State: Alaska
Country: USA
Member since: Jun 26, 2008
Last logged in: Nov 18, 2008
I am married, a mother of two sons, one with HFA, regressive autism triggered by vaccine reaction, and the other with HFA, no regression, mild autism(sprinkled with anxiety, autistic traits and sensory issues), and special ed. preschool teacher. Currently, I am working on a Master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education. I'm on the board for the Goldenheart ASA Chapter, which actually is just started up this June/July 2008. I also have a golden retriever, Molly, who is neuro-typical.
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JanisMary's Compositions
by JanisMary on 08.18.08 - public - 98 visits
I just returned from visitng my Dad, sister, brother, sister-in-law, nephew, neice and what is left of my aging aunts and uncles in the state of WA. Traveling by plane is one topic I could write chapters on over the years. But right now, I don't have time, as a mother and a teacher, it is a busy time of year getting ready for the start of a new school year. In Fairbanks, it is kind of a rainy time, and yet, I am not complaining. It would be harder to return to school on warm, sunny days. We just returned from three sunny weeks in WA state, and it was wonderful. I took my sons to many different parks and to visit family. Also, we went to the UW Autism Center to have Jared re-assessed before he enters the fourth grade. The school district did a 3 year re-eval last May, and took away his speech/language, and o.t. is only for consult. All he will get this year is social skills in "generalizing skills". I am happy he scored well and shows improvement, yet I am worried about him not getting the support he needs still. The UW looked at academic fluency, and other areas the school did not assess. They haven't given me the report yet, but they did share he has deficits in academic fluency, especially in reading and writing. They recommend he gets help for writing fluency and for an alternate P.E. program. I told his private p.t. this and she said, "good luck getting that." I hope there is a way, as I know his balance and coordination are way below age level. He is unable to hop on one foot, and has great trouble w/throwing/catching and batting balls. He has a good self esteem right now, and I hate to see him lose it by having peers tease him. I know Jared has already voiced he doesn't want to go back to school because kids are mean and tease him. How do other parents cope w/this issue? I am happy to report he has a lot of strengths, but I still feel the district is not providing the support he needs in regards to writing, reading and language/social communication. However, I am going to start the year, doing as the district has set forth, but I am ready to speak up more support is needed. Should I wait until Jared shows signs (anger, depression, shutting down) that school is not working out well? Oh, why does summer have to end? It was so nice without the added stress of fighting the school district in which I work. Yes, I am going to miss the carefree days of 3-legged races, whip cream pie eating contests and the egg in a spoon race! You just can't do that in the winter in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Comments(4)
Motherof4
Posted on Mon, 18 Aug 2008
It's funny. The people who can deal with the teasing and bullying in the schools are the teachers and support staff. Does "teaching other children not to tease other children" need to be in the IEP? Daniel was in a school in which the teachers, principal and staff were very proactive on teasing. Even the bus driver did what she could to shut it down. Once, Daniel's classroom teacher and the special ed teachers did a puppet show for the kids on teasing. The kids became so much more kind and gentle, with proper adult supervision and support. I really wish I could clone those people and send them to you all. After you get your independent results and call the next IEP, I'd take this up at the meeting. Best of luck.
ADifferentDrummer
Posted on Mon, 18 Aug 2008
Oh yes - and BTW - we are also dealing with teasing and bullying. Corvus was beat up by 4 kids in the 1st grade - when the school called to inform me, I was in shock. We live in the middle of the country in Maine!!! There had to be some mistake! He is dreading school because of the "bullies" and I have asked for a meeting by the end of September already. Deb
ADifferentDrummer
Posted on Mon, 18 Aug 2008
My advice is to wait for the independent evaluation from UW to come back. As soon as you have that, I would ask for an IEP Meeting. I would tell them that you have an independent evaluation that you would like to discuss and that you have other concerns as well. I would make a list of your concerns and bring someone with you who is not personally involved and can take notes and listen for you. They are not required to make any adaptations based on the evaluation, but they do need to look at it and give you reasons why if they will not follow its recommendations. I would not wait for his frustration to mount because that just decreases his desire to go to school even more. Good luck. Deb
Zoe
Posted on Mon, 18 Aug 2008
well my daughter is in main stream and her OT was taken away due to they said she didn't need it any longer. Well when I took her to the U of M for a new evaluation with a team of specialist they said she needed OT and speech etc.. I told her teacher but it was too late in the year to get it back. I don't know what will happen this year. You hate to step on toes cause you go home but your child is left with this person and you don't want any issues reflecting back on your child. Yes I know about teasing, I am always by my daughters side and I have seen this first hand. Last year I told them she would not ride the bus. I had to ride the bus when I was young and my oldest daughter had to ride the bus at times and besides that I know a lot goes on. So I drop her off, I take her up to class myself and pick her back up the same way. I went out on the playground with her all last year and I am glad I did. I seen a lot what goes on and my daughter would have gotten hurt more then once and not treated right if I would not have been there. If they won't agree to me being ther again this year then she will not go and I will home school her. I just wanted her to go to have the social part and hopefully learn soemthing instead of being in the house all the time. If I could afford out side help, I woulld. The teasing and bullying is very bad!!! it is not addressed properly. My child or any child does not desreve that. I know I can't be by my child every second of the day for the rest of her life but if I am a live now and will be there every chance I can so that when things happen, I can teach her how to handle herself and the situation since no one else is going to!! besides educating the other child!!
