IEP | Our Special Families Village

For Families and Caregivers – The News You Need This Week (1/25/12)

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Last week I shared the story of Amelia Rivera and her family’s struggle to get her a kidney transplant. Here are two more articles that share some of what is happening as a result of the outcry from the Special Needs Community.

Amelia Rivera and Medical Morality

Bill Targets Bias in Transplant Decisions

Parents now ‘less tolerant of disabled children in same class’

MORE than one in five people say they would object if a pupil with an intellectual disability or autism was in the same class as their child.

The disturbing statistic marks a growing level of intolerance of these children in the education system.

Just one in 12 said they would object when a similar study was carried out in 2006.

While this story is from Ireland it makes me wonder if the attitude is prevalent world-wide. We see so much in the media these days about tolerance. And we see so much about bullying and abuse. The moral of the story? Keep on working for awareness, acceptance and inclusion. And not because it is forced upon people, but rather because they truly want to.

Which leads me to…

The power of empathy: Peer groups help veterans, police and moms of kids with special needs

The programs, offered by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, are proving that empathy, which arises from walking in the shoes of another, creates a powerful connection and support for those in crisis.

Special thank you to Doreen Fulton of IEP for Mom and Believe in a Ray of Hope for sharing this article.

Some suggestions for IEP goals when your child is bullied

Wish I had this wonderful list back when Matthew was bullied. Gregory Branch shares some excellent ideas to explore with your IEP Team in this article.

As we all know by now, special needs children are bullied 2 to 3 times more frequently than their typical peers. As I have mentioned in previous articles, one of the first steps that the parent of a special needs child should take is to request an IEP meeting.

Help for fragile X victims

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute breakthrough could allow newborn screening of the world’s most common cause of inherited developmental disability.

Top Ten Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting

This article from Special Needs Advocate Denise Golberg is so important because many parents don’t realized that these statements are not only ridiculous but flat out wrong.

I have also, at times, heard some of the most outrageous statements!!! These ridiculous comments fly in the face of everything the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) stands for. What you will find below are ten of most ridiculous statements that I have heard and why they are so ridiculous.

Tips for helping your child with special education needs with their homework

For all parents helping their children with homework everyday takes time and effort. However, for parents of children with special education needs often this can turn into a long and challenging process. Some key tips to support children with special education needs in completing their homework include:

Tiger Mother to an Autistic Son

I’m including this article today, rather than in the ASD/PDD digest because it applies to Moms of all Special Needs Kids.

I’m tired of being called brave. But being the mom of a deeply autistic young man of 22, I can’t avoid it. Because I survived.

Interpreting the signs

This is an article from one of my local newspapers but I am sharing it because it is on a topic I don’t cover often – Deaf and Hard of Hearing issues. But even more important is this message:

Through my experience, research, and talking with teachers, audiologists, and therapists, I have learned the No. 1 factor that determines a child’s success: family involvement.

John Corbett Stars in “A Smile as Big as the Moon,” New Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie Airing Sunday, January 29 on ABC

The inspiring story of a high school football coach and special-education teacher who worked to achieve an impossible dream — to take a class of special-education students to NASA’s Space Camp

If you have found any great resources or stories, please share them in the Comments Section.

Help make The Village Your Village but sharing your thoughts, ideas and suggestions in this short survey. It’ll only take a few minutes but I appreciate your time very much.

Filed Under: Information and Resources, Inspiration, Legal and Medical Information and Resources, Parenting Information and Resources, Special Education, Special Needs Caregivers Tagged With: Advocacy, Autism, IEP, Medical Research, Parenting Special Needs Kids, Special Education, Special Needs Law

For Families and Caregivers – The News You Need This Week (10/26/11)

By Sandra Leave a Comment

For Families and Caregivers – The News You Need This Week

Is your Family Member still in school?

Here are some great tips from Special Education Advisor for writing IEP Goals.

And if you need help with a Behavior Plan, Terri Mauro from Special Children on About.com has some good resources in this article.

Do you have to deal with restraint and seclusion of your child?

Disability Scoop has posted some very good information on Restraint and Seclusion here.

I’ve written about Matthew’s bullying experience here.

This article tells about a wonderful program in Colorado to help special kids stay safe. I hope it spreads!

Are you trying to deal with a new special needs diagnosis for your baby?

This article has some great insight for all new Special Needs Families - Seven Things I Wish Someone had Told Me When My Daughter Was First Diagnosed with Autism.

Excellent book review by Read Aloud Dad

If You Had to Choose, What Would you Do?

Sad but true – interesting article on About.com’s Special Children

What toxic stuff have people said to you?

I think CheekyBeauty said it best:

Idiots are Everywhere

I too have had remarks made by idiots about my special needs daughter. The most upsetting one was made by her own father (the biggest idiot of all ex-husband) when she was a baby, that I needn’t worry about her as she would go and live in an institution. Not once but TWICE he had the nerve to say this out loud and luckily for him, I allowed him to live. I have had all sorts of puzzling things said to me about my child that were similar in tone. In 18 years since my daughter was born, I have never known a better human being. And that’s a fact. And in that time I have learned that there are many so-called “normal” people who are the most disabled of them all. Be grateful to those who make these comments. It helps you to find out whether they are your true friends who care about you and your family. Then avoid them like the plague and in your spare time, think of good comeback lines so you shut the idiots up for good. Be tough, be strong, and don’t take no sh*t from nobody. Ever.

Are you looking for information and resources and just can’t find what you need? Chances are that if you need it, so do others. I go through literally thousands of sites and articles weekly. Let me know what you are looking for and I’ll help you find what you need. Just add a comment or send me a message on the Contact page.

Filed Under: Parenting Information and Resources, Special Education, Special Needs Caregivers Tagged With: Advocacy, IEP, Parenting, Parenting Special Needs Kids, Special Education, Special Needs Support

The Fair, Firm and Friendly Method for working with your IEP Team

By Sandra Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Local Resources, On A Personal Note, Special Education, Village Views Tagged With: IEP, Special Education