Oh ds, you continue to amaze me with your impecible timing....

[StephandOwen]

Today we had an IEP meeting at ds's school to discuss changing some stuff in his IEP. One thing that we spent a lot of time on was making sure that next year the para situation is different. We have been somewhat unhappy with it this year because the para that works with ds also works with another boy in the same class. The other boy has different needs (the other boy seems lower functioning than ds is) and so the para tends to spend the most time with the other boy, which means that ds is not getting the support he needs. So we had a long talk with the new principal (she's not principal right now but will be for next year) on how to remedy this. We had a good discussion where, of course, she told us that things will be different next year and blah blah blah. We made it VERY CLEAR that we are concerned that ds is not getting the support he needs in the classroom from the para because the para is busy with the other child.

So the meeting ends and I leave. About 30 minutes later I come back to get ds (end of the school day) and what does his teacher tell me? DS had a great day at school today (yay!) except for during PE (which was, coincidentally, during the meeting we were having). Apparently something happened (nobody can tell me what) that set ds off. The result was ds flipping out, kicking and hitting the PE teacher, running away and locking himself in the bathroom, etc. The assistant principal was eventually called down to get ds out of the bathroom and take him to his office (which was just 3 doors down from where we were having the meeting). My first question to the teacher- where the heck was the para during all of this and what had he done to help prevent this? Her answer- he was with the other student and had done nothing with the situation. WTF is ds not getting the support that he needs? The support that's written into his IEP?!?

I can't believe that at the exact moment we're having this conversation, ds is proving us right. WTG ds! LOL!

DS's teacher said that she was going to talk to the (new) principal about this and see what can be done. For weeks now ds has been having a hard time in his specials classes (PE, art, music, etc) even if he has a great day the rest of the day. Why? Because he's not getting the support he needs! DUH! It'll be interesting to talk to the principal and see what she says.

[StephandOwen]

And on another note, as an update to the thread I started about typing devices being used instead of writing.... that has been approved and added to his IEP. We're at a bit of a stand-still on how to do it though. The OT said that she suggests ds get a flash drive and just use the classroom computer. I said no, because that means that during all assignments ds will be put in the corner with the desktop computer, away from his peers, and that's not right. I suggested a netbook so he can keep it with him when he travels to different classrooms and use it right at his desk, which is less obvious then making him go to the corner. The OT says she thinks he's too young for a netbook at this time and that he needs to learn to type first. So our goal this summer is to get ds typing well, so that come August we can prove that he's capable of using a netbook at his desk.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen 

The OT says she thinks he's too young for a netbook at this time and that he needs to learn to type first. So our goal this summer is to get ds typing well, so that come August we can prove that he's capable of using a netbook at his desk.

 What does learning how to type have to do with what computer he uses ? he'd have to type on either one.  And why is he too young for a notebook? Is she concerned about him loosing or dropping it?

Mavis Beacon has a typing program for children, which we have, but haven't used much yet.

Edited by Emmeline II - 5/24/11 at 2:53pm

[LynnS6]

He must be psychic!

My kids' school uses this program (among others, I think) for teaching typing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ -- it's free and kind of fun.

[KCMichigan]

Have you looked into an AlphaSmart? They are kid- keyboards used for keyboarding/typing in Elem. You can simply hook up easily to a flash drive to print, but all typing can be done desktop.

http://www.renlearn.com/neo/NEO2

The newest model is called a NEO. You can use IDEA funds. Our school used them a lot for kiddos with dysgraphia, aversion to writing, fine motor problems, and/or for kids that did well with them (ASD).

It is way cheaper than a netbook and is fairly hardy. Easy to use for even young kiddos.

[Fay]

Ask for an AlphaSmart.  Many school districts already have them, it's just a matter of assigning them to specific students.

LOL about your DS's psychic abilities.  I really hope he gets the support that he needs ASAP!

[StephandOwen]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into all of those! The OT also suggested an online program that has some typing games that ds can do over the summer so we'll look into that too.
 

Originally Posted by Emmeline II 

 What does learning how to type have to do with what computer he uses ? he'd have to type on either one.  And why is he too young for a notebook? Is she concerned about him loosing or dropping it?

Mavis Beacon has a typing program for children, which we have, but haven't used much yet.

I think with some of his aggression issues, the OT is probably concerned about the netbook/laptop getting destroyed in a violent fit. She did not give a clear reason on why she thinks the desktop would be better than something at his desk. She didn't say she wouldn't agree to something at his desk, just that she doesn't suggest it until around 3rd grade (ds will be entering 2nd grade in the fall). I am pretty sure dh and I are going to be stubborn about this issue though. We are not going to settle for him using a desktop in the corner and single him out. Not only that, but what's the point of having him use the desktop for a year and then in 3rd grade transition him to a laptop/netbook at his desk? Why not start with that now? But, who knows what will happen in the fall because there are so many changes to the school coming up that everything is going to be new. His special ed teacher won't be back next year, his OT won't be back, the old principal retired (though we know the new principal and she is awesome), the ARC coordinator is not coming back next year, the para that we really like who worked with ds last year won't be back next year, etc. So we'll basically have a whole new team in place in the fall, which means we have no idea what they will say to the whole laptop vs. desktop argument.

As for the rest, I was pleasantly surprised when I dropped ds off at school this morning and a solution had already been put into place, for today at least. The principal pulled a para out of another room during ds's specials time today and she will be with ds (specifically with ds, not any other student) during specials. His regular ed teacher said that if this works then she's going to ask the principal to continue it for the rest of the school year. This is a para who has worked with ds on and off for the last 2 years so she knows him well and he really likes her. Hopefully it works out today!

[Stephenie]

Glad to hear that he had better support at least for today!

My son usually goes the other way- when I need him to show why we need support, the acts as if he is the most typical kid ever... he used to have major violent fits when I would pick him up (in the library) at his old school and when I talked to them about providing support to get him  out of the building. They sent his case manager to observe and it was the only time ever that he didn't throw a fit. She decided he didn't need any help and the next day he took off his boot and hit me in the head with it while his little sister ran away down the hall. Of course no one saw that lol. 

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[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Stephenie 

Glad to hear that he had better support at least for today!

My son usually goes the other way- when I need him to show why we need support, the acts as if he is the most typical kid ever... he used to have major violent fits when I would pick him up (in the library) at his old school and when I talked to them about providing support to get him  out of the building. They sent his case manager to observe and it was the only time ever that he didn't throw a fit. She decided he didn't need any help and the next day he took off his boot and hit me in the head with it while his little sister ran away down the hall. Of course no one saw that lol. 

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That's a bummer. That's happened with us before too, and I just feel like I want to pull my hair out when it does! DS went through a phase where he was having a really hard time getting to school. We would literally hold him down, kicking and screaming, to get him dressed and then trap him in his carseat (there's a reason we didn't teach him how to unbuckle himself ;) ). Then once we got him to school I would have to park and literally drag him, kicking and screaming, into the school. But his teachers and para and therapists were never there when it happened. I finally got fed up and told them they can either come downstairs to the parking lot and HELP me, or I was going to start taking ds through the drop off line and THEY would be responsible for getting ds out of the car while I stayed in the drivers seat (which would have held up the drop off line, backing traffic into the street and pissing off a LOT of people). Needless to say, I got help fairly quickly after that. And, of course, that phase ended shortly after that so the school thinks they did such a great job

When I picked up ds they said he had a fantastic day. The para who went to music with him was great (we love this para... kinda hoping he gets her next year as a para!) and ds transitioned beautifully. They said that the para will be going with him to specials tomorrow too, so hopefully this continues for the rest of the year (this week and next week).

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

I'm so sorry that you ds had a rough time, but I can't help giggling about the timing! LOL!