Another IEP meeting tomorrow
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Robin's having such a rough year this year. I finally called another IEP meeting because he needs to have some accommidations added. Homework is a battle every night. He never seems to get caught up. I also think there may be a LD (processing speed) that needs to be identified and addressed. The parent advocate is going with me so that should help. Legally they have to accommidate him and meet his needs, but I don't see how they can. When he's stable all is great (mostly). But from about mid-October until about mid-January is really rough for him. He did have a good week last week and they haven't called (yet) today. School gets out in 10 minutes. Can we make it???
The meeting's at 2pm tomorrow (MST). Wish us luck.
Good luck!
I have a meeting myself today. With the principal.
We are really struggling this year, too. Anyway, just feel your pain, and the loss of just what can we do differently.
I typed this up to read at the beginning of the meeting. They always ask for parent comments first.
Vision Statement
I have asked for this meeting today because I feel that we can do more to help Robin succeed this year. His current IEP, in my opinion, doesn’t address all of his need or accommodate these needs. It is my hope that we as a team can write an IEP that will set Robin up for success and prepare him for high school next year. He’s far too bright a child to be failing several classes.
First and foremost I would like Robin to stay in school as much as possible. I feel that if I’m called to pick him up for little things he will tune into that and act up just to go home. I want you to know that if I truly need to come get him, I will, but if it is possible for him to stay here, he needs to do that. I would like the IEP to clearly define when I will need to come get him.
I would also like additional testing for learning disabilities. From what I understand the standard deviation for the tests that were administered (WJ III ACH and WISC-IV) is 15 points. While in that range for the WJ III ACH, his deviation for the WISC-IV was 53 points. I do recognize there is a processing speed problem and would like to explore this further.
Homework is one of our biggest stressors. There are times when Robin will do his homework with very little prompting, sometimes even going above and beyond what has been asked. These are few and far between. Often homework time is world war three in our house and nothing I do or say can get him to do or finish it. He will ask me to get him up early in the morning to finish it, but usually is unable to make himself wake up. I understand it may be difficult for teachers to understand he really can’t always do well when one day he turns in an “A” paper and the next doesn’t turn in anything at all or something that was done poorly.
I feel you should know that this time of year tends to be very stressful for Robin. Beginning in about mid-October and lasting through January he has difficulties focusing, getting up in the morning and is prone to depression. Although not officially diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), I have noticed this pattern with for the past 4 or 5 years.
Robin has been officially diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar-NOS. He is what’s known as a rapid cycler. His mood changes frequently and without warning. It is important for teachers and other adults he deals with here at school to not take things Robin says or does personally. Usually he is just angry and needs help expressing that appropriately. Robin’s social skills have always been weak. This is an area where he may need additional help.
Robin is a very bright, creative, funny and loving child who has SO much potential if we can just help him harness the energy he has. He has incredible leadership qualities. I often tell him, “Honey, you need to use your powers for GOOD!” This is the 9th school he’s attended; not including the year I home schooled him. Most of those were very difficult years for him. A therapist we saw once said “Robin has more challenges when he wakes up in the morning than most people have all day.” I believe he has a lot to offer if given the opportunity. With accommodations and support from this team, his teachers and the staff here, it’s my hope we can tap into his potential and give him the opportunity to not only succeed, but excel.
What do you think? Also, the parent advocate called and said he's been called away and can't make it, but the assistant director of special services is going in his place. I'm okay with that. He also said he called the social worker that Robin worked with when he was in elementary school (she does a special program now--piloting in a few schools in the district) and she's going to come. Of all the people over the years Robin's worked with, she was the most helpful and she knows him very well. She was always very supportive, even when I decided to homeschool him.
I'll let you know how the meeting goes, Kaye. Let me know how yours goes!
Cat- You shouldn't be picking him up from school. Document that. That sounds like a change in placement. You might want to mention that at the meeting. Big time legal issues with that. You also might want to mention that you are not sure this is the appropriate placement for him if they are unable to accomodate his needs. Good luck with the meeting.
Cat your letter sounds good to me. How did the meeting go?
My meeting actually went really well. This was not an ard, but an sit down with the principal. I have been so frustrated and many things have come to a head, I finally had to go talk to her. If she is good for her word, and I have no reason to doubt that she is, then she is on my sons side and sees that they aren't doing all they should. I am keeping positive thoughts and waiting to see what happens!
The meeting went well, I think. Having the assistant director of special services there ended up being a huge help. He looked over Robin's test scores and said there should definately be more testing. He said it looked like we may be dealing with a "twice exceptional" child, meaning Robin may be gifted and learning disabled. We did add to his behavior plan what will happen if he runs from the school, but didn't change or add any accommodations to the IEP because they wanted to get the testing done first. They have agreed to keep Robin at the school unless he's a danger to himself or others. For now we're just going to deal with the homework. I did tell them it wasn't a battle I was willing to fight with him so his teachers will just have to deal with him sometimes not doing the work. They have 45 calendar days to do the testing. It should be done by winter break. We'll see what it shows. I do feel the meeting went as well as it could have.
I'm glad yours went well, too, Kaye. I hope things improve.
My son is also in that catagory. Makes it really tough. In texas they have changed the title from "Twice exceptional" to "underachieving gifted". I don't like the new name though, but they are just words.
Glad to hear it went well.
I don't think I'd like that name change, Kaye. They really took something that sounds positive and changed it to something that sounds so negative. I know it really doesn't matter and that they are just words, but still. I also don't think "underacheiving" is an accurate discription. That's jhmo though.
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