Help with annual meeting

Bring the person with you who did the testing (I assume a psychologist).
See all the responses to Amber for how to word goals so they are best met by an O-G method.
My son is in 2nd grade and was getting pulled out 4X a week for 45 minutes with the LD Resource teacher and one other child.
When you said group, how big was the group?
Probably the goals I am writing will be the same types of goals that should be written for your son.
My IEP meeting is 4/30.
Also, you can call an IEP meeting at anytime (yes it does take coordination of schedules) when you have new information to share from outside testing which would alter the services he is getting.
If you want, e-mail me your e-mail address and I can e-mail you what myself and my team come up with relative to written expression, decoding, remediation etc.

Okay my two cents. In the years that I have been advocating for my own kids and helping others advocate for their own,there are keys things a parent must do to secure services for their child.

1. An IEP team is just that,a team. You as the parent are an equal partner in that team,equal power ,equal say. The system is not fond of this,they have certain classes,programs,and funding difficulties,it’s a bearuacracy with much red tape.

2. Learn the laws that protect you and your child. IDEA and 504 were developed specificly for this reason.

3. Hold the team accountable for their actions. If they do not agree with your evaluation,ask to see the documentation showing why. Hmm,you have an evaluation showing he isn’t dyslexic? Is what I would be asking them.

4. If you have documentation showing progress with a program outside of school bring it to the meeting,show your documentation of what IS working. Make them or hold them accountable for providing an ppropriate education.

5. Be ready with some ideas of goals for the IEP,speak with the private tutor ask for reccomendations from them,go in prepared to discuss this,not just with reports discounting them,but with solutions too.

Last but not least,always,always,always document everything. Either tape record the meeting or make very good notes and send a letter of clarifications as to what was said . You want good records of anything refused or denied by the school.

You have the right under IDEA,procedural safeguards section to recieve written notice of any refusal of anything you request that they either refuse or agree to. Not only should you recieve this notice,but they must give you a reason why,a alternative and a reason why they are choosing the alternative,etc.

http://expage.com/socksandfriends is the address to my webpage.
it has the laws,and tips on it,you might want to check it out.

good luck.

We never did get our district to use the word “dyslexia” with our son. I don’t know what the issue or problem is with some districts, but it is certainly there.

I can’t add too much more to what Socks writes, or what was advised to Amber, but, regarding what Socks posted:

“3. Hold the team accountable for their actions. If they do not agree with your evaluation,ask to see the documentation showing why. Hmm,you have an evaluation showing he isn’t dyslexic? Is what I would be asking them.”

I would pursue asking them “have you assessed him and determined him not to be dyslexic?”… or something along those lines.

Your major stumbling block will be not falling into the dreaded trap of trying to prove the district wrong, you need to maintain your original focus which is to find appropriate assistance for your child. This is a tough one, and you need to maintain that focus.

Have you submitted the independent eval results to be part of your child’s permanent record? If not, do it documented at the meeting, and have a letter attached to the report being quite specific about your request to have this assessment and result be included in your child’s permanent records.

Anyway, there’s tons of stuff for you to weed thru, go to Sock’s site and others where there are laws, explanations of laws, and clarification of your rights as parents. Cut and paste. Make copies and bring info with you so you can be specific about what you are speaking. You will probably find that your district employees are not nearly as well informed about the law as you (even if you have only been researching for a few days or weeks). Hmmmmm, wonder why? (just a pondering thought).

Anyway, good luck and keep your wits about you.

Andy

Are you in one of the states that has a specific program slated for students with dyslexia? If not, getting the word in there is of dubious value. It wouldn’t mean they had to change anything that they are doing/not doing.
If he has speech goals, there must be a reason for them; is it a specific learning disability? That’s the umbrella under which dyslexia generally goes.
If you think he needs more assistance or accommodations, I would focus on that. I would also get the specific information that points to dyslexia in there, whether in the form of test scores or specific information you know about how long it takes him to read for school, misreading test questions, etc — anything that is holding him back from performing and learning to his potential.

Thank you all very much I have so much to learn. I am not sure if I am in a state with a specific program. We live in New York. How can I find that out? So has anyone written a book yet IEP for dummies? Where can I go for a fast education on IEPs?

Boy, maybe we should write that books, people. Lol.

Anyway, many of us learned the hard way…not knowing, going in and signing the IEP, and subsequently wasting a lot of precious time and child’s self-esteem by letting the school people convince us they knew what they didn’t know.

There is a lot to learn about the IEP, in addition to learning about the issues and needs of the child and managing the educational situation day-to-day. Start with that basic “The IEP and You” that the schools are required to provide. It’s very basic. There are probably a lot of good books out by now. I’m sure somebody will suggest something.

This bulletin bord has literally saved my sanity and my family’s balance. Especially Sue Jones and her knowledgeable, practical advice and her website: www.resourceroom.net

And the 4X’s weekly chats. You can access through the website. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9pm to 11PM EST.

thank you for pointing out the fact of making written documentation of having the independent evaluation as part of the school record. I DID NOT THINK ABOUT THAT and I should have given the fact that when I requested a copy of my son’s files from the school, there were documents that I have that were not in the copy they sent to me. How mysterious that these disppear. Thanks again!

What is the Socks site? My 13yr.old son just got his 3rd quarter report card. He has mild congnitive disabilities in which he is in reg. ed science and social studies but with adapted work/modified and supposeably helped in small group with the info given. Back to main point–-His report card is mostly D’s, D-s, C-s!!! I took the report card to the Director of Special Education stating this has never happened—1st year in Middle school. How devastating for my son to see these grades when he is trying!!!!! What is wrong with this picture??? Tech Ed, he was so proud of his projects and gets a D-!!!!!!! Sure its not what a regular student would do, but it’s what he is capable of doing!!! Where should I go from here????? Waiting for the teachers, Director, hasn’t gotten anywhere from the beginning of school year, so I am persuing CHANGE for next year, starting now. No regular oral reading, or spelling is done in his special education class, he reads at a 4th gr. level…..in order to read he has to learn words!! All this was mentioned in Nov. at his IEP, along with keyboarding ……Nothing is done on a daily basis! How is someone to learn. They say life skills………but you have to spell and read and math also!! A terrible, wasted year!!! And he will be at the same school for 8th gr. Hate to get on the bad side of the teachers so after Nov. I backed off…Frustrated…. Need to prepare for next year now. Thanks for listening and for any suggestions!!!

Your son’s situation sounds like my son’s, same age, same problems. Very frustrating. You need to talk to Socks, she can help you through everything. I think your post might get overlooked here. You need to start a thread of your own with your questions, so you’ll get more feedback. There are lots of people here who can help you……Socks, Sue, Oniski. Put a plea out there for help. Sorry, I’m can’t offer much assistance, not that knowledgeable yet, but I can offer moral support. Hang in there, and you’ve come to the right place for help.

Sheree wrote:
>
>
> What is the Socks site? My 13yr.old son just got his 3rd
> quarter report card. He has mild congnitive disabilities in
> which he is in reg. ed science and social studies but with
> adapted work/modified and supposeably helped in small group
> with the info given. Back to main point–-His report card
> is mostly D’s, D-s, C-s!!! I took the report card to the
> Director of Special Education stating this has never
> happened—1st year in Middle school. How devastating for my
> son to see these grades when he is trying!!!!! What is wrong
> with this picture??? Tech Ed, he was so proud of his
> projects and gets a D-!!!!!!! Sure its not what a regular
> student would do, but it’s what he is capable of doing!!!
> Where should I go from here????? Waiting for the teachers,
> Director, hasn’t gotten anywhere from the beginning of school
> year, so I am persuing CHANGE for next year, starting now.
> No regular oral reading, or spelling is done in his special
> education class, he reads at a 4th gr. level…..in order to
> read he has to learn words!! All this was mentioned in Nov.
> at his IEP, along with keyboarding ……Nothing is done on a
> daily basis! How is someone to learn. They say life
> skills………but you have to spell and read and math
> also!! A terrible, wasted year!!! And he will be at the
> same school for 8th gr. Hate to get on the bad side of the
> teachers so after Nov. I backed off…Frustrated…. Need to
> prepare for next year now. Thanks for listening and for any
> suggestions!!!

Thanks Kathytoo for your support and info! Just trying to figure how this Website works. Any simple directions on how to do a thread of my own??? Til then, I will keep working on this myself. So much to share and so much info to grasp!!! A WONDERFUL place to feel comfort and understanding, ya know??!!!

Hey Sheree!

okay my site,or my free webpage is:
http://expage.com/socksandfriends

I am basicly a parent of two awsome boys. Both are ADHD/gifted/LD.
Spent there whole educational career thus far advocating for them,and now help other parents do it.

I host a chat on sunday nights 9 PM EST www.net-haven.net. A bunch of us get together and brain storm ideas.

Now about your kid and your post above.

What is your kids classification? Does he have an IEP or a 504 plan?

Sounds like the accomodations in his classroom are either not being followed or not working. As you probably already know he has the right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education,and you WILL have to fight to get him that.

I would be happy to give you advice on the situation,even info that I have stumbled over things that might help you convince the school you are a force to be reckoned with. But basicly,you have to be a bother to the school,you have to demand an answer as to what they intend on doing to help educate your son.

If you can give me a little more info,I can steer you in the right direction. Or at least find someone who can:-)

Someone on this board somewhere said,they didn’t know how I did it. The answer is networking,researching,and sharing information,that is how.

Thank you very much for your assistance 2 months ago. My son’s IEP meeting resulted in “the team” qwualifying him for Extended School Year, and he will start at the Cove School in Northbrook, IL for special help with his dyslexia learning disability. My husband and I are thrilled he will get the help he needs! He will be tkaing a 45 minute cab ride out of his regular school district each day. Thanks again for your help!