Re: School/

[Guest guest]

Aschdon has gone to school since he was 1. Started out in preschool school  and

continued on into kindergarten.Each year has been challenging but I am a

stubborn mom and have fought the teachers and principle, special educator and so

on. We have gone through many many aids, some not by our choice to have let go.

The school decides. Each year He has a new aid. In 4th grade he just had the

absolute worst year ever. For some examples, he was left in a diaper all day

with only 2 checks. Which is unexceptable as my son is toilet trained. he came

home and told me about it. Their reasoning was that he took too long in the

bathroom. My responce, he is tottally dependant on your help so it isnt just

him. We found that his aid was completing his assignments for him. At the end of

the year they did no testing to see where he was and then continued to give him

a report card that passed him.

We have a very specific IEP because not only of his SMA but he was also born a

premie and has many issues that are specific to that fact in his life. At the

end of the year he would literally cry and tremble if we put him in underwear

because he was afraid to ask to use the bathroom. During the year there was also

a point where the class was rewarded for him being in the bathroom for only 10

minutes. NOT OK!

We are homeschooling him this year in order to help get him back on track. He is

a very happy child now and many many people comment about how much happier he

is. He is excelling in school though he is having to learn all the 4th grade

stuff that supposedly he knew according to his assignments and report cards.

We have never been one to isolate our son, he does Special Olympics, he goes to

games at the schools, during the summer he goes to the baseball games. I truly

believe this year was needed for my son to get back his self esteem and self

respect.

At this time my husband I are ready to fight again. It will be a new school, new

principle, new teachers, and new special ed coordinator for him. I am just

wanting help in order to get him what he needs at school. An aid that is

qualified to help him, is comfortable with helping him (that was an issue, his

aid said she was uncomforable taking him to the bathroom)

Thank you for sharing. We too feel school is important for the social area. He

has so many good friends that he has grown up with. He evengot his first kiss

when he was in 3rd grade. I am sorry if my first post sounded like he had never

gone to school. He goes and he also goes to summer school because of how sick he

gets and how often he gets surgery.

Kenya

From: <way2square@...>

Subject: Re: School

Date: Monday, January 18, 2010, 10:08 AM

 

When was a baby, we made the decision that we would treat her

exactly like any other kid with all of the same expectations. It's a personal

decision to home school your special needs child, and we know several families

who do it successfully. But, in the end we decided that the only reason to home

school would have been because we were afraid others would not be able to

care for her correctly. For us, that was not a good enough reason so we sent

her to public school like any other child and we've never looked back.

She's now in sixth grade. There have been some rough situations, but looking

back I am surprised at how amazingly well its gone overall. I think has

learned social skills important for a disabled person in our society. For

example, she's learned that some people are unreliable, and that some strangers

will be afraid of her just because she uses a wheelchair. She's developed a

thick skin about complete strangers walking up to her and saying " don't run over

my toes " or " watch out you don't get a speeding ticket. " At the same time, she

has learned first hand that most people are kind-hearted, generous and helpful.

There are extremely decent people out there, but she knows that sometimes you

have to look to find them. Because is utterly dependent upon others for

so much, she has developed a keen understanding of human nature that many kids

never learn in their entire lifetime.

I think being in school has given her more than just socializing with her peers

and avoiding loneliness. I believe she is much more independent and will be

better equipped to get around in the world as she gets older. That has been

worth putting up with bone-headed aides, inconsiderate administrators and the

fatal danger of exposure to flu bugs.

>

> I know I don't post often and I apologize for that. I do read the posts and

say prayers for those that need it and rejoice with the milestones and good

news.

>  

> So I am posting now in regards to Aschdon going back to school next year. My

husband and I have been homeschooling him for this school year and it has been

going great. I wouldn't say he is caught back up from the lack of care he had in

school last year but he has made great strides. (for those of you that don't

know, Aschdon had a horrible year last year. We found out too late that his one

on one aid was doing his school work for  him, so instead of teaching him like

she was suppose when he was home bound she would do the work and turn it in.

Aschdon ended up being at a 3.5 grade level at the end of 4th due to this.)

>  This being said, he is so lonely. His friends are in so many activities and

such that he doesn't get to spend any time with them. I know education is

important but I feel for his emotional well being his friends are just as

important. We love having him home but we want to be able to help him grow apart

from us as well. Learn to rely and trust others again (last year ruined alot of

that, he has a very difficult time with others caring for him now). I want him

to experience dances, and the other classes the school has them do that we don't

do at home.

>  

> So I guess what I am asking, for those of you that send your kids to school, I

need ideas on how to get the proper kind of one on one help for my son. I need

some one that can care for his hygienically, nutrition, education, and be an

advocate for my son. I am going to be writing a letter to the principle, the

special education teacher and the nurse. Plus I would like to be able to have a

letter to give to the teachers and the students to take home (even though it is

a small community and alot of people know Aschdon I feel parents need to be

educated because alot of them are afraid to have their kids come over to our

house and Aschdon is never able to go to theirs). Aschdon is going to be going

into the 6th grade. That is what we are going to register him as. We have the

understanding that he will probably be pulled out for math and English classes

but there is no reason he cant do all of the other classes with his classmates

that he has gone to school

> with since preschool.

> I appreciate any kind of feed back, shared letters, ideas that are offered.

> Kenya

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You guys are AWESOME parents!

________________________________

From: Kenya Birkle <smamom2three@...>

Sent: Tue, January 19, 2010 10:51:51 AM

Subject: Re: School/

 

Aschdon has gone to school since he was 1. Started out in preschool school  and

continued on into kindergarten. Each year has been challenging but I am a

stubborn mom and have fought the teachers and principle, special educator and so

on. We have gone through many many aids, some not by our choice to have let go.

The school decides. Each year He has a new aid. In 4th grade he just had the

absolute worst year ever. For some examples, he was left in a diaper all day

with only 2 checks. Which is unexceptable as my son is toilet trained. he came

home and told me about it. Their reasoning was that he took too long in the

bathroom. My responce, he is tottally dependant on your help so it isnt just

him. We found that his aid was completing his assignments for him. At the end of

the year they did no testing to see where he was and then continued to give him

a report card that passed him.

We have a very specific IEP because not only of his SMA but he was also born a

premie and has many issues that are specific to that fact in his life. At the

end of the year he would literally cry and tremble if we put him in underwear

because he was afraid to ask to use the bathroom. During the year there was also

a point where the class was rewarded for him being in the bathroom for only 10

minutes. NOT OK!

We are homeschooling him this year in order to help get him back on track. He is

a very happy child now and many many people comment about how much happier he

is. He is excelling in school though he is having to learn all the 4th grade

stuff that supposedly he knew according to his assignments and report cards.

We have never been one to isolate our son, he does Special Olympics, he goes to

games at the schools, during the summer he goes to the baseball games. I truly

believe this year was needed for my son to get back his self esteem and self

respect.

At this time my husband I are ready to fight again. It will be a new school, new

principle, new teachers, and new special ed coordinator for him. I am just

wanting help in order to get him what he needs at school. An aid that is

qualified to help him, is comfortable with helping him (that was an issue, his

aid said she was uncomforable taking him to the bathroom)

Thank you for sharing. We too feel school is important for the social area. He

has so many good friends that he has grown up with. He evengot his first kiss

when he was in 3rd grade. I am sorry if my first post sounded like he had never

gone to school. He goes and he also goes to summer school because of how sick he

gets and how often he gets surgery.

Kenya

From: <way2square (DOT) com>

Subject: Re: School

@gro ups.com

Date: Monday, January 18, 2010, 10:08 AM

 

When was a baby, we made the decision that we would treat her exactly like

any other kid with all of the same expectations. It's a personal decision to

home school your special needs child, and we know several families who do it

successfully. But, in the end we decided that the only reason to home school

would have been because we were afraid others would not be able to care

for her correctly. For us, that was not a good enough reason so we sent her to

public school like any other child and we've never looked back.

She's now in sixth grade. There have been some rough situations, but looking

back I am surprised at how amazingly well its gone overall. I think has

learned social skills important for a disabled person in our society. For

example, she's learned that some people are unreliable, and that some strangers

will be afraid of her just because she uses a wheelchair. She's developed a

thick skin about complete strangers walking up to her and saying " don't run over

my toes " or " watch out you don't get a speeding ticket. " At the same time, she

has learned first hand that most people are kind-hearted, generous and helpful.

There are extremely decent people out there, but she knows that sometimes you

have to look to find them. Because is utterly dependent upon others for so

much, she has developed a keen understanding of human nature that many kids

never learn in their entire lifetime.

I think being in school has given her more than just socializing with her peers

and avoiding loneliness. I believe she is much more independent and will be

better equipped to get around in the world as she gets older. That has been

worth putting up with bone-headed aides, inconsiderate administrators and the

fatal danger of exposure to flu bugs.

>

> I know I don't post often and I apologize for that. I do read the posts and

say prayers for those that need it and rejoice with the milestones and good

news.

>  

> So I am posting now in regards to Aschdon going back to school next year. My

husband and I have been homeschooling him for this school year and it has been

going great. I wouldn't say he is caught back up from the lack of care he had in

school last year but he has made great strides. (for those of you that don't

know, Aschdon had a horrible year last year. We found out too late that his one

on one aid was doing his school work for  him, so instead of teaching him like

she was suppose when he was home bound she would do the work and turn it in.

Aschdon ended up being at a 3.5 grade level at the end of 4th due to this.)

>  This being said, he is so lonely. His friends are in so many activities and

such that he doesn't get to spend any time with them. I know education is

important but I feel for his emotional well being his friends are just as

important. We love having him home but we want to be able to help him grow apart

from us as well. Learn to rely and trust others again (last year ruined alot of

that, he has a very difficult time with others caring for him now). I want him

to experience dances, and the other classes the school has them do that we don't

do at home.

>  

> So I guess what I am asking, for those of you that send your kids to school, I

need ideas on how to get the proper kind of one on one help for my son. I need

some one that can care for his hygienically, nutrition, education, and be an

advocate for my son. I am going to be writing a letter to the principle, the

special education teacher and the nurse. Plus I would like to be able to have a

letter to give to the teachers and the students to take home (even though it is

a small community and alot of people know Aschdon I feel parents need to be

educated because alot of them are afraid to have their kids come over to our

house and Aschdon is never able to go to theirs). Aschdon is going to be going

into the 6th grade. That is what we are going to register him as. We have the

understanding that he will probably be pulled out for math and English classes

but there is no reason he cant do all of the other classes with his classmates

that he has gone to school

> with since preschool.

> I appreciate any kind of feed back, shared letters, ideas that are offered.

> Kenya

>

>

>

>

>