[Theoretica]

We have our IEP/MDT for DS (15) tomorrow. He's currently placed out of the home at a treatment group home and will be transitioning home in a few (6ish) weeks. His IEP addressed Dx's are: Autism (primary), paranoid schizoaffective disorder, IED/ODD, Tourette's, apraxia/articulation, Diabetes, and LD in written language (not sure why this is or what they plan to do about it but he's writing at a fifth grade level?).

Interestingly enough, he's also gifted in math...but they seem to ignore that detail while dealing solely with the stuff that he's behind in. Ugh.

So, it's a full blown MDT/IEP meeting. Any thoughts? Suggestions? BTDT advice about what to make sure gets in the IEP? I've been to plenty, just not in a while since he's been out of the home. And this MDT/IEP is the one they'll use as he transitions into his new school here at home. It's an exclusion school (level 3) so it's REALLY important we have our ducks in a row for him to get whatever services he needs from day one.

Talk to me mamas!

 

[lightheart]

I'm pretty new at the IEP stuff, preschool and 1st grader here so my advise may be elemenatry

One thing I have learned don't back down and be strong! have a conquor the world, I can climb mount everest in a day, superwoman attitude going in there! You can face these folks and you can be the best advocate for your son!!!

One thing that they have touched on in the parent traing classes is to look to the future- as in adult future once your child reaches the teen years where you are working on goals to get your child to live an independant as possible life. If I'm understanding correctly he is transitining from an away school to another school and you will be wanting to focus on that transition but don't forget to look long term at what, where he will be once he graduates completly. Life skills. What skills does he need to learn just to live day to day? shooting from my hip here so don't be offended if any of these skills may be already known... can he dress himself? can he fold clothes? clean? pay a bill? know value of money? does he know what to do to ride public transportation?

If he is gifted in math I would get something in there that would challenge him, make the school work at his level on that, don't let them just do the normal math with him, push his abilities to the max.

With the diabetes, do you have it together on when, where, who will do his testing during the day and who will administer meds if need be? What about allowing access to food or drink?

Do you have a plan in place in case of emergenies, whether it's diabetes related or just melt-down related, what happens, what steps should be taken?

I don't know what a level 3 exclusion school is

so this may not relate, Is there anything that he would enjoy doing like band or art? maybe he can't learn to play an instument, but would he want to be part of the band? could he be part of it by being there, handing out the music, helping to arrange the seats, the music stands... something where he feels he is part of the band.

Good luck tommorrow and remember the superwoman attitude!

 

[Theoretica]

Thanks for the motivating post...you rock!!!

An exclusion school is a completely separate public school for special needs kids, as opposed to an inclusion school, where the SN kids are integrated with the NT kids as close to 100% as possible, but may be pulled out for OT/PT/Speech/LD services etc. At this school the ultimate goal is 100% inclusion at a mainstream school, but it may or may not happen and everyone is aware of that. They will slowly add one class at the local high school at a time once he's showing he can give it a try successfully, and he'll have a 1:1 aide if/when that happens.

I'm not sure about electives...that's a great question! And the post high school life, I know that's automatically addressed at this school so I'll be sure and ask tomorrow, thanks for reminding me about that!!!

 

[Theoretica]

 

[lightheart]

How did the meeting go?

 

[Theoretica]

It went pretty well I think, all things considered. I forgot to ask about the writing delay, but since the meeting included the principal at the school he will be attending, I'm comfortable addressing that with her later.

I did find out the new school has a computer program for kids with aptitude/interest in such a thing...very awesome for math inclined autistic kiddos!

He's getting major testing accomodations, he'll be 100% level 3 for the time being, and he can earn one mainstream class (with 1:1) with 20 days of 90% positive/age appropriate behavior. Once he's mainstreamed for one class, the same applies...20 days straight of 90% and he can add another class. If he ever goes totally mainstream then he'd be level 2 transitioning to level 1.

There will be another one 45 days after he starts the new school, so if anyone has any specifics that are good to ask about/for please let me know! My main issue was making sure he was approved for FT exclusion, the rest is details right now LOLOL

I did get some interesting test scores from their assessments of him. I'll post them when they send the final report and see what everyone else's take is? I'd like to see how it compares to other SN kiddos I guess? There aren't many around here like him, I'm not sure what exactly happens to the SN kiddos when they become teens but apparently they just vanish...everyone I know who's kiddo was dx'd with autism now has their kids in mainstream classes with no special services or even an IEP! I think one of the frustrating things for me is that people forget that the cute little kid who stares into space and tiptoes in circles while flapping his hands grows up fast into a big hulking teen who stares into space and flicks his fingers by his eyes and rocks...there's a lot of support out there for little kids, but not the big guys.

Interestingly, they really feel strongly that the autism is his primary diagnosis, even over the schizophrenic tendencies, and that the Tourette's and hallucinations and everything else is just manifestations of the diagnostic spectrum, and he's just hit every single one of them. They also are saying they think he's FAS because specifically his working memory tested very low. Does anyone know anything about that?

Well, thanks for the good vibes. If anyone has any info, ideas, or whatever to share I'm all ears

~Theoretica