Re: Death by IEP ( a slow and painful death I might add)

[Guest guest]

Debra,

We had the same issues when my son was attending public school, and

even when he was attending an out of district placement. He was at

a school for kids with severe emotional behavioral issues. We had

stressed the need for Lucas to have a quiet place to go to when he

needed to re-group. It seems that schools can't find a place. Even

when they might have a quiet space, they cannot leave the child

alone. Lucas could not relax when he knew there was an adult

watching him.

At the school that I work at, we have developed a " Chill Zone " for

just that purpose. There was a hallway that was in the back of the

building which only the custodian used. We put mats on the walls

and the floor for protection. There is a window in the door so the

adult can sit outside the door and look in. We have had great

success. The space is non stimulating and quiet. Maybe you can

help them create a space????

There is a wonderful book that I have recommended to folks about

meltdowns. Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments by

Myles.

Hope some of this helps.

Pam Denzler

>

> What do you do when there is not enough support in the school

system?

>

> We are looking for one quiet room during the day to be able to

escape in (that isn't having an assembly or a pizza party weekly

right when we need it for a meltdown). They don't have one.

>

> The school refused to work with us to set up a meeting that our

home behaviorist could attend, explaining that they had sufficient

training to modify the behavior program. (this has proven of course

to be incorrect)

>

> We need more direct supervision by a behaviorist at the school,

someone (other than me!) continually tweaking the school behavioral

plan, and an autism person supervising the aides. Someone looking

at the data, taking data, and making reasonable changes.

>

> We have had 3 suspension this year for obsessional related

meltdowns.

>

> How do I make this happen without an attorney?

>

> Any suggestions. And, if I DID work with an attorney how do I

make a case for any of this? How do I explain or argue that our

current people aren't involved enough and aren't trained enough?

>

[Guest guest]

Anytime a child is having meltdowns, etc., I would think an attorney would TAKE THE CASE. But, given the circumstances, if you have an attorney (not necessarily a 'school attorney' at this point, I would speak with them, and get permission to CC them the letter----you would be amazed at how that works wonders---also, have the behavoralist WRITE YOU a letter, telling YOU they believe a meeting at school needs to be had (and all the concerns you and they have). You write a cover letter, and send a copy with a note stating right in it that you are disappointed that the behavioralist's schedule was not allowed to be accomodated by the school for your IEP meeting, but that you just received this letter today, showing the concerns, and you are demanding a meeting to address their concerns with your child, as they are working outside of the school with stated child, etc.--and, in addition to CCing it to lawyer, CC it to the school principal, assistant principal (if there is one), if any meds are given at school--the school nurse, teacher in the classroom, classroom aide, and perhaps school board members (or, if nothing is done, you send one to them) letting them know how the school is handling your special needs child and potentially violating your child's rights, which you hope they will address prior to you needing to hire an attorney. You could probably go that way, and avoid having to even go 'attorney.' Most boards don't like to hear those kinds of things, and if it gets to the board, things will usually be addressed (especially with good members on it---my cousin is on the board, and he immediately addressing such issues and takes them VERY VERY seriously!!!). Just ideas and brainstorming. Hope that helps.

Ruthie

( ) Death by IEP ( a slow and painful death I might add)

What do you do when there is not enough support in the school system?

We are looking for one quiet room during the day to be able to escape in (that isn't having an assembly or a pizza party weekly right when we need it for a meltdown). They don't have one.

The school refused to work with us to set up a meeting that our home behaviorist could attend, explaining that they had sufficient training to modify the behavior program. (this has proven of course to be incorrect)

We need more direct supervision by a behaviorist at the school, someone (other than me!) continually tweaking the school behavioral plan, and an autism person supervising the aides. Someone looking at the data, taking data, and making reasonable changes.

We have had 3 suspension this year for obsessional related meltdowns.

How do I make this happen without an attorney?

Any suggestions. And, if I DID work with an attorney how do I make a case for any of this? How do I explain or argue that our current people aren't involved enough and aren't trained enough?

[Guest guest]

Hi Debra. It sounds like it IS time for an attorney or at least an OUTSIDE person. I wouldn't worry about how you'd make your case,,,,,,,,,you simply do what you've done here and let them know what you've dealt with. Did you document things? That'll help. Even if you simply wrote things that happened, down. Good luck and keep us posted. Have a super day and remember that you're a great mom who's just trying to get your son what he DESERVES. RobinDebra Balke <dlbalke@...> wrote: What do you do when there is not enough support in the school system? We are looking for one quiet room during the day to be able to escape in (that isn't having an assembly or a pizza party weekly right when we need it for a meltdown). They don't have one. The school refused to work with us to set up a meeting that our home behaviorist could attend, explaining that they had sufficient training to modify the behavior program. (this has proven of course to be incorrect) We need more direct supervision by a behaviorist at the school, someone (other than me!) continually tweaking the

school behavioral plan, and an autism person supervising the aides. Someone looking at the data, taking data, and making reasonable changes. We have had 3 suspension this year for obsessional related meltdowns. How do I make this happen without an attorney? Any suggestions. And, if I DID work with an attorney how do I make a case for any of this? How do I explain or argue that our current people aren't involved enough and aren't trained enough? __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

The school should have an area such as the

nurses area or the counselor’s office that he could go. It needs to be

put in his IEP that they must deal with his obsessions. One child I worked

with last year I met because he had had a meltdown because the teacher wanted

him to sound out Mississippi

and wouldn’t tell him how to spell it. That wasn’t the problem,

the problem came when he found out he had misspelled it. He hit the child next

to him because she hadn’t told him how to spell it. I explained to the

teacher (who was more than willing to make any changes that would help) that it

really isn’t worth taking a stand on something like that. His obsession

was geography and he couldn’t cope with a city or state being

misspelled. He did MUCH better after I explained to the teacher just what

Asperger was (he didn’t have a diagnosis) and how to effectively deal

with “issues”.

Jolinna

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Debra Balke

Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007

11:21 PM

To:

Subject: ( ) Death

by IEP ( a slow and painful death I might add)

What do you do when there is not enough support in the

school system?

We are looking for one quiet room during the day to be able

to escape in (that isn't having an assembly or a pizza party weekly right when

we need it for a meltdown). They don't have one.

The school refused to work with us to set up a meeting that

our home behaviorist could attend, explaining that they had sufficient training

to modify the behavior program. (this has proven of course to be

incorrect)

We need more direct supervision by a behaviorist at the

school, someone (other than me!) continually tweaking the school behavioral

plan, and an autism person supervising the aides. Someone looking at the

data, taking data, and making reasonable changes.

We have had 3 suspension this year for obsessional related

meltdowns.

How do I make this happen without an attorney?

Any suggestions. And, if I DID work with an attorney

how do I make a case for any of this? How do I explain or argue that our

current people aren't involved enough and aren't trained enough?

[Guest guest]

>

>

> At the school that I work at, we have developed a " Chill Zone " for

> just that purpose. There was a hallway that was in the back of the

> building which only the custodian used. We put mats on the walls

> and the floor for protection. There is a window in the door so the

> adult can sit outside the door and look in. We have had great

> success. The space is non stimulating and quiet. Maybe you can

> help them create a space????

>

> There is a wonderful book that I have recommended to folks about

> meltdowns. Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments by

> Myles.

>

My 6th grade son was responsible for his elementary having a Cool Zone. It was

literally a

storage closet, about 30 sq ft, if that, which happened to be in the hall near

his fourth

grade classroom. (That was the year he started having them.) There was a

therapy ball

and mini-tramp. And some storage boxes. LOL But it was something. The door

had a

window in it, so he could be monitored in those times before he wanted to talk.

His resource room at the middle school has a similar space-smaller but a little

nicer.

Painted walls and everything. Two bean bags. That's it. But there are others

that use it,

too. My 8th grade son's resource room has a much larger Quiet Room, but some

kids

actually work in there. My 6th grade son is not allowed to have work in the

Cool Zone.

But we won't retell THAT story...

I bought " the meltdown book " for the elementary school staff, and the middle

school staff.

The MS staff loved it so much they bought additional copies for each grade

level.

I am in this for _everyone's_ benefit.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

I doubt you would have to convince an attorney of the problem. <g>

You can request an IEP meeting any time you have a good reason for doing so. If the plan is not working then that would be a good reason. Your behavior therapist can be there whether they like it or not. If they would not schedule a meeting with me, I would start writing people up the food chain until I find one who realizes this violates your rights and makes them do this.

The way to get someone else into the process is to prove that what they are doing is not working. Obviously, if your child is being suspended for behaviors, then the BP is not meeting his/her needs. Data proves all. Document and get copies of all data. Ask them to send you the current data that they are taking on the current BP. Either they never bothered to take data or they have data showing it's not working or they will lie and make data up. If it is made up, it will not match reality. For instance, "How come this data shows she is always doing well and yet, she is suspended for behavior, the teacher in this class says it is not working - where is the data for these episodes/problems?"

Using this data, you can again go up the food chain complaining that the BP is not working and that your team is refusing to meet to discuss why it isn't working and how to fix it with you. CC up the food chain. If you don't get results, start CCing the school board members. CC the state depart of education. Call them and tell them about your school refusing to meet with you, refusing to change a plan that isn't working, consider filing a complaint with them. IOW, start out small and as you meet resistance and refusal, go over that person's head...then over and over until you get a satisfactory resolution.

RoxannaAutism Happens

( ) Death by IEP ( a slow and painful death I might add)

What do you do when there is not enough support in the school system?

We are looking for one quiet room during the day to be able to escape in (that isn't having an assembly or a pizza party weekly right when we need it for a meltdown). They don't have one.

The school refused to work with us to set up a meeting that our home behaviorist could attend, explaining that they had sufficient training to modify the behavior program. (this has proven of course to be incorrect)

We need more direct supervision by a behaviorist at the school, someone (other than me!) continually tweaking the school behavioral plan, and an autism person supervising the aides. Someone looking at the data, taking data, and making reasonable changes.

We have had 3 suspension this year for obsessional related meltdowns.

How do I make this happen without an attorney?

Any suggestions. And, if I DID work with an attorney how do I make a case for any of this? How do I explain or argue that our current people aren't involved enough and aren't trained enough?

[Guest guest]

Oh they will meet with us, I have data every 30 minutes since July 30th on both aspie kids in my house with the current behavioral program, it shows 19 meltdowns in August 27 in September, and estimated on track for 38 in October. They will meet, they just say they are looking into it and they just keep looking into it and looking into it.

I finally complained to the county office of education and I am getting action. Suddenly a quiet room magically appeared yesterday and the county is looking into things. The school autism consultant who I am friends with quit his program yesterday and wrote a detailed letter stating he needed MUCH MUCH more than they can provide and detailed what that would look like. Our home behaviorist is writing a similar letter, etc. etc.

I think I might be getting somewhere finally.......

( ) Death by IEP ( a slow and painful death I might add)

What do you do when there is not enough support in the school system?

We are looking for one quiet room during the day to be able to escape in (that isn't having an assembly or a pizza party weekly right when we need it for a meltdown). They don't have one.

The school refused to work with us to set up a meeting that our home behaviorist could attend, explaining that they had sufficient training to modify the behavior program. (this has proven of course to be incorrect)

We need more direct supervision by a behaviorist at the school, someone (other than me!) continually tweaking the school behavioral plan, and an autism person supervising the aides. Someone looking at the data, taking data, and making reasonable changes.

We have had 3 suspension this year for obsessional related meltdowns.

How do I make this happen without an attorney?

Any suggestions. And, if I DID work with an attorney how do I make a case for any of this? How do I explain or argue that our current people aren't involved enough and aren't trained enough?