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Grady's Mommy

A post in the general forum got me thinking that I need to ask this question.

Grady's got one more year of preschool (but will be 5, so I COULD send him). He's just so not ready.

Anyway, I've been told by a few different parents that it's nearly impossible to get an aide in our county. But you can bet that I'll be fighting for it.

Does anyone have any tips or ways to start getting prepared to prove that he needs an aide?

What if I just can't get one. Does that mean we have to do spec. ed? Can they keep just telling me NO, in hopes that I'll give up and put him in the spec. ed. class/school.

_________________
~Kathy
Grady (DS 5/26/04)
Hailey 9/20/06
Evan 7/27/10

ecki · Posted: February 06 2009, 3:23 AM Post subject:

Our school district has been very good, so we've never had a problem.

I know Wrightslaw.com has a whole section on how to approach the IEP team about a 1:1 aide, as well as lots of other useful info.

_________________
Ecki

MomMom of Kayla (Ds/Autism 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS 7/12/01)

Our Blog - Opposite Kids
Kayla's Story http://www.ecki.com/kayla/

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Googsmom · Posted: February 06 2009, 10:29 AM Post subject:

Have you asked, in writing, for an aide? Did they send you prior written notice of why you can't have one? If they just said no verbally, you need to get it in writing!! Ask if they could show you in the districts polocy where it states they don't offer aides. again, in writing.

I don't know you situation. Is there a medical need for a para? Is he degressing in class being w/o an aide? Sit down and write a list of need. They must provide FAPE and LRE and if it takes an aide/para to do that then thats what should be. Sometimes it's all about the wording. Best wishes!!

_________________
Jennifer, Momma to The Brookster 4 yrs old

www.specialneedsinmolalla.blogspot.com
www.foundalongthejourneythroughholland.blogspot.com

Grady's Mommy · Posted: February 06 2009, 2:46 PM Post subject:

He doesn't need one yet, he's in preschool and there are enough adults in the classroom there to keep him on task.

I'm just preparing for kindergarten. He will be old enough to go this fall, but we're not sending him because we just don't think he's ready. So, I really have one more year. But I'm so scared of a fight with the district that I want to prepare myself and not be blindsided by a NO.

_________________
~Kathy
Grady (DS 5/26/04)
Hailey 9/20/06
Evan 7/27/10

LinMac · Posted: February 06 2009, 2:59 PM Post subject:

I'm not sure how it work in the USA but here in Ireland Robert has an aide at pre-school for four out of five morning he goes to pre-school. The aide is supplied by our Service Provider.
We are in the process of applying for an aide when he starts national school in Sept. Our SP apply for the aide but it is paid for by the Education System not our SP.
We had an evaluation last Tuesday. Now I'm having big problems trying to potty train Robert. The psychologist said that will be a big plus in securing an aide for him. The fact that he still in diapers will be a very strong reason in favour of him needing an aide. The aide is only there for Robert's physical needs, not for his learning though.
This information might be of use to you?

_________________
Linda & John
mom to Hannah Kate (Age 14 ), Robert (Aged 9 - DS)

First Communion Day

momofrussell · Posted: February 07 2009, 9:23 AM Post subject:

They should be looking at a child's "Present Level of Academic and Functional Performance" which I call PLOP..... any needs or concerns from the school AND parents goes here.... so even if you don't start off with an aide, if you have ANY concerns they should be documented and listed in the parental concern sections of the PLOP...that will help start your "case" if ever you need one.

You might be surprised, he may not need one... you never know.... I'd wait and see.... BUT, if he does, ALWAYS put the request in writing and they MUST give you a Notice of Action refusing or accepting this..... they should be providing proof as to why you can't have one.... they can't say things like "We just don't do that here"... and if they do that they are setting themselves up for the wrong fight.

I'd also encourage you NOT to listen to other parents others in your district that tell you "you can't get it here" because that just puts some negative spin on the way you go into these things. I have had plenty of parents of the years tell me "Oh, no one gets this or that here"... but guess what? Russell DID! Smile

It's based on YOUR child's needs.... so what another child gets and what another parent says is irrelivant! I personally get hives when I hear therapists and teachers from teams telling parents "I am not suppose to tell you this but I don't think you can get this or that".....bugs me!!!!!!

So, go into it working on what your child needs for the kindy year and if he needs an aide, go from there..... he may nor may not need one!

A.

_________________
Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 10.

DSAGSL 2009 Buddy Walk

moody216 · Posted: February 07 2009, 11:32 PM Post subject:

These were our reasons....we then had to written into his IEP that he have an instructional aide.

Potty assistance
Eating assitance
Dressing - coat, boots, etc...
Safety issues - running away and not understanding danger
Need for 1 to 1 instruction all through the day

I thought I had more than that....

_________________
Jen (mom to Nick, 6 with DS and Joey, 3)
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze119871/

Grady's Mommy · Posted: February 08 2009, 1:22 PM Post subject:

moody216 wrote:

These were our reasons....we then had to written into his IEP that he have an instructional aide.

Potty assistance
Eating assitance
Dressing - coat, boots, etc...
Safety issues - running away and not understanding danger
Need for 1 to 1 instruction all through the day

I thought I had more than that....

If Grady were to go to kindy this fall, he would need ALL of these things too.

Thank you all. Your advice has helped a lot. I do think I need to just go into this with a positive attitude and not just expect that worst. I guess I just don't want to get to that point and then think back and say 'well, if I had been documenting this or that...".

_________________
~Kathy
Grady (DS 5/26/04)
Hailey 9/20/06
Evan 7/27/10

moody216 · Posted: February 08 2009, 5:07 PM Post subject:

You never know what they will offer until you ask. I am always preparing for a fight but it doesn't always happen. Good luck.

_________________
Jen (mom to Nick, 6 with DS and Joey, 3)
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze119871/

momofrussell · Posted: February 09 2009, 2:15 PM Post subject:

That's why you DO document!! Go in with a positive outlook thinking everything is going to go great, but ALWAYS make sure your thoughts, desires and concerns are documented!!! So, when you do need something you've started that trail....

Good luck!

A.

_________________
Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 10.

DSAGSL 2009 Buddy Walk

moody216 · Posted: February 09 2009, 2:20 PM Post subject:

I totally agree. I found that I needed to document all conversations I had with school officials. It really was handy down the road.

_________________
Jen (mom to Nick, 6 with DS and Joey, 3)
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze119871/

ecki · Posted: February 09 2009, 2:47 PM Post subject:

I've found safety to be the best way to request a 1:1 aide. Because if you've stated in writing the safety issues and heaven forbid they don't provide the aide and something should happen....well, I don't think most schools want to go there. They can probably try to shrug off the academic/staying on task concerns, but safety is something most school districts don't want to mess with.

Kayla is still mouthing objects. She needs someone within arms reach since choking for her is a real probability.

_________________
Ecki

MomMom of Kayla (Ds/Autism 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS 7/12/01)

Our Blog - Opposite Kids
Kayla's Story http://www.ecki.com/kayla/

Friend me on FACEBOOK (please specify Downsyn, so I know who you are!)

Grady's Mommy · Posted: February 09 2009, 4:03 PM Post subject:

So, tell me exactly how to go about this.

What do I do, just list my concerns and give it to them at the IEP meeting? Is there a place on the IEP to list parental concerns?

Several of his goals include those things listed earlier. As do his progress reports (how he's progressing on eating skills, staying on task, playing appropriately etc.).

Is that kind of thing good enough? Please tell me HOW to document!!

**Edited to add: Our IEP meetings have always felt so informal. I mean, they are formal, but it's never been stressful. His therapists and teachers contact me a few weeks before to get my thoughts on new goals then everything's pretty much just signed at the IEP meeting.

Any concerns I've had (or his teachers for that matter) have always just been casually talked about and then we work on those concerns. Should we be making all this more formal?

For example, I went to his OT a few weeks ago with concerns about self-feeding. So, we talked and came up with a game plan, and she implemented it. This has all been done outside the official IEP.

Gosh, I'm feeling so overwhelmed.

_________________
~Kathy
Grady (DS 5/26/04)
Hailey 9/20/06
Evan 7/27/10

momofrussell · Posted: February 09 2009, 6:39 PM Post subject:

Kathy, don't feel overwhelmed, I think we are making this sound more then it is.... Wink

Go get the most recent copy of your son's IEP. On the first page or first few pages you will see "Present Level of Academic and Functional Performace".. and in there some place it should say "Parental Concerns". First look it over and see what they already have on there. Look at see what they have for their section of the PLOP. That will help you understand what goes there.

Then I would start writing notes on what may or may not be accurate.. what needs to be added, amended, ect. So, for the parental concerns you can list things like "Concerned about safety issues".... "has a hard time staying on task"... "Likes engaging with peers" and all sorts of other things.

When I look at Russell's his PLOP is 3 pages long. Most of it is their portion... the last IEP we had they only had a minimal section for what I wanted.. they kept it current and it was my concerns for not changing the goals at this time and using photographs instead of Boardmaker (which I needed documented for other reasons). Each time we have an IEP we go over the WHOLE PLOP together... we read ALL of it and I comment if things are accurate or not. It's always been pretty detailed and accurate, just sometimes they get some of the medical information wrong and sometimes they are over zealous on a few things, like with his communication... so sometimes have to tweak it... but all and all it's pretty detailed.

So, this is where you should get a feel for if they are painting an accurate picture about your son and where you should interject your parental concerns for your son's education..... FUNCTIONAL performance is key... because he may not need an aide for academic reasons, but maybe for functional purposes at school hey may need one.

I was told by my trainers that it's the PLOP that drives if there is a need for an aide.... so just keep that in mind..... so you can document it all, even if you aren't going to get one right now.

A.

_________________
Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 10.

DSAGSL 2009 Buddy Walk

Grady's Mommy · Posted: February 09 2009, 8:41 PM Post subject:

Thank you!! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you walking me through this. It's so hard being from a small town, because there just aren't that many "been there done that" moms.

_________________
~Kathy
Grady (DS 5/26/04)
Hailey 9/20/06
Evan 7/27/10

momofrussell · Posted: March 09 2009, 3:21 PM Post subject:

Oh, and if I didn't mention it in my previous posts, try to NOT listen what other parents in your district tell you what you can and can't have Wink

A.

_________________
Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 10.

DSAGSL 2009 Buddy Walk

Yailet · Posted: March 24 2009, 9:39 PM Post subject:

I will be going to Daniel's IEP meeting in May, and I'm just as nervous as you, I know I want for Daniel to be in regular class but with the proper tools, (which probably means an aide), and I'm getting ready to fight if I have to. In my case I will be going with his behavioral therapies, his dad, and an advocate that knows the IDEA laws, and knows how to answer all those excuses that the coordinators say not to give you the services our kids needs. I get too emotional and start choking, then after I'm out of there I start thinking all the things that I wanted to say.
Good luck, but go prepared with everything in writing.

_________________
Mami to Daniel (6/15/04)

"God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED - To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be."