IEP and Added Services, Etc.

[Guest guest]

Hi All: I have a bunch of questions and I was wondering if any of

you are familiar with them or can point me in the right direction.

I took my 3yr. 8month old son to see Dr. Rose Merola (a dev.

pediatrician). She confirmed his mild apraxia diagnosis and also

said dyspraxia and mild sensory integration disfunction.

He currently attends the handicapped preschool program here in East

Brunswick. 5 days per week, 12:50 - 3:25. He also gets speech 3

days per week.

Dr. Merola suggested he get speech 4 days and also be in some sort of

integrated preschool program in addition to the handicapped preschool

for 3 days a week.

Here are my questions:

1) I don't think my district has an inclusion program for

preschoolers; does that mean that I should just put him in a private

preschool for the 3 days or does it mean my district has to provide

for that?

Also, my IEP is not due for review until November 2004. I don't have

to wait until then, do I, to present this info to the board of ed?

I'm not experienced dealing with the board of ed -- just want to know

how to proceed.

By the way, Dr. Merola was a great as everyone says she is.

I appreciate any info anyone can give me.

Thanks.

Patti Tagliaferro

[Guest guest]

> Hi All:

> Here are my questions:

>

> 1) I don't think my district has an inclusion program for

> preschoolers; does that mean that I should just put him in a

private preschool for the 3 days or does it mean my district has to

provide for that?

Get him into an inclusion class as soon as possible. The school

system should provide it for him. Our profoundly apraxic grandson

was kept in MID self-contained classrooms until I insisted on an

inclusion class last year in 5th grade. He did so well that he will

be in a regular 6th grade classroom this year. If they are not

exposed to age appropiate behaviors, they have no idea of what they

are expected to learn and how to behave in school.

> Also, my IEP is not due for review until November 2004. I don't

have to wait until then, do I, to present this info to the board of

ed?

Send a letter to the Head of Special Education requesting a meeting

to ammend the IEP. Send a copy of the doctor's recommendation with

the letter.

>

> I'm not experienced dealing with the board of ed -- just want to

know how to proceed.

Learn all you have to know. You will be your son's best advocate

throughout his school years because you know what his strengths and

weaknesses are better than anyone else. Here is a good website to

start with: IEP_guide/

Always searching,

grandmabrk

[Guest guest]

You can call an IEP at any time.

About the other question, you might want to post it at the IEP_guide

group. There are some real experts about IEPs there. Here's the

link:

IEP_guide/

>> Here are my questions:

>

> 1) I don't think my district has an inclusion program for

> preschoolers; does that mean that I should just put him in a

private

> preschool for the 3 days or does it mean my district has to

provide

> for that?

>

> Also, my IEP is not due for review until November 2004. I don't

have

> to wait until then, do I, to present this info to the board of ed?

>

> I'm not experienced dealing with the board of ed -- just want to

know

> how to proceed.

> > Thanks.

>

> Patti Tagliaferro

[Guest guest]

Hi Patti,

So glad it went well. technically you could fight the Least

Resrticted Environment issue which means children should be educated

in that environement with supports in place.

Sometimes districts will pay for private placement in these cases but

it is a tough battle. It also has to be non-denominational b/c of the

church/state thing.

You can also call a meeting at any time. They have to respond to you

within 15 days (may be 10 I forget) to schedule a meeting. You'll

want to have Dr. Merola's report before the meeting. Try and bring an

advocate if you can who knows the laws.

> Hi All: I have a bunch of questions and I was wondering if any of

> you are familiar with them or can point me in the right direction.

>

> I took my 3yr. 8month old son to see Dr. Rose Merola (a dev.

> pediatrician). She confirmed his mild apraxia diagnosis and also

> said dyspraxia and mild sensory integration disfunction.

>

> He currently attends the handicapped preschool program here in East

> Brunswick. 5 days per week, 12:50 - 3:25. He also gets speech 3

> days per week.

>

> Dr. Merola suggested he get speech 4 days and also be in some sort

of

> integrated preschool program in addition to the handicapped

preschool

> for 3 days a week.

> Here are my questions:

>

> 1) I don't think my district has an inclusion program for

> preschoolers; does that mean that I should just put him in a

private

> preschool for the 3 days or does it mean my district has to provide

> for that?

>

> Also, my IEP is not due for review until November 2004. I don't

have

> to wait until then, do I, to present this info to the board of ed?

>

> I'm not experienced dealing with the board of ed -- just want to

know

> how to proceed.

>

> By the way, Dr. Merola was a great as everyone says she is.

>

> I appreciate any info anyone can give me.

>

> Thanks.

>

> Patti Tagliaferro

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My son (3) is also in a half day preschool disabled program in our district.

I was also advised by our developmental Ped to get him into a regular

preschool program to learn social skills.

I called my case manager and was told that it I had three choices:

Put him in the full day program in preschool disabled. Not my choice because

this is for the really autistic children and not a very social program. My

son needs to learn social skills from other children and this would not help

him.

Put him in a full day private preschool program. If paid by school, it would

be chosen by the school. He would get services for OT and ST but from the

county not our local school district. Also not my first choice. I like him in

our local school with services with the school. I don't feel he would get

enough for his needs in your average preschool.

Leave him in the half day program in our district and pay for my own private

preschool. This is what I chose. I feel it best fits my son's needs. He is

getting the special attention and services from our school district and he

will be getting social interaction with typical 3 yr olds in your average 3 yr

old preschool. Most of the average preschools around here are 2 days a week for

3 yrs and three days for 4 yrs.

I am also in NJ. Not totallly thrilled with any of the developmental peds

that I have seen so far. Thanks for the info on Dr. Merola.

Can I ask if the speech 3x per week is private outside of school? My son is

getting 1x private and the rest with school during the school day. Just

wondering if should be having more private speech.

I was also told that I could ask for a IEP meeting anytime. I don't think

you have to wait until the annual review to have it changed.