NO sleeping going on here!

[Emilysmom]

Please think of us (and a prayer or two wouldn't hurt!!) tomorrow morning at 8am. Emily's IEP meeting is scheduled for that time, and I've been such a wreck over it! I feel like I've always taken these meetings seriously, but this time I'm EXTRA concerned...........concerned mostly about the fact that in just 2 years my girl will be in high school! And, I'm feeling a pressure this year to make sure ALL is done well from here on out to help her to succeed! (More so than in years past!)

THANKS so much to Adrienne, CC, Debi, Maria, Cathy, and anyone else who has been patient enough to "listen" to me over the past 2 weeks....and for the wonderful advice!!

Now, if I don't at least try to sleep I'll never stay awake during that meeting!

Susan

[Pat]

We're praying for you! Expecting great reports on how it went today.
Pat

[momofrussell]

I am sure all of it will go just fine! And then you can get some sleep I hope after you keeping the rest of us up with you LOL, you will post up and let us know how it went!

Hugs!!!

A.

[laurasnowbird]

It's Friday afternoon, and we're all looking for an update!!!

[updowns]

How did it go Susan?

Stella

[PaigesMom]

Susan, Where are you We're waiting for the IEP update!!!

[shellk]

Susan,

I hope that things went well today.!!

Michele

[Debi]

HMMMMMM Susan or any of us sleeping through an IEP meeting?? I doubt it. I know none of us has ever had one that didn't keep us on our toes lol.
I DO think that for Ariel and Gabe both.. this last time before HS is really nervewracking. For me it 's like the FUTURE is here OMG NO!

Come on Susan we need an Update.. all your informal IEP members on this team want to know how it went.

[Emilysmom]

LOL Everyone! I got home from work late and then immediately went out to eat, and we just now got home.
I am really pleased with the whole meeting!!! I had so many unanswered questions in my mind last night, and ended up staying up wayyyyyyyy too late to get organized for the meeting. But, by the time I got there this morning I felt really good and calm! I made a list of the things that were MOST important for Emily...in each category we would be discussing. I listed all of Emily's strengths and needs, cause I figured that I know her (good, AND bad) so much better than anyone at her school.

There were 10 of us in that little room! (ST/OT/PT, homeroom teacher, 2 resource teachers, homeroom teacher for next year, school district person, self contained classroom teacher, and me......LOTS of input!) I was really pleased to hear Emily's homeroom teacher talk about how well Em had done this year. She raved on and on about how organized she was, how polite and EAGER to participate in everything the class was doing. We had some serious discussions about how important it is that we all MAKE Emily do some of the things she has been unwilling to do so far by herself........shampooing her hair, making eye contact when she is speaking, for example.

So.......next year, Emily will be in the self contained classroom for reading for 45 minutes each day. She will be in the "regular" classrooms for Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language/Spelling for the remainder of the day. There are 2 inclusion teachers who will work with her in those subjects to help her succeed. We discussed various modifications that will help in those classes.

PT/OT/ST services will continue as they have been this last year, and she'll go back to being able to swim laps at the pool every Friday morning. All 3 therapists were very willing to work on all of the things I suggested, and we all agreed that reading comprehension needed to be a BIG focus for her!! (THAT was my biggest concern) We're going to add more emphasis on phonics this year for the first time. I'm happy with all the goals, and we're going to be evaluating them more often than last year to see if they're "working"! All in all, it was a really good meeting!!

Sort of a SAD note for me though.........I honestly had always just planned and assumed that Emily would receive a REGULAR high school diploma when she graduates. I assumed this mostly because I know many other kids with Ds who graduated with regular diplomas over the years. (Otherwise, she would recieve a certificate of completion) I asked about the thing that A posted the other day........and found that it is true that those kids who take an alternative state mandated test are not eligible for a regular diploma. We agreed to wait and decide next Spring whether or not Em would again take an alternative test this year. (She has for the past 2 years)
It was explained to me that the requirements for a regular high school diploma have changed over the years, and it is much more difficult now. Students must pass all course subjects, as well as the Gateway tests in the 4 areas. I'm thinking I'm going to wait and worry about THAT tomorrow!!

Sorry for the LONG post, and thank you all for thinking positively this morning! I do feel very good about the plans for her for next year, and I came away with a really good feeling that everyone plans to work together in Emily's best interest!!

Susan

[CC]

YAHOOOOOOO SUSAN ;D ;D

I am sooo happy to read your post girl and just in-case you forgot what I loved hearing the MOST I will remind you

"! I do feel very good about the plans for her for next year, and I came away with a really good feeling that everyone plans to work together in Emily's best interest!!"

You have made my DAY girl

HUGS and JOB well DONE

CC ~

[momofrussell]

WOW... sounds like a GREAT IEP Susan!!!! Sounds like your late night and IEP homework paid off! I wouldn't worry about the HS stuff until transition time. I would also have them find out and spell out just what % of core classes she NEEDS to pass and what ways you can make the testing easier for her and at her level without changing the test itself.

Hugs to you!!! and YEAH for the good IEP!

A.

[PaigesMom]

YAY Susan, way to go, I am happy to hear that. You will definately be on my consult list come IEP time!!!

Deb

[MB]

Susan,

Great news! Have been absent from UnoMas for about a week so I apologize for the lack of encouragement before the IEP.

Hope you are getting lots of sleep. Emily is awesome!

MB

[Cathy]

Susan.How wonderful...see I told you that you were worrying for nothing.

Sounds to me like you guys got all the little details worked out .. I am sure Emily will hae a fabulous year next and hugs to you both!

I love Happy endings when it comes to IEP...

Cathy

[Jackie]

Susan....this is terrific...and as to the diploma....dont worry a bit about this. Every state is different....and really a diploma is a diploma unless you plan to enter Emily in a traditional college program. In college...in the traditional sense...there is no modification on ...content. Accessiblity departments exist but to aid the student who is physically challenged with things such as notetaking....getting around campus...etc. We are starting to see some accomodations also for LD students....but those are students who test out normally on IQ tests...etc...and have some variance in learning styles.

Hopefully in the future we will see programs that are established allowing our kids to fully participate on a college level with their peers....but for now...many community colleges have continuing ed programs or certificate programs in all sorts of things that do accomodate our kids...you just have to find those and then push to get them to include your child.

Waving a "regular" diploma is a banner some parents seem to want...and more power to them if they can do this...(in some states its easier than in others).....but personally I think just the accomplishment of getting thru in the traditional 12 years...and walking across the stage in a robe with the classmates who started kindergarten with you is terrific too.

Your Emily has quite a future ahead of her it sounds like...and be sure to give YOURSELF a big pat on the back at this point for all YOU have done to help her make it this far!!!!! (although the task has been easy because of Em herself).

Jackie