Transitioning

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/01 6:09:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time, crltn5@...

writes:

<< My son has problems with traisitioning. Any suggestions? They do use a

schedule at school but my friend says are they using it properly? Give me

some tips or strategies I can pass on to teacher and aide. He is also doing

things to get attention. Is he bored?

Wash DC >>

Is it any transition? Are there some transitions that are successful? Is

reinforcement for appropriate transitions being provided? Are the problems

occurring when leaving highly preferred activities to go to non-preferred

activities? I once had a student that had a very difficult time

transitioning from computer time to work time. He screamed and banged his

head when leaving the computer. I arranged the schedule so that snack (also

highly preferred) followed computer time. He never had a tantrum again when

leaving the computer. He also never had a tantrum when leaving snack to go

to work. This may have been due to snack being a close-ended activity (i.e.,

you're done when no more food is available) and computer being open-ended

(i.e., you're done when you want to do something else). Snack times were

sometimes 2 popcorn kernels. Perhaps there are schedule arrangements that

would lead to appropriate transitions for your child.

[Guest guest]

,

The following things have worked for ph (only if the teacher is organized):

Get him a watch, so he knows the time

Prompting 10 minutes prior to transition and then again at 5 minutes - do this at home too. An example might be a 15 minute warning before leaving to go somewhere or bedtime, then 10 minute, then 5 minute. Practice with things he likes to do because that is where transitioning is the most difficult.

Going over the schedule with him

Making lists of the times - may need them visually

Of course there will be times when schedules change, we run late, etc.. I just do my best during those times. I will tell you that my boss understands that if I am running late in the mornings - then I am late. I never make my kids late because I slept in, etc. It is worth it not to mess up their day!

Marilyn (mom to ph, 12 - Asbergers, and Rebekah 9)

Clinton, MS

-----Original Message-----From: crltn5@... [mailto:crltn5@...]Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 8:07 AMautism Subject: TransitioningMy son has problems with traisitioning. Any suggestions? They do use a schedule at school but my friend says are they using it properly? Give me some tips or strategies I can pass on to teacher and aide. He is also doing things to get attention. Is he bored? Wash DC

[Guest guest]

IEP_guide/links , end of the 1st

quarter is nearing! see behavior links

> My son has problems with traisitioning. Any suggestions? They do

use a

> schedule at school but my friend says are they using it properly?

Give me

> some tips or strategies I can pass on to teacher and aide. He is

also doing

> things to get attention. Is he bored?

>

>

> Wash DC

[Guest guest]

:

How do they use a schedule at school? Picture schedule or word schedule? I review schedules w/ Shelby beforehand so she can gear up. Then, to keep her going I refer back to the schedule. This also works in school. As for doing things to get attention, yes he could be bored. Maybe when he's doing these things, he can take a short motor break and then come back to his work.

Missy in Md.

-----Original Message-----From: crltn5@... [mailto:crltn5@...]Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 9:07 AMautism Subject: TransitioningMy son has problems with traisitioning. Any suggestions? They do use a schedule at school but my friend says are they using it properly? Give me some tips or strategies I can pass on to teacher and aide. He is also doing things to get attention. Is he bored? Wash DC

[Guest guest]

Is there anything on Tony Attwood's site about transitioning?

I think you are absolutely, 100% correct.

We had transitioning built into my daughter's IEP.

Penny

transitioning

I am looking for anything in writing - pamphlets, articles, etc. - that

would explain the consultant's inclusion/transition/in-service components of

a 6 year old's program. I would present this at DP and it would help explain

how this process works (and helps) in general. My son is autistic and slowly

transitioning into a 1/2 day of typical K w/an indiv. aide, and 1/2 day is

in LLD1 class w/an aide. The transition was only carried out for 2 days a

week until June, and then he went a couple weeks for 3 days. Our district

feels this was a success and he can go completely into the district's

program this fall w/o anything other than a one day workshop at his private

school (hopefully) for the teacher and aides (all with no background in

autism, my son or special education). The transition to our district is

being done poorly and with no coordination.

I need expertise to show what is required to set him up for success, and

not set him up for failure.

[Guest guest]

+Research, research, research, your pre-school's and investigate. Get a feel

for where you feel comfortable. Go back and look at the placements more than

one time at different times of day. It is not easy to let them go I know. I was

scared to death with Micah being non-verbal, but I felt good in the school in

which I placed him and he grew and flowered there.

Loree

Transitioning

I am somewhat new to this group and I have never posted before, but know I

need some advice;

I have a three year old (on Friday) transitioning out of Early Intervention,

I know I should be happy, but I am finding myself scared. I am not sure I

am ready to hand him over to someone else four mornings a week. I know it

is a good thing but a am a little nervous. How did you all get through

this.

- Mom to 4- Robbie (7.5) , Zoë (7) , (3) DS, (1)

Massachusetts

[Guest guest]

Our daughter (3 1/2ds ) started school this year, mornings m-f. The

teacher and 2 aides came to our house 5 days before school started to meet her

and have her get used to them. We felt so apprehensive about her being picked

up at day care and riding a bus to school. We are getting used to it and she

loves it. She is always getting her backpack and walking around the house with

it on, she looks so cute. So far everything is going extremely well. I know your

apprehension, but we must let our children grow up also. Have faith and things

will go well. Good luck

john

[Guest guest]

>

> I am somewhat new to this group and I have never posted before, but know I

> need some advice;

> I have a three year old (on Friday) transitioning out of Early Intervention,

> I know I should be happy, but I am finding myself scared. I am not sure I

> am ready to hand him over to someone else four mornings a week. I know it

> is a good thing but a am a little nervous. How did you all get through

> this.

My son Nicky turned 3 on 9/18 and it's been great. He's at a nearby elementary

school in a

class with 6 kids and 2 teachers. There are a range of disabilities in the

class. The testing

process was a little nerve wracking for me at the outset but ended up being no

big deal.

The IEP meeting wasn't any harder than an IFSP meeting and we got the placement

we

asked for. The only real glitch has been getting PT started through the school

because a

PT wasn't part of the IEP or testing team so we needed to get a request through

our

pediatrician and an eval done and now need another IEP meeting. I didn't push

with the

eval because we are keeping our PT from EI but her DH had some health problems

and

she's not working right now. But there is another child in the class who gets PT

and the

school PT has been working with Nicky too. Right now Nicky is going 2x/week but

I think

we're going to increase it to 5, the past few days he's been asking to go to

school on the

days he doesn't go and I think he really needs the structure, I'm too soft on

him and let

him get away with things. Did your other kids go to preschool? Mine older two

did and

Nicky was in a MMO program last year so it's not really all that different.

Anne

[Guest guest]

Oh, I forgot to add that it's nice to have the parade of therapists out of the

house. When he

was little it was nice to have them come here, but now it's nice just to have

the house be a

home.

Anne

[Guest guest]

Hi Caroline:

My son is transitioning this year from Elementary to Middle School. We started having meetings during last school year. Staff from the new school were invited and participated in his IEP meetings. This was great because his current teachers could discuss what services and supports he has benefited from . We had his new teacher come to his current placement before the school year was out. We have done about 3 walk thrus at the new school so he can be familiar with the set up of the new school. We made sure the new school understood his IEP- the modifications, supports, services, Positive Behavior Plan.

Wish us luck school starts tomorrow!

--Heidi Fernandez Parent and Advocate "Knowledge is Power" "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world."

-------------- Original message -------------- From: "caroline_hull" <caroline_hull@...>

For those of you who have a nonverbal moderate child- what has been the standard for transitioning a child into a classroom with new teacher and new para after having the same person for 3 years (1:1 para)? It would seem to me that there would be a "PLAN" set in place to transition and not just cold turkey? And how would one get this in place- calling an IEP?

[Guest guest]

Caroline, When my son transitioned they did his extended year program in his junior high classroom and did visits to his new school during the summer. They gave him a lot of priming. Marilyn Pyles Lilburn, GAcaroline_hull <caroline_hull@...> wrote: For those of you who have a nonverbal moderate child- what has been the standard for transitioning a child into a classroom with new teacher and new para after having the same

person for 3 years (1:1 para)? It would seem to me that there would be a "PLAN" set in place to transition and not just cold turkey? And how would one get this in place- calling an IEP?

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am not familar with Bost, could you explain?

Is she just going to be receiving therapy, or is it a preschool?

If a preschool, does the program include gen ed peers?

What are the goals you wish Ali to reach while in this program?

Carol in IL AIM doihavtasay1Mom to seven including , 6 with TOF, AVcanal, GERD, LS, Asthma, subglottal stenosis, and DS.My problem is not how I look. It's how you see me.

Join our Down Syndrome information group -

Down Syndrome Treatment/

Listen to oldest dd's music http://www.myspace.com/vennamusic

transitioning

Hi! I'm mother to Ali(DS-2 1/2yrs). I've been a member for about a month, and I've already received some great information! Thanks! In a couple of weeks we have our first transioning meeting with the school. Alot of you have already given me some great topics to discuss, but I was wondering since she will not actually be attending school right now (she'll still be attending Bost where she gets all of her therapies)if there were just a couple of specific things that needed to be addressed. Hope I didn't sound to confusing even though I am! Thanks (Oklahoma) Mother to Ali our angel sent from heaven!

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Sorry, let me be more clear to what Bost is.... The part that Ali goes to is a daycare type facility, it is for special needs children as well as any other child who's parents want him/her to attend. They also offer therapies and are able to handle any special needs that a child might have. The school district that we live in (Oklahoma) participates in the Co-Op so Ali will still be able to attend Bost and get all of her therapies there, and the state will just be responsible for paying for it. I just wanted to know what issues needed to be discussed at the first meeting, and what issues needed to wait until she actually gets ready to attend the school. Hope I made it a little more clear (even though I'm not sure I am!) Tanner (Oklahoma) Mother to Ali 2 1/2(Ds) our angel sent from heaven

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

The way I see it, school is school.

The issues have all remained pretty much the same- fighting low expectations and their overwhelming need to teach 'life skills' to the detriment of academics. Communication skills have been on going as well. For example- unless your child is verbal and on target with expressive skills, you will want some form of communication for her. ( I am speaking from my viewpoint, since it's the only one I have )

One of the most infuriating events I have ever witnessed was a teacher asking a small group of kids with DS questions, which I am pretty sure they *could* have answered had they had some MEANS to do so!!! No pecs, no signs, no words- nothin! Not even the teacher showing them how to point.. It made me so mad. What a huge waste of time for everyone, and the kids were bored out their minds. Also they were unable to communicate with each other and moved in these little 'islands' never really connecting with each other. So make sure this class works on the kids actually having meaningful interactions with each other.

So you may want to ask for someone who knows sign, or can learn some basics over the summer. It's not as though the person needs to be fluent in it. They do need to be willing to model it all the time however. The teachers should be signing key points for lessons as well as any directions given. The other kids will pick it up as well and be able to communicate with Ali. Is the room nicely labeled with PECS? Are there picture schedules for the kids to follow? The goal is for her to be able to move independently through her day. This is a skill you will want in place BEFORE kdrg. What about potty training? Is that a goal this upcoming year?

What are they going to work on academically? Make sure it's age appropriate to her. I also had them working on reading in preschool, and boy am I glad I did!!! Make sure they are working hard on her name spelling and then printing or stamping it.

The tone you set in preschool and the skills she will learn there are going to hold you all in good stead once she starts kdgr. But from a 'school' perspective' it all seems to blur and preschool is going to set the precedence for you and Ali.

Get involved from the start and spend a lot of time there to see how things are going and what's happening. If you are not there, I can guarantee things are going to happen that you will never know or hear about and may not like at all. Set the tone for upcoming school years by making sure she has a form of communication in the classroom, make sure the majority of the kids are speaking, that the kids are interacting with each and behaving in age appropiate ways,( . You want the ratio to be in favor of the kids who aren't learning age appropriate behavior, but are modeling it. ) picture schedule, labels in PECS, short sequencing in PECS-ie: the potty sequence. still has one in the bathroom stall she uses... it reminds her NOT TO PLAY AROUND. :-) And it works! Wish it were that easy with my other kids. ;-) And make sure she has good solid academics, age appropriate goals and IMHO- start working on reading

skills ala Pat Oelwein. Her first goals would be matching pictures that have the words printed on them, then pictures with words, to just the words, then word to word, then word to picture. If your preschool balks and says your child is not capable- you have a couple of choices here- new placement, or get in there, teach her yourself and PROVE she can so they also do it. But don't let them tell you that she can't do anything, or they don't teach that there... or what ever dumb excuse they come up with. Gen ed preschoolers are learning sight words, counting, colors, how to play with peers, bathroom skills, and so can your dd. :-)

A very, very good book for parents and teacher's a lke to read is People's book-Understanding How Children With Down Syndrome and Other Developmental Delays Learn

http://www.specialoffspring.com/books.php?cid=4

If you would like a fantastic source for specific goals to make sure school is doing what they should and also for you to help her at home, VORT is the BEST. :-) Love those books and they do have 'life skills' included, which is good me cause some things I wouldn't have thought to sit down and teach her. :-) And since I am always telling school to back off those issues, guess I had better know what I'm doing then.

They include everything!! From ST to thinking skills and everything in between. http://www.vort.com/

This is prolly more then you wanted/needed to know........?

btw- don't let them use the MR or DD label with her. Get her in with some other delay... speech, OT, gross motor... anything BUT DD. Some parents aren't letting schools use DS in the records either. And they can't bring it up cause it's a medical issue and none of their business.<g>

Carol in IL AIM doihavtasay1Mom to seven including , 6 with TOF, AVcanal, GERD, LS, Asthma, subglottal stenosis, and DS.My problem is not how I look. It's how you see me.

Join our Down Syndrome information group -

Down Syndrome Treatment/

Listen to oldest dd's music http://www.myspace.com/vennamusic

Re: transitioning

Sorry, let me be more clear to what Bost is.... The part that Ali goes to is a daycare type facility, it is for special needs children as well as any other child who's parents want him/her to attend. They also offer therapies and are able to handle any special needs that a child might have. The school district that we live in (Oklahoma) participates in the Co-Op so Ali will still be able to attend Bost and get all of her therapies there, and the state will just be responsible for paying for it. I just wanted to know what issues needed to be discussed at the first meeting, and what issues needed to wait until she actually gets ready to attend the school. Hope I made it a little more clear (even though I'm not sure I am!)

Tanner (Oklahoma) Mother to Ali 2 1/2(Ds) our angel sent from heaven

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?Check out new cars at Autos.

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Laurie-

There used to be a DT only waiver that you could apply for in

addition to CILA or Home Based waivers. That waiver only covered DT

services and nothing else. Alot of High School transitions were

awared this funding. The state does not offer DT only as a waiver

option any longer. They decided that anyone who was in need of DT

services would benifit from respite and other services as well and

should just apply for Home Based.

Many workshops do have relationships with local school districts.

Alot of times some of the smaller school districts do not have the

means or the programing in place to meet the needs of their 18 - 22

year old students so they contract with local workshops to provide

services.

Most workshops/ day programs have some DHS grant money or other grant

money that comes in to cover individuals that do not have medicaid

waiver funding. From time to time, the workshops have slots that open

up for individuals that do not have funding. If you already have a

relationship with a local day program/ workshop through a co-op with

a school, you are more liekly to slip into one of those grant funded

slots until your waiver funding comes through.

I think I asked this question before but am

going to post on a popular blog

> about housing issues and need more info. I am looking for info on

group homes

> in IL. Two of my three brothers live in group homes. I like one

way better

> than the other but I have some issues with both of them. First, I

don't think

> grown men should have to share a room and second I don't think

group homes

> should close on the holidays. I understand alot of this is due to

funding. My

> older brother lives on his own in section 8 housing. My other

brothers are not

> quite able to live on their own. I am looking to hear about

people's

> experiences with group homes in general and specifically about

group homes in IL.

> Thanks Nora

>

> **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in

your budget?

> Read reviews on AOL Autos.

> (http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?

ncid=aolaut00030000000007 )

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for confirming this. I knew something had to be 'up' when our city had

it's annual Disability Resource Fair this past spring. Generally people there

who are representing agencies who have workshops just stand behind their tables,

kind of waiting for people to come to them, because they've had these waiting

lists for awhile I guess and could kind of pick and choose. This past year,

however, I noticed whenever a parent would mention that they'd recently gotten

the Home Based waiver, you could almost see the agency folk moving toward that

parent to tell them about their workshop options. My hunch then was that

something must have changed, because you got this sense that the agencies had

gone into recruitment mode for HomeBased approved individuals.

The problem, of course, is what do you do if your individual wants or needs day

programming but you are not approved for the Waiver and can't afford to private

pay the monthly fees? I didn't know what to tell this mom when she asked me

about it. So thanks for writing! At least now I understand that there are

still some non-waiver funds floating around that could possibly be accessed.

I'll need to ask her if she's hooked up in any way with an agency yet.

One more reason to get involved when your kids are young, eh?

Thanks so much for the information.

Laurie Jerue

Re: Transitioning

Laurie-

There used to be a DT only waiver that you could apply for in

addition to CILA or Home Based waivers. That waiver only covered DT

services and nothing else. Alot of High School transitions were

awared this funding. The state does not offer DT only as a waiver

option any longer. They decided that anyone who was in need of DT

services would benifit from respite and other services as well and

should just apply for Home Based.

Many workshops do have relationships with local school districts.

Alot of times some of the smaller school districts do not have the

means or the programing in place to meet the needs of their 18 - 22

year old students so they contract with local workshops to provide

services.

Most workshops/ day programs have some DHS grant money or other grant

money that comes in to cover individuals that do not have medicaid

waiver funding. From time to time, the workshops have slots that open

up for individuals that do not have funding. If you already have a

relationship with a local day program/ workshop through a co-op with

a school, you are more liekly to slip into one of those grant funded

slots until your waiver funding comes through.

I think I asked this question before but am

going to post on a popular blog

> about housing issues and need more info. I am looking for info on

group homes

> in IL. Two of my three brothers live in group homes. I like one

way better

> than the other but I have some issues with both of them. First, I

don't think

> grown men should have to share a room and second I don't think

group homes

> should close on the holidays. I understand alot of this is due to

funding. My

> older brother lives on his own in section 8 housing. My other

brothers are not

> quite able to live on their own. I am looking to hear about

people's

> experiences with group homes in general and specifically about

group homes in IL.

> Thanks Nora

>

> **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in

your budget?

> Read reviews on AOL Autos.

> (http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?

ncid=aolaut00030000000007 )

>

>

[Guest guest]

what else helps with focus and transitioning besides ACE? Thanks