IEP speech Gripe

[ALLISA]

My daughter is 7, has Down syndrome & PDD NOS, she is almost completely noverbal and communication is a huge hurdle for us.

In her latest IEP meeting....their suggestion for ST is as follows:

Two 30 minute sessions per week with ST and then an additional 30 minutes will be used ( not with Erin) but for the teacher and the ST to consult on behaviors and how therapist can get past them during session and for the ST to explain what she is doing with Erin so that teacher can repeat in class. Giving Erin a total of 90 minutes per week ( though she actually only gets 60, they are assuring me the 90 minutes is DEVOTED to my daughter)

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

oooooooo, thanks for letting me scream out my anger !!

My response was of course to reject that portion of the IEP....I have recommendations from her speech evaluation and her neuro psych telling me she needs daily ST with a licensed provider. I know school would cancel classes before they gave me daily......but my suggestion to them is :

Four 20 minute sessions per week with a 10 minute consult time between teacher and ST....totally her 90 minutes. I cited her progress report which STATES that she can't attend to an acitvity or work station for more than 10-15 minutes !!! Yet, they think 30 minutes of ST will work ? They just stated she CAN'T do more than 15 minutes.....so they are admtting that the last 15 minutes will be "lost".

Also Erin has difficulty transitioning in the hallway and ST is a long way from her room....I suggested the ST come to her.....which was soundly shot down at the IEP meeting. I later wrote in my letter of rejection that I felt ST should come to her until such a time has arisen that she can make the walk down the hall without spiralling into behaviors, because NOW by the time she gets to her room....she is all wound up !

It is actually almost laughable isn't it ?? That they think their suggestion is at all helpful to my daughter

Thanks as always for your input and your listening !!

[Chris too]

Allisa,
I'm impressed with your counter offer. Daily therapy is something that she can learn to expect - routine is everything to kids with behavior issues. Are they planning on 15 minutes travel time to therapy as part of the 90 minutes? Or are they having an aid take her early enough to arrive for the full 30? Maybe they are counting on only 15 minutes in actual therapy (which they admit she can handle) per session. I'd ask about that. Why don't they want ST coming to her? Tell them that she can take 5 minutes travel time out of the 20 each day - that leaves 15 minutes of good attention time. I also think you should request that most of the consult time be in written reports that you can review.

It sure does look like they have ulterior motives; I'd try to find out what they are and call them on it. You are being reasonable, they have no excuse for failing to negotiate terms. They made an offer, you countered; it's their turn to counter or give the reason why not.

Chris, too

[ALLISA]

thanks Chris....perhaps they are including the 15 minute travel time as part of her session....but give me a break.....that isn't fair. If you are expected to work 8 hours a day at a job.....are you allowed to take your commute time off the top ? SHe is losing her time ..... period !

I do feel that she gets intense 1 to 1 with her teacher and aide and I know that is also helping to build her speech & communication.....but......an ST is specifically licensed for a particular reason....so shouldn't Erin benefit from that ?

I know we have had tremendous turnover in ST and OT's at our school....and time is limited so I think that is why they are trying to reduce as much as possible.....but I feel it is laugable to think the teacher and ST will meet at EXACTLY the same time, same day every week and discuss my sweetie ( and only my sweetie) for a full 30 minutes....and they consider that part of her services.....am I way off base to be angry about that ? For some reason....my anger is kicking in.....but I guess it is a good thing.....I get a lot more action done when I'm angered !! LOL

[momofrussell]

I know you just posted about ST and minutes just a bit ago right? And at that time I didn't feel it was acceptable for Erin. I still don't.

What sucks is that we too have had some "so so" SLP's over the years. Some ONLY focus on "verbal speech" and well, they are a speech LANGUAGE Pathologist...LANGUAGE is the key... and there have been a few that have truly missed that boat with Russell.

Your minutes look like the blanket "norm" they try to give most kids. That doesn't mean it's induvidualized though. We got lucky with Russell. He had 120 min in our old district and they forwarned me that I probably wouldn't be getting this for Russell in the new district because most districts just will NOT dole out those kinda minutes... EVEN for Russell. But.. guess what? Russell still has those minutes on our new IEP.

I'd continue to put your requests in writing like you are doing. I think your new request is a bit more "appropriate" so go with that. Explain to them that this isn't appropriate for Erin and she really needs "daily" help. That is how it is for Russell and why they continued with the minutes. They know this is a HUGE deficit for him and that he regresses so dang easily, so they try to do it on a daily basis.

Oh.. and I almost forgot... I'd ask them what other activities outside of the ST time are language based? Because her day could encompass lots of language activities outside of the goals the SLP works on. That is KEY also. Make sure they hare doing "total communication" if that is what you want them do to. Then EVERYONE in Erin's day will have to do this approach, it's not just done with the slp in the minutes on the IEP. Also, suggest Erin do alot of hands on in her day... that will also enforce the language part of her day. There are lots of other things that they need to be doing IN the class always, above and beyond the SLP and the goals. Russell has learned more language from his teacher then the SLP.
A.

[Chris too]

I didn't mean to mis-lead you, Allisa: I'd be mad as a hornet if I were in your shoes. And if they ARE counting travel time as therapy time, you should absolutely call them on it. I think you are going to need to micro-manage this until you know Erin's individual needs are being met.

Chris, too

[chasesmom]

Robin's suggested plan for Erin's speech to be implemented by ST......see Allisa's LETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR !!!!! OMGosh, can we say dumb dumb and dumber? they expect her to attend for 30 minutes? Are they out of their minds? And for the record, Chase's ST has ALWAYS always always come to him, never vice versa. Too bad if this ST has a problem with it because it isn't HER IEP, it is Erin's and it isn't about what SHE wants, it is about how BEST to serve Erin's needs, thank you so very much. Are you sure these people have an educational background and understand the laws, rules and requirements regarding Erin's rights to an education? I would be ever so happy to write and ask them if they would like a quick review ;D JUST for you I would do that Allisa, just for you , LOLOL!!!!! Geez, I so badly wish you were coming to the NDSC!!!!!!!!! Anyways, I am glad you are Erin's mom and about to go kick some ass. Come back and let us know how it felt and went!!!
hugs, Robin

[Chris too]

GO Robin; go Robin; GO! You have such a way with words!!

Ditto on letting us live this vicariously, Allisa.

Chris, to

[CC]

"I know school would cancel classes before they gave me daily"

Well it can be done girl if it is what is needed. Chris had 5 days a week speech for many years in school.

Does Erin have an aide in class. Maybe she could attend one of the sessions and learn the carry over to the class room KWIM. I see no reason that a ST session on Erin's IEP should take away from Erin and have the Teach and the ST have a session. Geeze let them have their own IEP for that, So silly, do they really think you are going to let them get away with that??

Since you disagree with their recommendations bout speech have you requested in writing an independent evaluation?? Just my thoughts but that is the route I would go.

Hmmm hope you are OK with me asking but "15 min. Travel time" from class to speech?? YIKES how big is your school??

BEST of LUCK

[ALLISA]

thanks again guys.....

CC.....she had an idependent eval in MAY and they said DAILY speech with a licesned ST was necessary. Her Aide does NOT attend ST with her......which I think is wrong.....below is the letter I sent with the rejected IEP....

I am meeting next week with her teacher and the ST to see if we can fix this....

I haven't rejected an IEP before....the director said that it will get sent to a state board ? But that we could probably work it all out before it came to that.....


And Cc....no, school not that big !! LOL.....but Erin drops and flops to the ground....taps the floor, walls, should only take a minute.....and even with her behaviors, I couldn't imagine it took more than 5.



RE: IEP for Erin Rudden

Dear Ms.,

Enclosed is my signed portion of Erin’s IEP. However, as indicated I do not accept the IEP as it is written. I have to strongly disagree with her Speech Therapy assignment.
Speech and communication is Erin’s largest obstacle. I believe it is closely tied with her behavior problems and needs to be the top priority of her curriculum.

As her IEP is right now, she is scheduled to receive 30 minutes of Speech therapy twice a week and have 30 minutes weekly devoted towards teacher and therapist consult. I think this grossly undermines what Erin needs for Speech Therapy.

I have enclosed recommendations from Children’s Hospital Speech Evaluation and her most recent follow-up at Behavioral Medicine that both recommend Erin needs daily speech with a licensed professional.

In Erin’s progress report it is noted on several occasions that she can’t fully attend to a task for longer than 15-20 minutes. So to give her a full 30 minutes in a row of speech seems like the wrong approach, it appears that we can assume the last 10-15 minutes of speech will be lost on her.

Also, I would suggest that until her problems with transitioning in the hallway are under control, she should receive her ST in the classroom and NOT in the speech room. To diminish behaviors during therapy and to re-enforce the lessons learned during speech, I think having her aide present makes the most sense.

Furthermore I would recommend that with her 90 minutes of speech, the most beneficial use of this time would be four 20 minute sessions and one 10 minute consult between the teacher and the therapist. This seems to me to be the best use of 90 minutes assigned to Erin.

I have signed the IEP enclosed, but would like to meet to discuss the speech portion at your convenience.

Thank you very much,


Allisa Rudden

[chasesmom]

Wow Missy Allisa.....very professional, very well written!!!! If you sign refusing to agree to the IEP, it does go to hearing BUT and that is a HUGE BUT..it costs the school thousands of $$$$ for it so they will do anything to stay out of court once you sign you are in disagreement. Whn I signed that I was in disagreement...the spec ed director said to me..."you know this is going to ost you thousands, are you prepared for that?" and I smiled ight back at him and said "my house is totally paid for, I have no mortgage and Chase is most assurdly worth a remortgage" It blew him and his BLUFF right out of the water. Then he got serious and offered me mediation to try to settle it because he KNEW my demands were legitimate and I was going to win on behalf of Chase. If you were asking for crazy out of this world things...I would say don't do it, but no mediator is going to say you are wrong...and btw...ours never even went to mediation, when I said yes to mediation because I really didnt want to spend any money either...they even settled with me before mediation and I got what the Chaseman needed. Nooooo school board is going to let your principle or spec ed director waste thousands of $$$ over something they know he or she is wrong about ;D ;D ;D I'll bet my last $ on that
hugs girl....and did I tell you lately that you are one awesome Erin advocate? You are the best!
Robin

[ALLISA]

Well, first off....I had NO idea that it was such a BIG deal to reject a portion of an IEP...LOL....and I'm pretty sure it won't go before meidation or court as the sped director told me that her ST and Teacher are both here for the summer and she was SURE we'd work it out over the next week or two.

Myabe next time......they can spend more time discussing it in the IEP meeting so that I don't ahve to reject it !!

Thanks all !!

[momofrussell]

Refusing to sign an IEP shouldn't automatically take it to due process and to a hearing. You should be able to disagree, in writing and resolve it at another IEP meeting. It's when NO one can resolve the issues that it then goes to due process. But no signing the IEP means you need another one to resolve the issues.

And Allisa, it shouldn't be such a big deal to reject a portion of an IEP. I mean, think about it, it happens more then we know.. and that's what IEP meetings are for...teaming up and resolving and figuring it all out. I think the gal that told you it goes higher up was trying to scare you

A.

[CC]

"Refusing to sign an IEP shouldn't automatically take it to due process and to a hearing"

I SECOND A~ no reason you would need to go to due process over one disagreement UNLESS after you try to continue to work it out you cannot work it out and still disagree.

I started Due Process over a matter years back with Chris and I requested through the proper steps for mediation and my district PITA as they are said NO to mediation (which they can do) so it was off to court we go.

Sick thing with my district at that time was they knew I would win, it was a given but they wanted to try and prove a point I guess anywho the morning of the court date they called and said K, we will give you your request.

I swear they just count on that one will not go through with it KWIM

But again I really think all you need here is another IEP to hash this out a bit more, Geez I mean you have the independent Eval.

BEST of LUCK girl

CC ~

[ALLISA]

Sorry....didn't mean to imply we were going to court.....

She told me that THEY have to report to the Education State Board that there has been a rejected IEP but she was sure all would be worked out.....

Teacher gave me their counter : three 20 minute sessions and the 30 minute teacher/ST consult. So Erin would get 1 more session ( at a better length) but they still keep their 30 minute consult at Erin's expense. All sessions to take place in her classroom until transittioning no longer poses problems.

So, I have to mull it over and decide what I think....thanks again.....

[Connie]

Allisa,

Buy them a tape recorder an tell them you want a taped conversation of there session for Erin so that you can implement their suggestions at home.



Connie