Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

Has anyone asked to take a person off the CPSE meeting list. We just got ours and there is a parent rep from the middle school. I'm not sure how appropriate that is. Shouldn't it be a parent rep from preschool since DS just turned 3 or at the very least elementary age?

I only ask because I read an article in the new Autism magazine and this woman brought up these really good points about making sure the right people are there (I.e., there was a therapist slated for her meeting that had never met her son before). Just wondering if anyone else has ever done this. I have to write to them anyway adding my teachers to the list, so I might nix the middle school parent rep.

TIA for any input.

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

Do you mean a "Parent Member?" A parent member is someone with a child in special ed who has gone through the process before. They are there to advocate for you during the meeting, having "been there done that." If you are attending a CPSE meeting, I would assume their child has received services since preschool, but maybe that is something you should ask your district, just to clarify. If you would prefer a parent member of a child closer to your childs age, I think you can certianly ask your district if that is available.

ed to add: A parent member is something you can waive your right to. They would just ask you, at the CPSE, to sign a form saying you are ok that a Parent Member was not in attendance

Message edited 5/15/2011 9:53:48 PM.

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

Thanks so much for your input. I am a teacher and there was a parent member there whose child was in the high school and was recently diagnosed with ADHD and started receiving services. So her child never went through it in elementary and that's the meeting she was the parent member for. So you are right that I should make sure her child went through the CPSE process so she can be of help to me.

Thank you again!

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

We have had 3 meetings so far. Parent member was useless at the first 2 meetings. The Chair showed up at the third meeting without one and asked me to sign the waiver, so I did. I didn't really see any reason to have anyone there who doesn't know my child. They are required by law to have a parent rep there, but I don't think they are going to choose someone who is going to challenge them in any way, KWIM?

At the first meeting, the parent rep actually said something that I would have preferred she not bother saying, but I don't think it carried much weight anyway.

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

I would waive your right to one, they are pretty much useless in my opinion. Note: not worthless people, but worthless to have at a meeting. Every person I've talked to says their parent member never said a word during the entire meeting, even if there was conflict.

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

We just had our first CPSE meeting, and I waived my right to one because no one was available the date of the meeting, and it would have meant rescheduling and delaying the start of DSs therapy. Since he's starting late in the school year, I was eager to get his services in place.

I do have a friend who has a 10 year old in the same school system who was diagnosed with a similar disorder as DS at the same age, so she has been through CPSE. She talked me through the whole process and told me what was beneficial for them, so all of this helped as much or perhaps more than having a parent in the meeting. Also, there were a couple people on this board who were very helpful with suggestions, clarifying therapies, etc.

I think it's most important that a therapist or evaluator who knows your child be present, and also important that his/her teacher be there (if your child is in a school or daycare setting).

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

Our SEPTA president usually sits on the meetings, which I like - even though her kids are older.

Message edited 5/16/2011 6:06:10 PM.

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

I know when we had our CPSE meeting our parent rep didn't even open her mouth once. I would have preferred to not even have her in hindsight - although some of my therapists say that some of the parent reps are actually very helpful - so it might be the luck of the draw?

Re: Taking folks off the CPSE meeting

I met a wonderful one but she lived in Queens.

Out of 3 CPSE meetings. 1/ never opened her mouth 2 and 3/ Was not there and I signed the waiver not to have one. I was not going to reschedule 2 CPSE meetings for someone that brought nothing to the table.