DownSyn Forum

[Yelena and Alisa]

My daughter turns 3 in less then 2 weeks. yesterday we had our initial IEP meeting. I was shocked and still can't come down, the school district approved us for special ed class at the regular neiborhood elementary school, due to MR, but NO THERAPIES?? No OT, no PT, and NO SPEECH. The only therapy she is gonna get is Aduptive PE. My daugter has pretty good receptive language, good receptive vocabulary, but mostly in Russian, caous it's our home spoken language, but her expressive consists of 10 short words, I mean spoken, Alisa can communicats pretty well by gestures, pointing, signing about 20 signs, facial expressions. IEP Speech therapist said, Alisa doesn't qualify for ST.
Right now she is gettin 2 h of ST, 2 h of OT, 1 h of PT/ week, and goes to Early Intervention Program at UCLA 3 time a week 3 h a day.

Is there anyone from LA, CA? What was your outcome from IEP, any suggestions?

[lucky13]

You need to begin with assessments. They need to provide assessments consistent with your child's diagnosis. They should have done a fine motor assessment and speech assessment based upon DS. So put your request for the needed assessments in writing. Also note that for each assessment the district provides- you have the right to an independent evaluation at their expense. You choose the place- they can't have you select one off a "list". Hold tight and don't sign the IEP until you get services in place. If you did sign you can always revise the IEP after the assessments are in.
Assessments first- assessments drive services.

Also visit disabilityrightsca.org
click on publications and then Special education
They have fantastic-free materials as well as a phone number to contact an advocate who will usually call back in a few days and can work you through any snags.

_________________
Rachael
Wife to Chuck. Mom to Courtney 7/00 & Luke (D) 6/05