2 yr old speech, & 's IEP Review

[Guest guest]

Although speech articulation can vary GREATLY among even non-RSS children, I say

go with your gut instinct. However, that being said, I will tell you that in

Tyler's (non-RSS) preschool class, which is a parent coop, there are children

who are 3.5yrs for which I can barely understand anything they say. Just being

2 years old, many people wouldn't even think of starting speech t yet - so pat

yourself on your back for recognizing something early.

My question would be why do they want to reduce to one time per week during the

summer? Is it a school-funded program (they may have limited headcount)? If

not, if it is private, then I would stick to twice per week. We had the best

results with when we went twice a week to the speech therapist.

On the same note, I had 's mid-point IEP review yesterday. Our

convention speaker, Dr. Getch, gave me some great pointers. Although we will be

stopping speech during the summer (school funded, and we are gone 1/2 of the

summer), she will give us workbook exercises to do, planned out all summer. She

also is moving out of the " group " speech once/wk into semi-private

twice/wk (she and one other child) when she is in kindergarden next week. I

can't wait for everyone to listen to Dr. Getch speak at the convention (if you

are not able to make the convention, call MAGIC and order a copy of the

videotape!!!).

I did also learn that when and if no longer needs speech, and ONLY needs

physical accessibility/modifications (e.g., access to food/drink regularly,

stools under potties & sinks, etc), then she would be moved to a 504. I finally

understand the difference!!! An IEP provides some type of special education

service (OT, PT, speech, learning) as well as the access/modifc while a 504

provides only access/modifications for a child who has qualified in some manner

as " disabled. " 504s are still seen as valuable by the school because they

receive federal funding for them. AND, Dr. Getch said, if any of you (from the

emails we have seen lately) are still having trouble with your school districts,

she did indeed state that an RSS diagnosis does qualify a child as " disabled "

(or " other health impaired " .)

Meribeth - good luck!!! Rest assured, though, that I think that if you have to

only have speech 1x/wk for the summer, and then increasing again in the fall, I

can't imagine it would seriously impede him, it may just slow him down a bit.

RSS-Support wrote:

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Just curious for those of you with 2 year olds, how many words can

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he/she clearly say?  My son, TJ, can say just a few clearly.  His

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current ST thinks he has really come a long way , which I agree

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with,  however,he is very difficult to understand. He probably has

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about 10 words that anyone could understand if they really tried.

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I am curious if this is about average because the ST wants to reduce

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his therapy to once per week in the summer.  My feeling is that he

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should continue to go as often as early childhood will agree to until

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his speech is clear,  which I understand could be a long time from

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now.

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Thanks for your input,

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Meribeth

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