IEP Meeting this Friday

[ALLISA]

Hi all !

Erin has her meeting this Friday.....I'm just curious about "grade levels"....Erin is 6 right now.....she repeated Preschool this year although age wise kidnergarten coudl have been done.

She needed preschool so I have no regrets about that decision we made last year.

We did get Erin's results from her Eval @ Children's and she was diagnosed with PDD NOS ( autism spectrum )

In January she was moved into the "PDD" preshcool class and it was a great move for her....even before she had the diagnosis I could see a chnage in her from the different teaching style.

My question is this : I know the schools recommendation is going to be a "PDD" K-2 classroom ( very small self contained class)....but I'm not sure she is even ready for K-2.....do I opt for preschool again.....if it is evn an option ?

She has almost NO language/communication skills...

Anyone held children back a few times ? What do you recommned ? Any and all thoughts would be great !
Allisa

[momofrussell]

You know what Allisa... we held Russell back in EC an extra year like you did with Erin. So, Russell was 6 1/2 when he started kindy in the k-2 spec ed class. As much has the IEP is "induvidualized" I don't think they would have entertained thoughts of keeping him in EC ANOTHER year beyond that. In fact, the thought never crosed my mind... it was time for my boy to be a BIG BOY, KWIM? I think if you have the proper IEP and goals in place.. and the appropriate placement, it really won't matter if she isn't in EC, if that makes sense. I try (with the help of our IEP team) choose placements and goals that still "pattern" an EC environment he use to have and a somewhat theraputic environment... THAT is what is important. And then we did place him again this year and he is in an environement that is more intense and only like 4-5 kids in the class. We love it! And when we move he will have the same setting again.

I don't know Erin... but I do know Russell... and I think moving Erin to kindy/k-2 spec ed will be just fine! Remember, Russell has NO (lacking) communication/language skills and is Autistic. They just work with him to get farther along.

You may think she isn't ready... but I bet she is She will rise to the occasion and you tweak it to work if there is any hiccups. Just stay communicating with the teacher and your team on what you need for Erin.. and it will be JUST fine!!!

Hugs... keep me posted.

A.

[wrblack]

After we got Charlie's dual dx, we wound up "demoting"him. The special ed schools he has attended don't really have grades, as such. They have programs and modules. He'd been in a developmental program for the prior year with kids mainly 5 to 6. We looked at a couple of classes where he could get autism support, ABA with DTT. And we decided he would be happier, safer to drop back into a preschool program for 3 and 4 year olds. Believe his classmates are mostly 4 yo. Charlie will turn 7 this summer. So, he's the old man of the class. But we're very happy with our decision, his placement, teachers, program, therapies. And he seems to be pretty happy too.
I thought our case manager from sending district made a good point, wouldn't hesitate to hold him back a year or two now, when it looks like will do him a lot of good. He's probably going to go to school until he's 21. We've got plenty of cushion.
Don't know where he'll be next year, but I won't be upset if he stays with this same class for another year. But I'm also curious about what a few other kids with same dual dx are doing in the new elementary school. We'll see.
So, I guess I'm saying I wouldn't hesitate to hold back a year, but I would look at the program and the fit.
Good luck,
Bob