Re: HELP first IEP meeting

[Guest guest]

First, you can bring anyone with you who will be a support for you.

You can bring an advocate or a friend who knows your child and what

helps or make things more difficult for your child.

Second, I would bring any assessment results, or recommendations you

have been given previously so that if a question about any area comes

up, you have some backup documentation.

In previous IEPs I have brought an Area 2 board rep., my son's

Regional Center worker, a trained advocate from the Family empowerment

center, my son's respite care worker, and my older daughter who is

familiar with my son's unique needs/reactions.

Kathy J.

On 10/3/10, Ebony <yamesee01@...> wrote:

> Dont know what to expect at this meeting? I want to go prepared to get my 4

> y/o son all the services he need? Can anyone enlighten me with this process?

> its been recommended that he recieve OT/PT 3-5 times a week.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Has he been evaluated by the IEP team for OT, PT and Speech?

It sounds like he has had the evaluation. Will your son attend

a public school paid for pre school. In NJ schools provide this

for kids that are classified. A school psychologist could provide

a 2 child peer play session to help your son with social skills.

With such a young child they use play therapy or floortime.

It seems not to many therapist are trained in floortime though.

Floortime is a therapy developed to draw kids out that are Autistic.

When he enters kindergarten you will need to explore if he

is mainstreamed or in a special needs class.

Pam

>

> Dont know what to expect at this meeting? I want to go prepared to get my 4

y/o son all the services he need? Can anyone enlighten me with this process? its

been recommended that he recieve OT/PT 3-5 times a week.

>

[Guest guest]

Bring a friend adn record the session, bring paper and have a list of what you want and what issues you have ntoiced- if the meeting is going in a direction you disagree with ask if you can stop the meeting and finish at a later date- then call disability rights or parent advocate group in your area for assistance- First IEPs are tpugh- in my experience they seem to deniy everythign the first time around- so be rpepared that they tell you howaverage and wonderful your child is and how they do nto see he needs any help at all-

From: Ebony <yamesee01@...>Subject: ( ) HELP first IEP meeting Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 10:03 AM

Dont know what to expect at this meeting? I want to go prepared to get my 4 y/o son all the services he need? Can anyone enlighten me with this process? its been recommended that he recieve OT/PT 3-5 times a week.

[Guest guest]

Ask if you can get a copy of the school's recommendations prior to the meeting.

The school is NOT supposed to present a completed IEP at the meeting but most

schools come in with an already completed IEP. If they do this then they should

be willing to update it based on your meeting.

Don't agree to/sign the IEP until you have taken it home and had time to

throughly review it. You have 30 days from the time that they send the completed

IEP to you. Don't be surprised if they back date to the date of the meeting.

Make sure all services appear on the service grid portion of the IEP. I had one

school state my son needed 1-1 ST within the IEP but it wasn't on the service

grid so he didn't get it.

Make sure that they include measurable goals. Goals should not be written like

" he will receive OT to improve his fine motor skills.} An example of an

acceptable goal would be " he will receive OT to improve his mature pencil grasp

60% of the time. " Goals should alway aim the bar high. Too many schools try to

low bar goals so that they are too easily made.

If you have any private professionals that deal with your son and are willing to

review the IEP and give you feedback then ask them to do so.

Don't be afraid to reject the IEP in part or in full. You are there to advocate

for your son not there to make school officials happy.

Don't be like me and be so naive at your first IEP that you let the school

officials bowl you over. That was the first and last time that I I allowed that

to happen.

Caroline