ruby
you rang?
Member since 6/08 5573 total posts
Name:
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Many IEP Questions- Need any input you can give (super long)
First, we're in NJ so it's a little different here when you turn 3. Your district has to provide you with an appropriate preschool program, if they don't have one than you can visit alternative out of district placements. Of course, though they'll never say it, home district is cheaper so they will try whatever they can (within reason) to either make their program appropriate or make it "appear" appropriate. Districts either have integrated, self contained preschool disabled, or self contained autism programs. Our district has just preschool disabled. We visited, I thought it was fine, I'm sure it is fine, but we feel like DS, for now, needs to be in an autism program where they offer ABA and have automatic 1:1 support which he needs.
DS is on the spectrum, but high functioning. He's non-verbal but has recently had a huge language burst. Not much is spontaneous, but it's there. And there's even been some communicative spontaneous language which I don't have to tell you all is HUGE!  But, at the time he was evaluated by the district he hadn't had this language burst, he had less than 4 words, none were spontaneous and they were approximations. His language burst came immediately after starting ABA which he's only had for a few months now. He is also presumed to be apraxic. He also has sensory issues that affect his attending. To his detriment he presents super-well in evaluations. So after they sent me their reports it's the district's opinion that their program, preschool disabled, is appropriate (shocker  ). I think it *could* work, under the right circumstances.
If anyone remembers my previous post about his IEP mtg, we walked in and were presented with their "offer". IEP all filled out, every line, no opportunity for compromise, concern, suggestion, etc. They offered, their class, No ind speech, just small group 2x a week and large group 1x a week. He's apraxic, he needs individual speech. No ind OT, they have an OT that just comes to the class weekly and does I don't know what with the whole class. ABA was listed as Consultative and "as needed". No goals or objectives for OT or ABA.
I responded in writing with our concerns as nothing was "heard" at the meeting and asked for individual speech as he's apraxic, for an actual ABA program with goals and objectives, some sort of individualized OT so that a sensory profile could at least be acknowledged and addressed by the staff as he'll be off the wall without it, and a 1:1 aide. My letter was ignored for over a week, after my advocate got on the phone and called they finally responded and conceded to only a 1:1 aide.
Forgot to add that we also requested to see other district autism programs and his info was sent out but we haven't heard back from any which either means they have no openings or DS isn't a fit for them. The district stance is now, "well we have a spot for him here you're just choosing not to send him" so they're putting his delay on us. Here's where we stand now, DS has been without services for 2 weeks, is still attending his typical preK program he's been going to forever 2 mornings a week, and paying out of pocket for speech twice a week and I got one of his EI therapists on the dl to stay on but she only has two open slots each week and we're paying her out of pocket. First week he was fine, second week a litte off, we're entering our 3rd week and I see regression in all areas, slowly but it's there, his speech therapist even noticed it.
So, what would YOU do? Send him to our district program not set up the way you want it but at least he gets something and then reevaluate come fall, knowing full well they're going to say he's doing fine and it will be extremely difficult to get him out and pay out of pocket for speech and OT? Wait it out for autism program slots to open and possibly consult with attorneys to get the services DS needs in our in-district program, meanwhile DS is still without services. Mind you, we are slowly but surely going broke as in NJ you have to pay for EI to begin with and we're also now paying out of pocket for these extended services. I'm so completely torn, I cry every day as I only want to do right by DS and I'm fighting as hard as I can for him but the district isn't budging and I don't know how much more we can (financially) fight. It's causing huge stress on DH and I, the family as a whole, but right now DS is all that matters to me.
If you've even made it this far I thank you sincerely. 
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ruby
you rang?
Member since 6/08 5573 total posts
Name:
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Re: Many IEP Questions- Need any input you can give (super long)
Posted by sapphire
Oh gosh, this whole "school" thing is so overwhelming ! I can totally see how stressed you are over this.
What exactly is the "disabled preschool" program ? How does it differ from the "autism" program ?
Preschool disabled is how NJ words their standard special ed preschool programs. Any kid aged 3-5 who qualifies for special ed is classified as "preschool disabled", no further classification is given until they enter kindergarten. Even if they are diagnosed as autistic they are only labeled as preschool disable on their IEPs until kindergarten.
Preschool disabled programs will contain kids of various special needs, could be autistic, CP, global delays, ADHD, etc. Our district program has 6 kids, he would be the 6th. I believe there are spectrum kids in it, don't know what kind of related services they are receiving. There is one aide in the class, though like I said they've conceded to giving DS his own 1:1 aide. How it differs from an autism program, well for starters the teachers and aides in the autism program are all autism trained, ABA trained, it's 1:1 across the board, they automatically address sensory needs through OT and individual speech is a given. I just feel they have a better understanding of autism as a whole. Our district program...I felt like while the teacher herself seemed like a strong special ed preK teacher and I'm sure in her career has taught kids on the spectrum, I'm not sure how much real knowledge she has about autism, and the aide, well I don't know, she just seemed like your average para. And while I was there they put one boy in a time-out for not sharing. This threw me off, a time out would be lost on him, he needs to be modeled how to share, forced to do it hand over hand almost. I just don't know that it's a strong enough program, but right now he's in nothing and home with me...which is probably worse.
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