1st IEP for my 4 year old

[Guest guest]

My 4 year old was dx with AS this past summer and I just had my first

ever IEP meeting. The IEP wasn't nearly as detailed as I thought it might

be and the jist of it seems to be this:

He'll begin next month going to an integrated preschool at the public

school 4 afternoons/week (8 hours/week)

He'll get twice/week 20 minute sessions with a speach and language

therapist (focused on pragmatics and social skills), one in the classroom

and one outside the class but with with a 'non-iep' peer from his class -

and the SL will consult with the preschool teacher 1 hr/month

Twice/week 20 minute OT sessions - again 1 in the classroom and one out

of the classroom, bother with peers involved in the OT so that it can

also be a social experience for him. 1 hr/month of OT consultation to the

preschool teacher.

That is it. Is that pretty standard for a child with significant AS

symptoms? Any thoughts or feedback would be very appreciated.

________________________________________________________________

Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today

Only $9.95 per month!

Visit www.juno.com

[Guest guest]

I am in no ways a Professional at this but I don't think he is

getting the right support that he needs.(from the district)

My son is also in the 4yr old range and was dx'd about a year ago

and had an IEP last November. He started attending an Early

Intervention Program that specializes with chidren with all kinds of

delays not just AS.

He attends 5x's a week at 2 hrs a day. He gets 1/2 hour speech

therapy and his Developmental is in the classroom. His Occupational

Is also 1/2 hour a day.THey don't make them the same time so the

sessions vary.

I would like to advise you however from growing up with an older

sibling with " Developmental Disorders " and watching a mother go

through the " chains " to get her what was back then the best possible

care, only to find there were more programs in the systems just noone

knew of them or directed her towards them.

I pushed for my son. I have to be his Advocate. I am not always

happy with what I hear in the " after facts " from the Cordinator or

Teacher. I am on a constant struggle for comunication and I hear all

the time that they are too busy.

I also have a problem with the way some aren't certified.I had

asked the cordinator if the teacher my son had last session was

certified with dealing with children with Aspergers or just with

Autism in general. I was told that eventually all of the teachers

were to be updated but that teacher was not. I know now to ask . My

son brought home and learned more in the 1 month of Summer session

than he did from January - June.

Right now he is in an afternoon session and I requested yesterday

to have him placed in the morning one because he is more attentive.

I am waiting to hear on that.

However his first teacher thought he was on Ritalin because his

therapist had prescibed and of course the records made it to the

school. I was uncomfortable with that and a 3 year old so I chose not

to give it to him . 2 days before the end of session I received a

message stating he was having outburst 2-5 times a session and was

uncontrollable. That I should have told her he wasn't on Ritilan.

I of course asked her if she forgot what a teacher/parent

conference was and why she never requested one if he was so hard to

handle.

(This of course was what brought me to talk to the cordinator.)

So, If you feel uncomfortable with what they gave you as a " game

plan " find out if there is a special education advocate in the school

system that you are in.

And don't hesitate to look up your State's Educational page up on

the internet. Most have them listed. This way you can get phone

numbers to people noone would ever expect you to get.

.

I have also been to the hospital for testing with my son and when

a Dx'd is ask I tell them Aspergers and 3 out of 4 nurses asked me

what that was.

So, this is a condition that has been around for a while but not

fully studied.

My sister is a Special Ed teacher in Massachusetts and was

fortunate enough to attend Tony Attwood seminars.In my home state of

Massachusetts they reconze that this is a growing disorder and

encourage their teachers to attend workshops.So far as giving them

the time off to do so and some get extra credits for doing so.

* Just a footnote. I have gone and purchased Child Development

Ciriculam Books that are used in College classes and Autism is

covered by maybe 5 pages if that and Aspergers is just a throw in

I live in Illinois. Can I ask where you are from if possible?

Don't be afraid to ask questions..And what you may think is a

stupid question may not be...This is YOUR child and you are his

support. You let everyone know this and don't ever let them tell you

your wrong. And always push if they claim they are busy. Follow your

first instinct and study IEP'S AND EIP'S . SECTION 504 AND IDEA PLAN.

I have that all (on my desperatly needed of updating home page)

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/doit4noah

And if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask .. I am

sure most of us in here have wondered the same things ...

> My 4 year old was dx with AS this past summer and I just had my

first

> ever IEP meeting. The IEP wasn't nearly as detailed as I thought it

might

> be and the jist of it seems to be this:

>

> He'll begin next month going to an integrated preschool at the

public

> school 4 afternoons/week (8 hours/week)

>

> He'll get twice/week 20 minute sessions with a speach and language

> therapist (focused on pragmatics and social skills), one in the

classroom

> and one outside the class but with with a 'non-iep' peer from his

class -

> and the SL will consult with the preschool teacher 1 hr/month

>

> Twice/week 20 minute OT sessions - again 1 in the classroom and one

out

> of the classroom, bother with peers involved in the OT so that it

can

> also be a social experience for him. 1 hr/month of OT consultation

to the

> preschool teacher.

>

> That is it. Is that pretty standard for a child with significant AS

> symptoms? Any thoughts or feedback would be very appreciated.

>

>

> ________________________________________________________________

> Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today

> Only $9.95 per month!

> Visit www.juno.com