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Post by jelanismom on Jun 10, 2008 18:20:24 GMT -5
Today was an addendum meeting to discuss and determine Jelani's PT services. Last months PT assessment stated that she's recommending discharge. I was under the impression the IEP team felt he was still in need of PT...they all stated this at last months IEP when the PT was absent. But then at today's meeting they all changed their tune and sided with his PT and supported her reasons for discharging Jelani from PT. I voiced my disagreement and then the coordinator suggested phasing Jelani out slower and suggested monthly PT consults for 60 minutes total. I expressed how he's not stable on his feet, he still holds on to things when standing and how and he's not jumping or running .... so then the PT comes back with he may never run. (huh???) And that within the classroom, he's functioning well enough to participate in the activities. I diagree. Then the Sp Coord. chimes in to say that the Adaptive PE he receives with the group is providing the strengthening and how FAR he's come and how he's improving...I said well I should hope he's improving...but he's so far delayed in his gross motor skills, he needs this one on one PT.... then the PT makes a comment about the stairs I said we go up and down on at home, and to keep up with it. (yeah, that's how we get into our house!) sheesh...so I guess I'll be the PT from here on out. Well, they all sided with PT...infact, when I mentioned his unsteady gait, and how he really only started walking at 4.... the PT said "that's who he is". I don't think that's a good enough reason for discharging him. I didn't sign the addendum, I said I needed to think about it. They were not impressed with that at all...they were trying to change my mind. I'm a little upset that they mentioned ;last month he still needs PT and then when the PT is in front of us, they side with her. I did mention how I thought we were all on the same page concerning PT... and how they all agreed he still needs it....and then all of a sudden, the SP.Coord. blurts out..."we NEVER dicussed PT at the meeting"....(like she was covering her a** or something) and that was a lie....every team member at last months IEP said that they dissaproved of Jelani NOT rec'ving PT anymore.... and this is why we had this meeting today, the Spec. Ed Coord. suggested it at LAST MONTHS IEP when PT was absent.... So what's goin on? Here's some guidelines I copied from PT's assessment she did on Jelani... According to the guidelines occupational and physical therapy in California public schools by the California Dept. of Education,1996, a student no longer requires therapy when: a.) the student is functional within the educational environment b.) other educational personnel are able to assist the student safely in areas of concern previously addressed by occupational and/or physical therapy, or c.) student performance remains unchanged despite multiple efforts by the therapist to remediate the concerns or to assist the student in compensating. Any advice? Just really needing some. Thanks. Dawn
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 10, 2008 18:51:31 GMT -5
Recorder. A little pocket recorder would be so helpful. Just say you need it so you can remember stuff..... not b/c your getting "ammo" or something just b/c,( in you little helpless voice of a helpless mommy) "I just can't remember anything" Hehehehe I'm absolutly NOT saying you are helpless AT ALL i'm being a smarty pants and trying to say wahhh wahhh like the ladies on those old western movies do. ya get it
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Post by damarasmom on Jun 11, 2008 9:18:13 GMT -5
I have not heard of stopping PT??? It seems to me that our kiddos need it until they can physically be like typical children...run, jump, skip, be steady, stairs...blah, blah...This is very upsetting to me. I can totally understand your frustration! Wish I could help you fix this. Sorry....
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Post by CC on Jun 11, 2008 19:48:10 GMT -5
Just a suggestion but with all the nonsense you have going on with your district lately I would highly recommend getting an advocate.
Stopping PT at this age is just silly if you ask me. Man oh Man my Chris just stopped it last year and this is an area he has shined in always and still received the service.
Best of Luck
CC ~
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Post by mydsgirl on Jun 12, 2008 5:55:07 GMT -5
Just wondering if you have a developmental pediatrician he goes to. When I take Emma once a year they ask me questions about her therapies and have therapists there on staff. Maybe you could get a second opinion and take it back to the school.
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Post by Ericsmomma on Jun 12, 2008 6:32:32 GMT -5
At our school, (self contained special ed school), they also suggested Eric only get PT 1x monthly. Funny thing is, they started doing this BEFORE we had our IEP meeting. When I questioned it, they too said he's about the best he's going to be. He does get adaptive PT a few times per week, and he has made significant progress in that class. I made them put it in our IEP that he will be evaluated by a PT frequently to see if anything has changed. It was the best I could get...not happy with the outcome, but we'll see how it works out.
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Post by Chris too on Jun 12, 2008 7:53:59 GMT -5
What confuses me is that in one breath they said "it's as good at it's going to get" and in then next they say "look at the progress he's made this year." To me, the progress points to the fact that it isn't as good as it's going to get. Generally people get to a point of diminishing returns and then say "it's about as good as it's going to get." Clearly he hasn't reached a point of diminishing returns if he's making great progress.
The biggest concern I have is the "functional within the school environment" - what does that mean? Any kid can be denied PT on these grounds. I think you need to get an advocate who can look up the precident cases to support your claims, because this "law" is seriously ambiguous.
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Post by marisa on Jun 12, 2008 15:20:19 GMT -5
I agree with CC here, you should really get an advocate or consult with one.
Laura is 4, she runs (not great or fast), can jump and can get up and down the stairs on her own (holding a rail). Her PT has her on a tricycle and roller skates at school . She gets PT 2x per week and adaptive PE 1x per week.
I know every state is different, but it sounds obvious that her needs PT.
Hugs to you and good luck.
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Post by shelley24 on Jun 16, 2008 14:11:20 GMT -5
The school tried to do that with Courtney's OT. I felt like I was being ganged up on. Everyone in the meeting was agreeing with the OT person. What I did was I got a note from her Dr. saying to continue OT 2x a week and she was put right back in the program. Hope thing's work out for you.
Shelley
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Post by Kristin on Jun 16, 2008 15:00:17 GMT -5
I agree with the dr's note, and advocate. Even if the advocate can't attend with you, they can give you some tips like getting a doctor's note. "Might never run", isn't their call...and not a reason to stop PT. Be careful of settling for a consult. A consult can just be the PT talking with the teacher, not directly working with your child. Ask for DIRECT services, as that means they are working directly with the child. I'd also ask for a bit more than needed so there is room for compromise. I think a doctor's note will go a long way to help you reach your goal.
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Post by Monique on Jun 19, 2008 21:33:44 GMT -5
First of all if its on his current IEP of PT services he is recieving right now, you dispute it and tell them you want to go to mediation. Once you say that, they have to "freeze" the IEP and keep it where it is at until the mediation. This at least helps you get some time and continues the PT for the time being.
Then you tell them you want an independent assessment done which they have to pay for if you are disputing thier findings. They have to do this also. Make sure you put it all in writing to the district.
I bet that they will take you to mediation (if they did i would be surprised because they will usually back down) but even if they do..i have been to many a mediation where they back down at the mediation and give you what you want because they are wrong with the diagnosis.
I would get an advocate too (or a lawyer if you can find one that does pro bono which alot do) but definately do the first two things so jelani can continue to recieve services while you are fighting this.
Good Luck!! and my son is 7 1/2 and still gets PT 2x a week as he still cant really "run" and has balance issues etc. He is "functional" but continues to recieve it. But you gotta fight for it sometimes. And i dont know where that 1996 addendum is from but i would assume the 2004 idea laws would override that.
Monique
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Post by meghans_mom on Jun 22, 2008 21:29:13 GMT -5
sorry i'm chiming in so late here..... There is so much they CAN and SHOULD work with him on....!! Meghan gets PT help in gym once a week and then sees the PT a second time outside of gym. They can work on strengthening the trunk, bicycle riding, playground activities, side stepping, skipping, etc etc etc. make a list of things you think he needs assistance with...take him to the playground....can he do one step at a time on stairs, hand over hand on a ladder for a slide, balance on a low balance beam, navigate curbs...all of those things that encompass PT...not just running! Even if they push in to gym once a week - he should continue to get PT....whether or not she thinks he may never run, its not up to her to decide - that's the silliest argument I've ever heard....they need to give him that chance!!
they say "with-in the classroom he's functioning well enough to participate in his activities"....but does that hold true for recess on the playground or gym? Your child deserves every chance to learn and grow and be pushed to the best of his abilities...sounds like they're not allowing him that chance.
best of luck! laurie
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Post by pamela on Jun 23, 2008 15:45:59 GMT -5
There are just so many things wrong with this situation. First off there should not be "sides" the IEP team is just that a team. The district employees do not have more say than the parent because there are more of them. It is a team decision and parents are an "EQUAL" part of that team. I would encourage you to get anything they say in writing. Any time they deny or refuse a service you are asking for ask them for a "written notice of refusal" by law they must provide to youin writing what they are refusing, why they are refusing it and what have they done or tried to justify the refusal. If you have ever read your procedural safeguards...the booklet that they hand you at the start of every meeting...it is in there that they must provide this to you. Also IDEA clearly states that "all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education employment and independant living" last time I checked "functioning well enough to navagate the classroom" is not independant living. Just remember get everything in writing. Many times Ive asked for written notice of refusal and they know they are in the wrong....they will concede to the therapy.
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Post by jelanismom on Jun 26, 2008 2:36:55 GMT -5
Since the Addendum meeting 6/10 where I didn't sign to the team's recommendation to discharge Jelani from PT, I've been in contact with his teacher and Special Ed coordinator. I've written a request for another meeting and I was told that he'll be receiving the same PT 2 x per week/30 min. as is in the IEP, and that come Sept. we'll have another meeting. Ok fine. But then I come to find out that there had been a huge lapse in PT services where they had to change vendors...so he wasn't receiving PT for 2 months (March/April)...so he is due compensitory PT hours. I found this out through his former PT who worked with Jelani from 11-07 to 2-08, but was switched because the school made a mistake and vendored within the district, instead of our home district (we're out of district). Anyway, she mentioned she was suprised it took them so long to get him going again with PT. So I thought about how I learned this on my own, as if it was never going to be brought up by the school, and how the correct PT comes on board and decides to discharge Jelani, while still having compensitory hours left in mid-air. Meanwhile, I asked his teacher for the PT's log-ins and she's yet to come up with them, I wanted to see how long it had been w/o PT. This is sounding worse and worse as I write! So now where I'm at is, Jelani has a yearly follow-up at the Orthopedist next month and I'll certainly be getting a letter from him recommending continued therapies. I also called to the Regional Ctr and our local Advocacy group. The school needs to provide a list at my request of outside independent therapists to do an evaluation. I'll tackle this come Sept. because he's in summer school now and will continue to be receiving his PT. I just am amazed at how difficult this is when it shouldn't be. I went back and looked through his communication book from this year and I found 8 places the teacher wrote "Jelani fell down" It even states in his IEP that Jelani needs "maximum assistance" when accessing playground equiptment. His OT even stated how he has low trunk control. I am seeking to get an advocate all ligned up for Sept. and before then. Thanks for all the great advice. I'm suprised at how some of your kiddos are using tricycles in PT. I never knew that existed as something they'd do. I did hear that according to our Rgl Ctr. PT I spoke with yesterday, the school is only obligated to assess Jelani in regards to PT by means of how he functions within the school, on the playground, classroom....not as how he can function outside this environment, in life. So I guess that's where I come in as his life coach. Which I'm more than happy to with all my mommy might. It's his safety that's a big concern to me...not so much the limitations of his akward gait or inability to run at this time, but his safety at school. I see him teetering standing up in the shower, he's nearly fallen backwards just standing. Very low trunk control. I'll make sure I have all my doc notes and come Sept. I'm ready. Thanks for everyone's advice and the time you took to be so thorough, and I'm sorry for taking ions to get back here. thanks again! Dawn
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