This is the 2nd one this year. Earlier, it was called the Triennial Meeting. Now this is the yearly IEP meeting. There not much to really do anymore with Caleb's IEP. He is collectively meeting all his goals and none of them really have to do with academics, just behaviors and socialization skills. But it brought me to think of the thing I had to do with my son Kyle's 504 Plan (special instructions for special needs when a child doesn't qualify for an IEP). I have to laugh at the accomodations that Kyle received during his 2nd stint in the 3rd Grade (AD-Severe-H-D took him out the first go round at the 3rd Grade). He 1) could stand up and take tests/quizzes (he loved to stand & rock back & forth to do his work) 2) walk around the class room (taking little breaks) as long as he didn't talk to other student, disturb instruction etc. (yes, he was in a mainstreaming class), 3) had longer time taking tests 4) had extra instruction/cues/visual aides.
It kinda makes me laugh to imagine this kid just randomly walking around the class room whistling dixie and taking his time to do things and being allowed to do so... hell it got him a few A's on his report card. He had a good year that year. You know when you get the right settings along with the right teachers (he had 2 that year) and a school willing to help a student everything manages to work out in the end.
As far as Caleb is concerned. Well he has had an IEP since before he went to school (no they didn't call it an IEP but it was a service plan with an Infant Intervention Services Program). He was enrolled at Easton Preschool (Norfolk, VA)which specializes in Preschoolers who are either physically handicapped or mentally challenged. He hadn't been diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder back then (mostly they were to afraid to diagnose a toddler with it) but he had the characteristics to match. He had speech therapy and occupational therapy to boot (which was why he was enrolled) but anyway over those long years-- 8 years--- we have had our hits & misses with our IEP Meetings. We have had some teachers who care (one who cared a bit too much and was a crutch for Caleb) and some who didn't care at all and couldn't wait for the little terror to leave the classroom.
Caleb is at the same school that Kyle was at but it is different. Not so many accomodations. But we are making it work. Some times you have to call in the big dogs and make things work in your favor no matter who it pisses off. It's not about you, or the teachers, but it's about your kid receiving the same chances everyone else has.
We will see what they have to say on the 6th.
Just to let you know you are not alone: my son has been different from birth but became a real problem at age 3. He has now been diagnosed as Early Onset Bipolar, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, and ADHD. He is now 16, having somehow survived all the chaos of his earlier years, and having allowed us to survive as well, scarred but alive. He has an older sister who is very successful and very popular, despite her ADHD.
ReplyDeleteIt has been, as you say, a roller coaster.