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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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IEP help please..
How do you know what to ask for, for your child? I would obviously want more than less services, but besides just taking the SLPs word for it, is there another way?
A little background.. My DS has been getting speech since 18 months, and is now turning 7 in December. He is in a general Ed 1st grade class, and his teacher told us that so far he is doing ok, not behind but not ahead either. He is having trouble with spelling since he has to sound out words, but a lot of words he is saying the wrong sounds for so writing the wrong letters.
He was receiving 2 30 min sessions at school, and I'm not sure what they are planning this year. Do I keep the 2 30 min sessions, do I ask for more since his speech is hurting him more in the classroom now? I friggen hate this time of year bc I don't feel confident enough to be a good enough advocate for my son since I'm not a professional and don't exactly know what is best for him. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated, and TiA!
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Posted 9/23/15 12:16 PM  |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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IEP help please..
You didn't have a meeting in the spring to determine services? Or they gave him 2x30 and you think he needs more? Whenever I wanted more than what I thought they would give, I would use the evaluations as my negotiation tool. I would use the actual scores to justify why he needed more.
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| Posted 9/23/15 12:22 PM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: IEP help please..
Posted by dpli
You didn't have a meeting in the spring to determine services? Or they gave him 2x30 and you think he needs more? Whenever I wanted more than what I thought they would give, I would use the evaluations as my negotiation tool. I would use the actual scores to justify why he needed more.
We are in PA so I'm not sure if things are a bit different here, but it's done annually and was always done in sept/early October, it has to be done by oct 9th. He had an iep done last year for kindergarten where they came up with the 2 30 min sessions and that has to stay in place till the new iep is signed.
I feel like bc he has progressed in a year they will either offer the same amount or less, and I feel like he needs more now that it's truly interfering with his school work. I haven't gotten the iep yet, I get it next week, and then we meet the following week, but that's helpful that I should use his evaluation numbers to ask for more services. I just remember last year they constantly made it seem like a speech delay wasn't that bad, and he didn't need to be pulled so much, but I'm afraid they are using it as an excuse and id rather be proactive now while he's still so young. He's never been diagnosed with anything for his speech, so I feel like it's been a constant battle bc of that. He's starting to call himself stupid and wishes he could read and write better and it's breaking my heart that I can't fix it for him, so I'm not sure if my emotions are getting in the way of what he actually needs, if that makes sense, I don't want to be some crazy lady demanding the world, but it's hard to know exactly what is best for him.
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| Posted 9/23/15 12:39 PM |
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MrsP23
LIF Infant
Member since 9/14 232 total posts
Name:
K
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IEP help please..
Most of the time they always look to decrease services it is a pain. There are parents who requesting things there child is not even evaluated for so don't feel like you are crazy. If you see it is effecting his school work an his attitude make sure you say this. When you get his scores look at them and if you don't understand them requesting a meeting before the IEP meeting to have them explain them to you. If he has low scores then they have to keep his services or increase them. If his scores are on the border then I would use that you notice he is school work and attitude are being effected. I would stress the fact that he gets upset and wants to do better. In our district kids who are on the border even if they don't get individual will get group sessions. The group sessions are anywhere from 2-5 kids struggling with the same areas.
Message edited 9/24/2015 5:12:19 PM.
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| Posted 9/24/15 5:12 PM |
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Dolphinsbaby
My 3 little guys!
Member since 12/10 2943 total posts
Name:
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Re: IEP help please..
You are not crazy and you need to advocate for him. I would definitely tell them what he says and let them know it is affecting his self-esteem and he gets very upset and embarrassed about it. Those are important things that need to be factored in that may not show up in a report. If he is borderline (case could be made either way to keep or lessen services), I really believe it's things like this that sway it so services remain in tact.
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| Posted 9/24/15 8:59 PM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: IEP help please..
Thank you guys so much! I've been preparing all my notes and once I get his Iep I feel like I now know how to use it to my advantage. I'm hoping my DH can go in late and be there with me so I have some support, it's always overwhelming for me, but I do feel more confident now, so thank you!
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| Posted 9/25/15 4:47 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: IEP help please..
Legally, they aren't supposed to give you a final IEP before the meeting, you are supposed to be discussing how he is doing and what he will get during the meeting. If you are getting a draft IEP, you should have enough time to review it and any evaluations before the meeting.
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| Posted 9/28/15 2:47 PM |
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iluvmynutty
Mom to E&M
Member since 12/08 1762 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: IEP help please..
Posted by dpli
Legally, they aren't supposed to give you a final IEP before the meeting, you are supposed to be discussing how he is doing and what he will get during the meeting. If you are getting a draft IEP, you should have enough time to review it and any evaluations before the meeting.
Legally they must provide you with any reports 5 school days prior to the meeting so you can be informed. The IEP is generated at the meeting or afterward based upon what was decided at the meeting.
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| Posted 9/28/15 3:48 PM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: IEP help please..
Posted by iluvmynutty
Posted by dpli
Legally, they aren't supposed to give you a final IEP before the meeting, you are supposed to be discussing how he is doing and what he will get during the meeting. If you are getting a draft IEP, you should have enough time to review it and any evaluations before the meeting.
Legally they must provide you with any reports 5 school days prior to the meeting so you can be informed. The IEP is generated at the meeting or afterward based upon what was decided at the meeting.
Who makes sure that schools are following protocol for this? My meeting is Tuesday, and I have yet to get any papers. She told me last week she would have it to me by this Tuesday, when that came and went, I emailed her and she just gave me excuses (running behind, I promise to have it to you by Friday etc). But Im pissed, I want to be prepared, but I hate rocking the boat with teachers Bc they are alone with DS.
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| Posted 10/1/15 5:53 PM |
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iluvmynutty
Mom to E&M
Member since 12/08 1762 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: IEP help please..
I would call the PPS/Special Ed office and ask them for the reports. Just say you want them prior to the meeting so you can review them. They know they are out of compliance if you don't have those reports. If the teacher and providers are responsible for getting their own reports out the PPS/Special Ed office would have no idea they were out of compliance.
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| Posted 10/1/15 6:58 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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IEP help please..
You can call and tell them that you know they are required to send the reports prior to the meeting. You can request that they postpone the meeting if they are not compliant so you have sufficient time to review the reports. From speaking with other parents, it's generally parents who know what their rights are who make sure the schools stay compliant. Some districts are better than others and I think even in some districts, they are more compliant with some students than others. I don't think it hurts to let them know that you know what your rights are and that you expect them to follow what's required of them. If I have had a problem, I try to stay friendly, but firm and I put things in writing.
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| Posted 10/2/15 9:59 AM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: IEP help please..
Thank you all for the advice. I let her know I was postponing the meeting so I would have the time needed to go over everything, which I am legally allowed to have. She ended up calling me on my cell last night and we had a pre-meeting so to speak about my thoughts. She is willing to up his time allotted, but let me know that legally she doesn't need to evaluate every year when he didn't master the goals from last year, I'm not true how that is, so I'm doing more research. But at the end of the day, she's willing to work with me and that's truly all I can ask for, she feels like he works so hard but isn't getting the output for all his hard work, which just breaks my heart.
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| Posted 10/5/15 3:40 PM |
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