CPSE Meeting Scheduled

Our meeting is scheduled for next Friday.

I know we should go in there with a good idea of the services we want for DS, which is a little tricky considering we have not received his written evaluation yet. Just called the agency to bug them--we need some time to read this before the meeting.

Anyway, any other tips, suggestions?

Re: CPSE Meeting Scheduled

I think with CPSE if you have a PDD diagnosis of any sort, they try their best to give you anything reasonable. The psychologist who did my dd's CPSE evals said she has seen most committees work with the families and not fight against them. She said in the case of the child w/o a diagnosis those are sometimes the cases where there is most resistance.

The key is to go in prepared for what "YOU" want for you child. If he goes to full time daycare now, I would think a full day pre-k program would be appropriate. However, I am a huge 'fan' of "outside services'. In other words, hopefully they will grant you home services in SpED, Speech and OT. Now you may have a preschool program that has those services included but I like having the ability to select my speech, OT and ABA therapists. (there is definitely a difference in how great one therapist is over another).

If your son has any interests, ask about 'voucher' programs. Horseback riding therapy, music therapy, visual therapy or even daycamps. My committee was really resourceful with those items. (there is usually a waiting list but some of those therapies are sometimes covered).

If you feel your son needs socialization classes (afterall, what preschooler doesn't)...ask to see if they will give you a session for something like that(most large agencies run classes out of their gyms).

Family training.. for me now in EI, I am not a huge fan. But, it does give me an opportunity to sit down with my dd's team leader and make sure "programs (lessons)" are appropriate to her. Also if you are new to some of the therapies, family training can give you an opportunity to learn more strategies. A family trainer can also asisst you in the community with your son if you feel that's something to work on.

If your child has any "eating' or "potty training" issues, that's another great reason to get home services.

It's always best to be granted "MORE" than what you need, than less.

Go in prepared with what is best for your child, and know what is available, and you will tend to get what you need. Also, use "key words" like "functional" or "emotionally not ready or 'ready" etc. It's hard for them to argue against things like that.

FM me anytime ....I was so nervous for my meeting and it was nothing like I thought. However, the committee chair knew, that I knew what I was talking about. And to be honest, I owe so much of what "i know" to LIF's Special Needs Board :)

Message edited 5/2/2011 11:34:19 AM.

Re: CPSE Meeting Scheduled

Thanks for the suggestions! I had no idea about voucher programs--I would like to do some sort of class for DS, possibly horseback riding or gymnastics. Swimming would be great, but I just can't see him dealing well with that at the moment.

And yes, I would like to select the therapists. I think by now I have a good idea of who DS will respond well to immediately and who he will not.

Family training I really think we need, as you say, it may be so-so, but I do think there are issues we need to learn how to handle better, along with helping him learn better socialization. Same with a social skills class for DS. He definitely needs this. He doesn't do too badly one-on-one, especially with children younger than him, but in a group, forget it.

Thanks again! I have learned so much here so far, and it has been a short time!

Re: CPSE Meeting Scheduled

Ask for family training. How effective it is depends on the trainer, IMO, but it's worth having. There are weeks where we don't have much to talk about, other weeks where we are really struggling with DS. I think overall, our parent training has helped and given us great ideas to carry over to our day to day interactions with DS.

If you are working with therapists now, who know DS, ask them what they think you should ask for.

Re: CPSE Meeting Scheduled