-iep

[Guest guest]

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Many of your concerns are like mine in that the district may agree on what your

child needs, but will not put it in writing. You are having the sensibility and

forethought to deal with it early. This stalling and not being specific only

gets worse if you let it go. While we have received services for K-3, this year

the district brought in several supervisors. We were told they were for

additional resources...so far they have only said no to our requests and kept

things fuzzy. I was so annoyed after our last meeting (the second 2 hour

meeting for next year's iep....). I just got notice for the continuation

meeting....the district has added another supervisor to add to our confusion and

their strength over side-stepping issues and keeping things out of the iep or

putting them on a page that does not hold legal weight. I called a lawyer who

has dealt successfully with Fairfax County and the minute I mentioned the names

of the attendees, he confirmed all my thoughts.

I am not trying to scare you. I just want you to clearly map out your course,

back it up by the law, and have them document it on the iep. If you have an

audiologist who says should have AV therapy and that is what you choose to

use, then the district needs to give you an explanation in writing why they are

not putting it in the IEP along with their documentation of why they came to the

conclusions they did...Your instincts are right. You need to document on the

iep what needs...be specific. And, let them know that you will be bringing

a tape recorder to the meeting. I am sorry that I did not do this. I did not

want to appear to be too confrontational to start off with especially since

things were basically going well. However, the more I pushed toward

specificity, the more they resisted and upped the level of confusion in the

room....seems like we were getting what we wanted....everyone would certainly

continue to support my daughter...but no one would really spell it all out on

paper! I am now so frustrated with arguing with them (even though I remained

calm and spoke with clear points....) I am hiring an advocate. Other parents

have told me it will be the best money I have spent....(What a waste for a

process that shouldn't be that difficult based on the great progress Maggie has

made in K-3!)

I know I haven't really answered all of your questions. But I do think your

instincts are right. Take someone with you, tape record, and don't put up with

generalities or fuzzy answers. has " unique needs " and the IEP is there to

address those needs.

Good Luck -