Re: Junior High

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your response Chris. As far as we can tell, funding for " special

needs' kids gets pooled at the junior high level (grades 7-9, some districts

here have middle schools too). Those resources then go into group therapy

and councelors. needs some one with him or someone to whom he can go

when he becomes overwhelmed. After 7 years in the same elementary school,

you can imagine he is well known. In junior high he will have more teachers

and a larger building in which to become disoriented. At least if he stays

in the French Immersion stream there will be a group of his peers in his

grade level who are familiar with him and have been very supportive over the

years. has to his advantage that he is very charasmatic, funny and

an excellent artist, leading adults and kids alike to tolerate more than

they might otherwise! People who have never lived with neuro-biological

disorders don't realize how these conditions can overwhelm and handicap what

would be " normal " coping strategies or how they can wax and wane. Plus

has been enjoying longer *good* periods, but then you hear " Well, he

was fine in September, why can't he cope in November? " Unfortunately, the

IPP we have is not as thorough as an IEP and is written up by the school

staff without input from a psychologist or specialized individual. As well

it overrides the report card so that, as his teacher complained, there is no

way to show how and where he is doing well, so this year his IEP was scaled

back to allow regular report cards. But I do think I am going to have to

find some outside help or support for him, someone to advocate on his behalf

and that is easier said than done.

ph

On Fri, 28 Dec 2001 17:57:14 -0000 " "

wrote:

Hi ph, glad things are looking up for your family! What you

mentioned about the upcoming junior high years (middle school here)

is something I always felt was unfair for those kids who can benefit

with 1:1 aide. Here it seems like when kids get to jr high, they're

either in a " special " class or combined or just sort of left on their

own; like they're expected to suddenly get better or grow up.

Luckily my kids don't need one, but I've thought about this as I've

known kids with 1:1 help in elementary school that get none in jr

high. And that really makes me wonder about high school. I really

dread high school for my OCD son ! No behaviors but it's like

he's helpless since his OCD began.

I would think the schools (those here too!) would have

someone " trained " to know about disorders instead of having to bring

in a psychiatrist. I know is the only kid with OCD

apparently at his school. But the more common ADD/ADHD, bipolar,

ODD, even Aspergers/autism - well, IMO, the schools should have a

knowledgeable person on staff about the best way to work with the

student.

Okay, I'm through ranting! Anyway, again, glad things are looking up

for your kids and you. And that's great that is looking after

Ginny so well. I wish I'd made my oldest son look after his younger

brothers. I think he'd be much more responsible and maybe in some

way closer to them. But since we live with " grandma " she was always

there, so no babysitting for big brother! I still think it would

have done him some good.

Well, keep us posted on all of you!