scribe written into his IEP and an adult writes probably half of his answers (he writes numbers usually without incidence so the scribe writes words mostly). For homework I often scribe for him (again, he does all the numbers and I do most words).

I spoke to his OT (private OT, not the school one), his special ed teacher and one of his regular ed teachers (all at separate times so none of their views were jaded by others) and all of them agreed that at some point he is going to need it in his IEP that he has the use of some sort of computer or word processor or something that he can type answers in instead of writing. His OT says she believes this should be written into his IEP asap instead of waiting. The regular ed teacher said she doesn't understand why it's not already written in his IEP (she agrees with me 100% that we don't care about the writing- it's whether he understands the material that matters to us). His special ed teacher said it should happen "soon", but was pretty vague on when.

We have an IEP meeting called for later this month (to have it written in his IEP some things that are happening now that are not in his IEP because there are a lot of changes happening next year so we have to make sure our butts are covered and he gets the services he needs before his next yearly review.... in November). I'm thinking of bringing up the computer/word processor issue at this next meeting and seeing what everyone's thoughts are. I'm not sure if I should push for it now or wait until our yearly review in November to push for it. I don't see ds's writing issues getting any better by November and I don't really want him to start off the next grade on a bad foot, ya know?

Also- who provided the computer? Should the school be the ones providing it? Should we provide one for him? I will buy him a laptop/netbook if I need to, but my concern is that the school (teachers) aren't going to be as concerned with keeping it safe if the school didn't buy it, ya know? DS is not exactly responsible and is likely to lose it if someone isn't reminding him to keep it in a certain place. But if the school bought it then are they more likely to help keep it safe?

Thanks!

[sapphire_chan]

Opinion time. I think it's going to be a lot easier on your ds to just have the computer to start with than to start out without it and get it. If he starts off with it, then he's just the kid who uses a computer instead of writing, and the other kids will get used to it ASAP, and I think they'll take longer to get used to the idea if it's a change in November.

Then, two months of the school year is actually a really long time. And if the writing is keeping him from learning in that time by the time he gets the computer he'll be playing catch up. Plus, there's no guarantee that the computer would get sorted out immediately after the November meeting, even with everyone at your local level working for it, it could take a month to sort it out.

Anyway, this is a major necessary change to the IEP and it's for something that needs to be in place before the start of the fall semester, so I'd make a meeting just for that change.

Looking at it as an outsider to both your family and the school, I think the sensible thing is that they provide a machine for school and you provide a machine for home. Nothing travels back and forth, the people with your DS are the ones responsible for keeping the computer he's using in good condition. You watch out for the one you get, they watch out for the one they get, your DS is only responsible for using them not tracking them or carrying them or anything like that.

[CarrieMF]

I agree that it needs to be put into the next IEP meeting at the end of the month.  He needs to start the next school year off as best he can & waiting until Nov isn't going to do that.  You will need to address why scribing isn't working though.

Who provides it, that can be easy or tricky.  Does your school have a computer lab or do they have netbooks in carts that are moved around to the classes?  Does the school HAVE any laptops/netbooks?

It would be best if the school supplied the computer as it will have to be hooked up to their networks & such and they can put ONLY what will be needed and nothing they shouldn't be getting into.  In our district there is only 1 school left that has a computer lab, the other schools labs have been taken over by classrooms.  Each school has 2+ carts of 30 netbooks that are moved around to the classes.  The school I work in has 4 carts plus has laptops in the library that can be signed out.  I work with some kids who at times need to use a computer either for reading or for writing.  I go & track down the carts and then take however many computers I need.

Now if the school doesn't have netbooks & is willing to/has the money purchase one that's great.  IF they don't want to purchase one this is where you will need reasons why scribing isn't good enough.

Right now schools are preparing their lists of supplies needed for next year, which is another reason why you need to do it now and not next year