any ideas?

[Guest guest]

Well, more girl issues. We muddled through 's first period a

few weeks ago, mostly by staying home from school. Sadly, she got

another one on Monday (after 3 weeks) and since she was doing better

with her sensory issues and such, I sent her to school on Tuesday. The

plan was already in place for her aide to help her (as per the district

nurse), but I went in at lunch on Tuesday to show her which bathroom she

would use, where her stuff was, helped her change the pad, etc.

Wednesday they helped her at school, and it was fine. So, Thursday

comes, and I head over to school at lunch time to bring the lunch money

I forget to send, and I didn't see the aide in the lunch area to see if

they had already changed the pad. So, I grabbed and took her

to the bathroom, we did the job, and went back to the eating area...

still no aide. Now her aide is very hands off and not the velcro type,

but usually I can spot her in the vicinity. Finally some guy I'd never

seen before showed up, and I realized he was a sub for the regular

aide........ does anyone see a problem here?

So, turns out most everyone was gone to a memorial service, which I

completely understand is an atypical occurance. BUT, it brought to my

attention that (1) there was no plan for (and let's face it,

they could have called me and said " hey, we have to go to this funeral

and the sub aide who showed up is a guy.... do you want to help

? and of course I would have said yes...it's not like they were

asking me to come and do this every day!) (2) I'm certain this is a

personnel issue, so I have no say, and am sure that in her IEP next

month I can't write " a female aide " , and (3) she goes to middle school

next year, and the health attendant is also a male (great guy, but male

nonetheless.)

So, I don't think it's unreasonable to somehow specify that

received " female help " from a female, but I do know that according to

the district nurse " for a fully included student with an aide, the aide

is responsible for assisting that student with toileting and hygiene

issues. " So, if she were to get a male aide next year, I cant' think of

who would be her helper here.... it's not right for the school to ask

whomever is around to help her every month! Plus, this needs to be

someone is quite comfortable with, not just some female

stranger. Maybe I'm overprotective, but I don't think I want a man

helping my daughter with this!!!!!

Any ideas of how to write this (and where) to make sure that she has a

female aide? I'm hoping she gets over the " sticky " issues, and will be

able to do this on her own soon, but for the moment, I have to assume

she will need assistance (or at least supervision to make sure she gets

the pad in right) for a little while.

Just when you think you're on top of everything!

Thanks,

, mom to (13), (11 DS) and Sammy (9)