My reflections of this process-- it sucks. Well it does. It makes no sense whatsoever, staff is overwhelmed and understaffed, rushing to be compliant, and providing minimum support in the most convenient way possible. My perception, but there you have it.
His evaluations- rushed, no warning for the parent that they were happening or when, didn't listen to the parent's input. At one point I received a call from our TSS to ask: "is it okay for her to evaluate him? And can I share diagnosis, they have the wrong one." I wonder which one they had? I forgot to ask. LOL.
His Speech evaluation was "yes dear, I know its our day off from school but we'll just go in for an evaluation." Sure, all 5 year olds would be cool with that right? HAHA. It went awesome. And I do not mean that in a GOOD way. Then she didn't finish and wanted to score it anyway. She wanted to include our private speech evaluation-- umm it's well over a year old sweetie. Clearly it would make more sense and be fairer to the child to just finish right? Then she told the school that she'd finished the evaluation and scored it. I was LIVID. On the IEP-- Speech evaluation will be completed in Fall 2014 when school resumes after summer break. We'll revisit speech goals and services then. You better believe I'll follow up.
The school psychologist calls me and tells me: "I think regular curriculum with supports is the best option for him, what do you think mom? It was a true joy to meet your son. He's adorable."
I nearly fell over. Finally, a good call and a compliment!
I harassed the crap out of the school special education liaison. I didn't get a draft or an invitation but hey via email works. I'm just saying, the proper process was not followed. Well it wasn't!
My issues and concerns with being presented with a summarized evaluation report (or whatever they call it), a Proposed IEP, and a Proposed Functional Behavior Analysis and Behavior Plan:
- How can we be reading a complete evaluation report when the speech portion isn't complete? Why would I sign off on speech, when again, it's not complete and these scores are invalid?
- If you had a proposed IEP draft, it would have been nice to get an advanced copy of it, so that I could email my required changes and additions, thereby avoiding this 1st meeting where nothing got done. Yes, I am the type of mom advocate who requires specific goals in the IEP. I am not the mom who blindly signs and agrees. I know my child, you do not. Therefore, I will advocate. DEAL with it! I don't give a crap that this annoys you. You don't have to like me. Yes, that would be ideal, but I'm ok with just professional politeness. I'm not looking for a BFF. I'm looking for a team that can learn to appreciate who he is and how much potential he has.I refuse to let you set your expectations LOW for his academic future. If this was YOUR child would you want someone to have LOW expectations for him?
- How can you make a FBA and a behavior plan based on what the summary report says when you've yet to MEET my kid? And it had another child's name on one of the goals. Seriously? Cut and Pasting-- how is that Individual? Our Behavior specialist presented our current FBA and behavior plan and said, we'd like to incorporate this as part of his IEP. Bam!
- The IEP-- stated that my child Brandon* (that is not my child's name) requires special education services because he has educational delays. Umm, okay. . .even if you argued that you just wrote the wrong name there, my child is testing somewhere between a 1st grade-3rd grade level depending on the subject. Doh!
In summary, the IEP process SUCKS. It's ineffective. Staff are so rushed and so overwhelmed that they cut corners such as cut and pasting, and presenting a proposed IEP while evaluations are being conducted, because they have a deadline to meet and they need more staff support. They do, they are drowning. And as a parent, that is truly horrifying. I'm sending my child to them and they are drowning in their work responsibilities. BTW while I stayed professional, I am honest enough to admit that I was a B*
As one of my girl friends said laughing at me: "You were a B weren't you? HA! C'mon you know you were!" Yeah I was. I don't care.
Playlist for surviving this process
Playlist for surviving this process
I am Woman http://youtu.be/ZBkoJLclZkk
Katy Perry & Jodi DiPiazza http://youtu.be/QX-xToQI34I
I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor http://youtu.be/ZBR2G-iI3-I
Everything's Gonna be Alright by Bob Marley http://youtu.be/zmwue6Jq4KA
Rude by Magic! http://youtu.be/PIh2xe4jnpk
I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones http://youtu.be/lQeo3OfuEDM
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