Post by Emilysmom on Mar 20, 2008 6:45:54 GMT -5
Emily's IEP for next year was.......yesterday! I think this is the very eariest we've ever had one, but I had less stress about it than usual. And it went really well, other than the fact that it took 2 full hours. We got off to a slow start because the people who were supposed to be there, just trickled in slowly and that was a bit frustrating. But overall, I'm very pleased. Everyone (the PT and OT are the same ones Emily had at her other school, so they've known her for years) is amazed by how well she has adjusted at the high school. And I am too! This is the girl who insisted she was NEVER going to high school, and now she jumps out of bed and eagerly gets ready. One teacher said Emily wants to be a part of EVERYTHING that's going on in the classroom, and raises her hand and volunteers to read out loud. (Pretty cool for such a "shy" kid!)
The only "negative thing" was that the OT said she thought, instead of working with Emily one-on-one each week (she only has 30 minutes per week), she would just give some computer programs to a teacher to work on in their "free" time. We decided last year that the main OT focus would be on learning keyboarding skills. She said she would just do "consultations" 3 or 4 times during the year. I said..........."Well, how would that benefit Emily"? She really wasn't sure what to say, and never really did have an answer for that one. I then said "I think she should continue to have the weekly 30 minute session with you where she works on keyboarding skills, AND in any free time the teacher can also help her". She looked like I'd lost my mind. I said "I really don't think this is a good time to take any services away from her, since she's really making lots of progress......do you"? I know lots of kids no longer have OT services at the high school level, but it's just 30 minutes a week that she is out of class doing OT and she's definitely learning during that 30 minutes. So, I'm staying firm on that one.
She also gets ST and PT 30 minutes twice a week and that's going well. I'm AMAZED by what the PT has her doing!!! It is a program called the "Couragous Pacer Program". They do a series of 30 reps of all sorts of exercises, push ups, riding a stationary bike, running 3 flights of stairs, jumping on a trampoline, etc. She does the whole program in 30 minutes and the PT says Emily works hard! She's now using 2 lbs weights too. I keep wondering if they are going to stop PT, because they are not working on "educational" goals.........but it is never mentioned, and I'm glad.
She is now working every Wednesday at our local library for an hour, and this is going to be continued next year. The assistant who goes to the library with her says Emily seems to really enjoy this.
It's always a relief to have the next year's IEP over...........WHEW!!!!!
The only "negative thing" was that the OT said she thought, instead of working with Emily one-on-one each week (she only has 30 minutes per week), she would just give some computer programs to a teacher to work on in their "free" time. We decided last year that the main OT focus would be on learning keyboarding skills. She said she would just do "consultations" 3 or 4 times during the year. I said..........."Well, how would that benefit Emily"? She really wasn't sure what to say, and never really did have an answer for that one. I then said "I think she should continue to have the weekly 30 minute session with you where she works on keyboarding skills, AND in any free time the teacher can also help her". She looked like I'd lost my mind. I said "I really don't think this is a good time to take any services away from her, since she's really making lots of progress......do you"? I know lots of kids no longer have OT services at the high school level, but it's just 30 minutes a week that she is out of class doing OT and she's definitely learning during that 30 minutes. So, I'm staying firm on that one.
She also gets ST and PT 30 minutes twice a week and that's going well. I'm AMAZED by what the PT has her doing!!! It is a program called the "Couragous Pacer Program". They do a series of 30 reps of all sorts of exercises, push ups, riding a stationary bike, running 3 flights of stairs, jumping on a trampoline, etc. She does the whole program in 30 minutes and the PT says Emily works hard! She's now using 2 lbs weights too. I keep wondering if they are going to stop PT, because they are not working on "educational" goals.........but it is never mentioned, and I'm glad.
She is now working every Wednesday at our local library for an hour, and this is going to be continued next year. The assistant who goes to the library with her says Emily seems to really enjoy this.
It's always a relief to have the next year's IEP over...........WHEW!!!!!
&
Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
Even bigger yea for working at the library 
? Yep! OT! Turns out, our county has a new OT who is recommending only consultations for nearly everyone! It's so wild, because 2 years ago, the school system brought in this awesome OT to do an inservice for teachers and parents. Her focus was on sensory integration, and people who attended it said she was awesome. NOW, this guy says he doesn't "believe in" sensory integration! Apparently, lots of parents from our county have gone to his supervisor about it. I'm guessing I won't hear another word from him about "consultations only"!!!