Re: Daughter going into high school

[Guest guest]

Start with questions to the district.

Federal law says that a student with disabilities is educated through 21 (in IL,

that means to the weekday before turning 22) UNLESS the student receives a high

school diploma before that.

First question: will my daughter qualify for a high school diploma? If yes,

does she have the option to defer that diploma until after the district

transition program?

High school is a time for many students w/DD to focus more on social skills and

employment skills, and less on academics. Is there a class on employment

skills? Is there any in-school or school-supervised work program, perhaps in

connection with the state's Div of Rehab Services? If no to both, then how do

they help students prepare for the work force?

Is your daughter interested in extra-curricular activities? Sports, music,

theater tech, clubs? Could she do those w/support? Is support available?

(Some high schools are willing, but they can't find aides who wish to work after

school.)

If extra-curricular options are limited, or she isn't interested in what's

offered, look into your local special rec association. The friends she makes

there are still going to be around after high school is done.

Once she gets to high school, meet other spec ed parents, especially those with

kids like your daughter who are a year or more ahead of her. Stay in touch and

find out what those kids do in transition, etc.

-Gail

________________________________

From: autismcc <autismcc@...>

IPADDUnite

Sent: Tue, November 23, 2010 7:11:41 AM

Subject: Daughter going into high school

My daughter will be going to high school next year. Any advice from parents on

what to ask for in regards to the IEP or support, things to focus on,

assessments to ask for? Things you thought of later that you wished you did?

Thanks!

--Dawn

[Guest guest]

I know every student is so different but I was very adamant that the school

would not sacrifice academics for life skills. My son Noah's IEP had a balance

of life skills, academics and vocational experiences. Now, several years

post-graduation, Noah has a a couple of small part-time jobs, he attends two day

programs part-time and he audits a college class two semesters a year. Try to

think in terms of what your daughter's life should look like as a young adult.

Ellen

>

> Start with questions to the district.

>

> Federal law says that a student with disabilities is educated through 21 (in

IL,

> that means to the weekday before turning 22) UNLESS the student receives a

high

> school diploma before that.

>

> First question: will my daughter qualify for a high school diploma? If yes,

> does she have the option to defer that diploma until after the district

> transition program?

>

>

> High school is a time for many students w/DD to focus more on social skills

and

> employment skills, and less on academics. Is there a class on employment

> skills? Is there any in-school or school-supervised work program, perhaps in

> connection with the state's Div of Rehab Services? If no to both, then how do

> they help students prepare for the work force?

>

>

> Is your daughter interested in extra-curricular activities? Sports, music,

> theater tech, clubs? Could she do those w/support? Is support available?

> (Some high schools are willing, but they can't find aides who wish to work

after

> school.)

>

>

> If extra-curricular options are limited, or she isn't interested in what's

> offered, look into your local special rec association. The friends she makes

> there are still going to be around after high school is done.

>

> Once she gets to high school, meet other spec ed parents, especially those

with

> kids like your daughter who are a year or more ahead of her. Stay in touch

and

> find out what those kids do in transition, etc.

>

> -Gail

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: autismcc <autismcc@...>

> IPADDUnite

> Sent: Tue, November 23, 2010 7:11:41 AM

> Subject: Daughter going into high school

>

>

> My daughter will be going to high school next year. Any advice from parents on

> what to ask for in regards to the IEP or support, things to focus on,

> assessments to ask for? Things you thought of later that you wished you did?

> Thanks!

> --Dawn

>

>

>

>

>

>