Re: Group vs Individual Therapy and Behavior issues...questions...

[Guest guest]

I was told that any change to my son's therapy at school has to be in his IEP.

Did you ask them why they say they can't write why what they are doing in his

IEP? From what I learned in this group they won't put something in writing when

they say something that isn't right but you should ask for it. Kate

>

> Hi.

>

> I have received some great information regarding group vs individual speech

therapy with a child who has apraxia. I strongly believe that individual

therapy is where gains are made. My son's school is starting to push for more

group therapy.

>

> Here is my 6.5 year old son's breakdown.

>

> Speech therapy: 120min/week (60 individual, 60 group) The 60 minute group

therapy is with 7-10 children (his special ed class). They do speech and OT

together as a group. I observed this group,and while it was good, I question

the effectiveness for my son...it really looked more like how a special ed class

should run...maybe I am way off base though. When his IEP was written last

year, I did not realize that his group time would be shared with 7-10 other

children. I thought it would be with 2-3 children.

>

> The school would like to add more group time for him. They say it would be

with 1-2 other children yet they say they cannot write that in his IEP.

Actually, they say, they do not even separate the minutes into individual vs

group and do not want to do so for the next year. (My son was in another school

last year). He is in our county's special ed program (not the district

program) so this all a bit disappointing.

>

> Why add on more group minutes? The school says it is because of my son's

behavior...he is not cooperative (obstinate and non-compliant) but with another

child or two , they say he is more willing. I know my son has behavior issues.

That is not new to us but it is new to the school ( this is his first year going

to school all day).

>

> My question: Should I allow more group therapy based on his behavior?

> Do I legally have the right to demand that they specify how his minutes will

be used, group vs individual, and with group - how many children?

>

> I am torn... I feel that if I allow more group time then eventually he will no

longer have any individual time. I am not satisfied with his group time already

(the children are at all different level of speech...my son is most severe or at

least the second most severe in his class - based on the observation). Yet, if

he will not cooperate during the individual time, then is group therapy the way

to go?

>

> My son has made gains over the years. He will not say 3-4 word utterances but

the majority of the time it is 1 word then 2-3 words. Even so, his

intelligibility is very low... most people can catch a word or two but without

knowing him, they tend to not have much clue to what he is saying. we have

conversations based on me asking questions and him answering in one word, a

gesture or a few words. The conversations are not in depth....no details are

usually involved. That is just the tip of the iceberg for his issues.

>

>

> Any insights would be most appreciated.

>

>

> Before I end this email, I would like to give a shout out to Barbara

(firedog665)... she has been very helpful in sharing with me information that

she has gathered. Thanks Barbara! I greatly appreciated your willingness to

share with me.

>

> Thanks.

> -Deanna-

>

> By the way, I am finding this group to be very insightful. The posts have

provided me much information, food for thought. I am very glad I found this

group.

>