Where Families with Special Needs Members Care and Share Together.
Special kids show off athletic skills - and just have a great time!
Rudy and Jessica do such a great job with the Special Olympics School Games!
If you have a child who is not involved in Special Olympics, the school games are a great way to introduce them to SO. The High School Games will be in the spring.
For more info, check this out!
The Special Needs Network will hold their General Meeting on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Marian Medical Center Extended Care Facility’s Conference room. There will be a potluck at 6:00 pm.
Brendan Gard, the Manager of California Psych Care will be the guest speaker at 7:00. He will give an overview of behavior therapy and services available. For more information on California Psych Care, please visit their website.
For more information on the potluck and to RSVP, please call Joanne Cargill at 937-2465 by September 27th.
Just When I Thought I was Finished
Matthew completed his time at Righettil last year and went through Graduation Ceremonies but the 2 year Hill House Transition Program is a Special Education program primarily administered by the High School District. So what this means is that we are still dealing with IEP’s. I’ve written about my feelings and opinions on this before but since it’s Back to School Time, I would like to sum up what I have learned over the past 15 years. I hope it will help you have productive and positive IEP Meetings.
We had our second-to-last IEP meeting this morning with Tod, the High School District Transition Instructor, Kristen from Work, Inc. who administers the overnight program, Penny, the Special Ed Coordinator, an administrator from the High School that Matthew no longer attends but is still considered his “home” school. Oh yea, and we have the Tri-Counties Coordinator to-be-named-later because our old one retired back in July and Tri-Counties hasn’t bothered to contact us to let us know.
There were times when I was frustrated with the rules and regulations and times when I didn’t feel like anyone was really listening. And there were times when I felt nurtured and cared for as much as Matthew did. When I look back on all the forms, reports, tests, agencies, departments, coordinators, teachers, aides, therapists, agendas, budgets, districts, laws, guidelines and personalities involved in Matthew’s education, it’s a wonder anything was accomplished at all. But through it all, no matter what the issue, at the end of the day we are all just human beings trying to do our best.
We all come to the table with our own personalities, agendas, and experiences. And the best way to get what your child needs is to be Fair, Firm, and Friendly.
Let’s start with Fair.
Resources are limited. Whether it’s money, people, or supplies, there is only so much to go around. Your child isn’t the only one your IEP Team is working with. And we all want everything for our kids and we want it now. Let’s get real.
Which leads to Firm.
Educate yourself on the rules and regulations. Yes, there are other kids who need speech therapy and only so many Speech Therapists to go around. If you truly feel that your child needs more than the IEP team is offering, know how to stand your ground and get it. Assertively, not aggressively.
Which leads to Friendly.
I can’t tell you how many times I hear parents say things like, “Oh, time to go fight with the IEP Team again”, or “I’m battling with the IEP Team to get more resources for my child.” Everyone on the IEP Team is a human being and that old saying, “you get more with honey than vinegar” is true. Treat your Team with respect. Play nice. And you just might find them a lot more willing to listen to you and to work with you to get what your child really needs. Which leads us back to Fair…
Food for Thought
The most important gift you can give your child is to let them be happy. And they might not define happy the way you do.
More Resources:
Area Board 10 of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area)
Please feel free to post any questions you have in the comments section or contact me privately via the Contact page. If I don’t know the answers I will do my best to find them.
