Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

My DS has a speech delay. He will be 4 next week. He's been getting speech therapy for a year and the speech therapist has not been happy with his progress. When he was originally evaluated in Spring 2009, his receptive language was great but expressive and articulation were low (high single digits). He has since progressed where his expressive has gotten better - not average but better but articulation is now at 2%. I can understand him most of the time but not all. Last fall speech therapist recommended he get evaluated for OT/PT bc he is also a toe walker and sits in W position. It was determined that he had "core weakness" but his combined score was just a smidge above the # that would qualify him for services, CPSe basically shut us down when it came to getting any services. It was suggested I put him in gymnastics or karate, which I have done since right after that meeting. He still does these things. Speech therapist insists it's all tied in to his speech delay. He is definitely not on the spectrum. I recently saw the neurologist and she said he has low muscle tone everywhere except his ankles which is the opposite. The muscles and tendons there are very tight. She gave me a scrip for OT & PT. He doesn't trip or fall down on a regular basis, climbs great but has a very babyish gait when he runs. Preschool teacher said that he is hard to understand and it hampers his ability to communicate properly with his peers. honestly, what 3-4 year olds are expected to try to understand a child with 2% artic?

So how do i get the SD to give him more services? I think I need to go in with a fight even if they try to shut us down. Neurologist said speech is not a neurological issue so should I see another speech pathologist?

I'd ideally like to see him even go to a special school in Sept so he can get more intensive services but how do I get that? it infuriates me that they might try to tell me this stuff is not impactful until Kindergarten. I know they will continue his speech therapy (2x week/45 min each) but is 1 1/2 hours a week enough? I would gladly pay out of pocket or go through insurance if I need to but I should first exhaust all efforts with SD? Any advice would be welcome.

TIA

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

I believe you said he was evaluated for OT/PT last fall? If that is correct I would ask that he be revaluated for these services now. His scores would have dropped if he is showing the same symptoms. As to getting into a program you would need to have an educational evaluation and his scores would have to be low in this area. Having low muscle tone can affect speech since it is a muscular action. I would keep pushing your SD.

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

i'm new to this posting thing but like what the other post said...start by asking the SD for re-evaluation and ask for a complete one(ot/pt/speech/educational/psych). try marion k salomon i have been very happy with them. then get a child advocate at ur next meeting. best of luck

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

i agree with both posters. you need him re-evaluated for ot and pt.

u need to prove to the sd that his issues are impacting him academically (i.e. can't interact successfully with teacher and peers.) to get a program. it sounds like you have a good case.

have his doctors and his teacher write letters before your meeting to have as back up in your hand.

i push push push at the meetings. i come with everything i want to say about each area (ot,pt, sp) writen down so that i don't forget anything.

i threatened getting a lawyer at my dc's cpse bc they did not offer a program and it was ugly but i got what i/therapists feel he needs and he starts in sept..

good luck!

Message edited 5/15/2010 10:58:35 PM.

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Now I have a few more Q's after reading them:

1) Since my meeting is later next week, what do I do without a more recent eval through the SD? Do I try to fight for more than just continuing the speech as is? I mean, if they shut down more speech services and ot/pt, do sign that I at least agree to speech and then get another meeting after the eval? or do I table the meeting?

2) How do I get an advocate? On my own or through the SD?

3) How do you even know what you'd get a lawyer about? I've heard that once before from someone related to their child and services but I don't know when you throw the "L" word out there...and you sort of have to know your rights in detail to be able to say so, no?

They make it very hard to know even though they send you the procedure safeguard sheet. I think I am going to reread that right now and see if it gives me any more clarity. thank you.

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

did anyone suggest you get him a special ed evaluation? My DS was referred for a special ed eval when his PT noticed some delays that she thought were worth looking into. It sounds like maybe the special ed teacher could identify some missing piece for you.

The other thing that jumps out at me is - have you thought about changing speech therapists? Maybe for whatever reason, your son just isn't responding well to her. We switched after 6 months and I wish we had done it sooner. I learned more from the new therapist in one session than I did from the other one in 6 months. I also saw improvement much more quickly in DS once we switched. Think about it...didn't you have teachers in school that you learned better from? I don't think at this point I would propose this, I would go into the meeting with the information the speech therapist is giving you and just telling them you need more sessions.

I have an upcoming meeting myself and I didn't realize until one of our teachers told us that you can "table" the meeting. If they offer you services that you don't think are appropriate, you don't have to accept them that day.

Good luck - I know how stressful all of this can be.

Message edited 5/17/2010 9:09:42 PM.

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

Message edited 5/17/2010 9:09:22 PM.

Re: Any advice about upcoming CPSE meeting?

sorry, I am an idiot and I keep hitting quote instead of edit.

Message edited 5/17/2010 9:10:11 PM.