Staffing Meeting Today for Beth

[Guest guest]

Hello....

We received a call from our local district informing us that Beth's 3 year staffing was to be held today, telling us it wasn't necessary that we come; they could send a permission letter to us in the mail. I surprised them and showed up for it! I haven't set foot in a high school....a HUGE high school....ever. Mine was small, and that was 32 years ago! I even experienced life in the halls between classes today. You haven't lived until you've experienced THAT. Wow! I think this school has like 3000 kids.

Anyway, I found the guidance office where it was being held (finally). They were quite surprised to see me, I think. But they graciously welcomed me. There were about 6 people around the table, representing the medical aspect, the OT aspect, speech, social work, district administrator, etc. They were looking at Beth's file when I first got there. They pulled out a 5 page biography sketch I prepared on Beth back in 7th grade (yes, the year from hell). I created it using a picture of her, colored ink, a cute design and titled it "All About Bethany." They really seemed to like that! It helped them get to know her, and think of her as a person instead of a name, I think. I would highly recommend you consider doing that if you have a difficult IEP coming up. (You know...the ones where those people make decisions about your child when they don't even know him or her?) So even though this was 3 years old, it was still helping Beth's "cause."

We talked about what had changed since the last 3 year report in 7th grade. Lots had changed! They were all kind and helpful, and interested in Beth. It was a very nice meeting, actually! There was one thing that happened because I was there. They were going to just "review" her psych testing, saying that once IQ is established, it usually doesn't change (one lady was saying that anyway). I told them I would like them to give her that test again, as this is probably the last time she'll be eligible for testing. Her private school said she'll probably be ready to graduate in 2 years when she's 18 (as opposed to going until she's 21, which is an available option). So they talked and agreed and it's happening! I was happy that they listened to my request. And granted it!

They also told me the district sends questionable kids to a rehab hospital nearby where they do an evaluation to decide if the teen is capable of driving. So I'm definitely going to ask to have that done at our IEP, usually held in April. You know how I've wavered on that whole issue. We have a summer home and I told her she would have to learn to drive the golf cart first, this summer, before we start talking about driving a car. She agreed.

So that's my news. I hope you're all hanging in there with your kids today! They need you!

maralee

mom to Beth (16, AS/social anxiety/BP)

[Guest guest]

Maralee,

Wow wow

WOW!!!! ~hugs~ This is GREAT news!!! Give me luck… I have my first team meeting

for Micah on Tuesday. It is a school that I haven’t dealt with before Micah, as

our district lines were redrawn right before she started school… They definitely

aren’t as cooperative as the other schools in the area have been, and I am wondering

if we will all end up on the same page, or if I am going to have to declare war

to get any cooperation from them. (They are holding any written documentation

of their concerns hostage, in hopes of forcing me to sign a blanket waiver for

them to delve into Micah’s pre-adoption history. Her case worker says that

information being put into her file would be like a time bomb waiting to go

off, when some undereducated aide would get into her file, read the info, and

spread it around or exaggerate it… that it would permanently effect Micah’s

emotional/social health if she was forced to deal with this prior to adulthood)

Anyway, I won’t give them a blanket release. Her doctor prefers going through

me, as it means that he and I would discuss any information/forms to be

released at an appointment rather than his records clerk making that

determination as well as keeping us as the parents part of the process/in the loop.

I am soooo glad that Beth’s school really got it all together and that you are

all working well as a team!!! (Tyler’s school is awesome for that as well)

~hugs~

Rabecca

-----Original

Message-----

From: Maralee

[mailto:mparker72@...]

Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005

8:42 PM

mparker72@...

Subject:

Staffing Meeting Today for Beth

Hello....

We

received a call from our local district informing us that Beth's 3 year

staffing was to be held today, telling us it wasn't necessary that we come;

they could send a permission letter to us in the mail. I surprised them

and showed up for it! I haven't set foot in a high school....a HUGE high

school....ever. Mine was small, and that was 32 years ago! I even experienced

life in the halls between classes today. You haven't lived until you've

experienced THAT. Wow! I think this school has like 3000 kids.

Anyway,

I found the guidance office where it was being held (finally). They were quite

surprised to see me, I think. But they graciously welcomed me. There

were about 6 people around the table, representing the medical aspect, the OT

aspect, speech, social work, district administrator, etc. They were

looking at Beth's file when I first got there. They pulled out a 5 page

biography sketch I prepared on Beth back in 7th grade (yes, the year from

hell). I created it using a picture of her, colored ink, a cute design and

titled it " All About Bethany. " They really seemed to like that!

It helped them get to know her, and think of her as a person instead of a name,

I think. I would highly recommend you consider doing that if you have a

difficult IEP coming up. (You know...the ones where those people make decisions

about your child when they don't even know him or her?) So even though this was

3 years old, it was still helping Beth's " cause. "

We

talked about what had changed since the last 3 year report in 7th grade. Lots

had changed! They were all kind and helpful, and interested in Beth. It was a

very nice meeting, actually! There was one thing that happened because I

was there. They were going to just " review " her psych testing, saying

that once IQ is established, it usually doesn't change (one lady was saying

that anyway). I told them I would like them to give her that test again, as

this is probably the last time she'll be eligible for testing. Her private

school said she'll probably be ready to graduate in 2 years when she's 18 (as

opposed to going until she's 21, which is an available option). So they talked

and agreed and it's happening! I was happy that they listened to my request.

And granted it!

They

also told me the district sends questionable kids to a rehab hospital nearby

where they do an evaluation to decide if the teen is capable of driving. So I'm

definitely going to ask to have that done at our IEP, usually held in April.

You know how I've wavered on that whole issue. We have a summer home and I told

her she would have to learn to drive the golf cart first, this summer, before

we start talking about driving a car. She agreed.

So

that's my news. I hope you're all hanging in there with your kids today! They

need you!

maralee

mom

to Beth (16, AS/social anxiety/BP)

[Guest guest]

Good luck, Rabecca, with Micah!

It's so nice to experience a "good" staffing or IEP meeting...

Maralee

>^..^<

-----Original Message-----From: Rabecca Whalen [mailto:rabeccawhalen@...] Sent: Friday, February 04, 2005 4:07 PMAutism and Aspergers Treatment Subject: RE: Staffing Meeting Today for Beth

Maralee,

Wow wow WOW!!!! ~hugs~ This is GREAT news!!! Give me luck… I have my first team meeting for Micah on Tuesday. It is a school that I haven’t dealt with before Micah, as our district lines were redrawn right before she started school… They definitely aren’t as cooperative as the other schools in the area have been, and I am wondering if we will all end up on the same page, or if I am going to have to declare war to get any cooperation from them. (They are holding any written documentation of their concerns hostage, in hopes of forcing me to sign a blanket waiver for them to delve into Micah’s pre-adoption history. Her case worker says that information being put into her file would be like a time bomb waiting to go off, when some undereducated aide would get into her file, read the info, and spread it around or exaggerate it… that it would permanently effect Micah’s emotional/social health if she was forced to deal with this prior to adulthood) Anyway, I won’t give them a blanket release. Her doctor prefers going through me, as it means that he and I would discuss any information/forms to be released at an appointment rather than his records clerk making that determination as well as keeping us as the parents part of the process/in the loop. I am soooo glad that Beth’s school really got it all together and that you are all working well as a team!!! (Tyler’s school is awesome for that as well)

~hugs~

Rabecca

[Guest guest]

Well it sounds as though it was a productive meeting! I hope her testing goes well...when will that be able to happen?

Maralee <mparker72@...> wrote:

Hello....

We received a call from our local district informing us that Beth's 3 year staffing was to be held today, telling us it wasn't necessary that we come; they could send a permission letter to us in the mail. I surprised them and showed up for it! I haven't set foot in a high school....a HUGE high school....ever. Mine was small, and that was 32 years ago! I even experienced life in the halls between classes today. You haven't lived until you've experienced THAT. Wow! I think this school has like 3000 kids.

Anyway, I found the guidance office where it was being held (finally). They were quite surprised to see me, I think. But they graciously welcomed me. There were about 6 people around the table, representing the medical aspect, the OT aspect, speech, social work, district administrator, etc. They were looking at Beth's file when I first got there. They pulled out a 5 page biography sketch I prepared on Beth back in 7th grade (yes, the year from hell). I created it using a picture of her, colored ink, a cute design and titled it "All About Bethany." They really seemed to like that! It helped them get to know her, and think of her as a person instead of a name, I think. I would highly recommend you consider doing that if you have a difficult IEP coming up. (You know...the ones where those people make decisions about your child when they don't even know him or her?) So even though this was 3 years old, it was

still helping Beth's "cause."

We talked about what had changed since the last 3 year report in 7th grade. Lots had changed! They were all kind and helpful, and interested in Beth. It was a very nice meeting, actually! There was one thing that happened because I was there. They were going to just "review" her psych testing, saying that once IQ is established, it usually doesn't change (one lady was saying that anyway). I told them I would like them to give her that test again, as this is probably the last time she'll be eligible for testing. Her private school said she'll probably be ready to graduate in 2 years when she's 18 (as opposed to going until she's 21, which is an available option). So they talked and agreed and it's happening! I was happy that they listened to my request. And granted it!

They also told me the district sends questionable kids to a rehab hospital nearby where they do an evaluation to decide if the teen is capable of driving. So I'm definitely going to ask to have that done at our IEP, usually held in April. You know how I've wavered on that whole issue. We have a summer home and I told her she would have to learn to drive the golf cart first, this summer, before we start talking about driving a car. She agreed.

So that's my news. I hope you're all hanging in there with your kids today! They need you!

maralee

mom to Beth (16, AS/social anxiety/BP)

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

sometime before the first week in april, when we have her IEP

-----Original Message-----From: Congdon-Barnello [mailto:Luvourlives@...] Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 10:48 AMAutism and Aspergers Treatment Subject: Re: Staffing Meeting Today for Beth

Well it sounds as though it was a productive meeting! I hope her testing goes well...when will that be able to happen?

Maralee <mparker72@...> wrote:

Hello....

We received a call from our local district informing us that Beth's 3 year staffing was to be held today, telling us it wasn't necessary that we come; they could send a permission letter to us in the mail. I surprised them and showed up for it! I haven't set foot in a high school....a HUGE high school....ever. Mine was small, and that was 32 years ago! I even experienced life in the halls between classes today. You haven't lived until you've experienced THAT. Wow! I think this school has like 3000 kids.

Anyway, I found the guidance office where it was being held (finally). They were quite surprised to see me, I think. But they graciously welcomed me. There were about 6 people around the table, representing the medical aspect, the OT aspect, speech, social work, district administrator, etc. They were looking at Beth's file when I first got there. They pulled out a 5 page biography sketch I prepared on Beth back in 7th grade (yes, the year from hell). I created it using a picture of her, colored ink, a cute design and titled it "All About Bethany." They really seemed to like that! It helped them get to know her, and think of her as a person instead of a name, I think. I would highly recommend you consider doing that if you have a difficult IEP coming up. (You know...the ones where those people make decisions about your child when they don't even know him or her?) So even though this was 3 years old, it was still helping Beth's "cause."

We talked about what had changed since the last 3 year report in 7th grade. Lots had changed! They were all kind and helpful, and interested in Beth. It was a very nice meeting, actually! There was one thing that happened because I was there. They were going to just "review" her psych testing, saying that once IQ is established, it usually doesn't change (one lady was saying that anyway). I told them I would like them to give her that test again, as this is probably the last time she'll be eligible for testing. Her private school said she'll probably be ready to graduate in 2 years when she's 18 (as opposed to going until she's 21, which is an available option). So they talked and agreed and it's happening! I was happy that they listened to my request. And granted it!

They also told me the district sends questionable kids to a rehab hospital nearby where they do an evaluation to decide if the teen is capable of driving. So I'm definitely going to ask to have that done at our IEP, usually held in April. You know how I've wavered on that whole issue. We have a summer home and I told her she would have to learn to drive the golf cart first, this summer, before we start talking about driving a car. She agreed.

So that's my news. I hope you're all hanging in there with your kids today! They need you!

maralee

mom to Beth (16, AS/social anxiety/BP)

__________________________________________________