Hello everyone
You all were so much help to me before and pointed me in the right directions where my son is concerned (he is being evaluated for central auditory process disorder) So maybe you can help me with this one?
I have been invited to a child study team meeting on Jan. 15, what exactly will happen there? Is it basically the same thing as an elegibility meeting? I am to bring the results of his capd testing to this meeting(I get those tomorrow)
Is there anything I need to know or to ask? My husband is comming with me, as some of you may remember- I have had nothing but problems w/ this school ie: violation of my parental safegaurds, 14 teachers in my son’s 4 years at this school, I could go on…..) Basically, this school has been very un-helpful, and has dropped the ball on many occasions as to find out what can be done to help my son. I want to be on the ball at that meeting, and I don’t want to miss an opportunity to ask important questions. Any suggestions? Thank you all.
Re: child study team meeting?
We call all of our meetings “Child Study” but the written letter that goes to parents clearly states the purpose of the meeting. Call the school and ask specifically what the purpose is, better yet ask for it in writing.
Re: child study team meeting?
Rover and Star,
This is actually the 2nd CST meeting, the first one was without me ( they accidently forgot to send me a letter inviting me) how convenient. They rescheduled another meeting for me since I wasn’t able to attend the first one: I heard about the first one the day after it had happend.I still havent received a letter about this one. I called the school’s guidence councilor asking what this meeting is for, she says” to discuss the child study teams findings, intervention team findings, audiology results, and teacher observations and suggestions on what to do next” It sounds like an elegibility meeting to me, I got a letter from Guidence councilor after his KBIT and KTEA tests and after meeting w/ her and voicing concerns about CAPD(she had never heard of it before) I told her that I wanted to get him tested, she asked if I knew how to go about that kind of testing, and I said an audiologist.In her letter after that meeting she said for me to bring the results of that test to the CST meeting (the one I wasn’t invited to) Now I am to bring them to the second meeting. As far as she knows, there arent any programs or placements for this type of dissorder, so any therepy or remediation will have to be done privately. We will discuss all of that at the meeting on the 15. So basically, Im still not sure what to expect- another mom who has gone through this at this school said her meeting lasted 10 minutes, and she had even more questions than before.This is making my brain itch!
Thank you for your suggestions so far! :)
Re: child study team meeting?
Heather,
If this meeting is to discuss findings of an evaluation that the CST did, it is the law that you have the results of those tests 10 days prior to the meeting. You need to reveiw these before you can determine whether or not he needs services and what those services may be. This should include the test scores on all areas, incuding subtests. If he has APD and it is affecting his learning, there are certainly things to be done. You need to know the tests they did and if they covered his areas of suspected weakness. People on this BB know alot on this and can help you. Also, by law, they have to include you in these meetings. If they didn’t contact you about the meeting, without the parent there, the meeting should have been cancelled. Please get the administrative code book from your special services department. They should have it there, and are suppose to give you one. Also, the Wrightslaw book would be a wise purchase, so you can get familiar with the law. Obviously, your school doesn’t want you to know your parental rights. Don’t wait for them to tell you. It was my experience that once I made them aware that I knew what my rights were and dropped some of the laws they were not adhereing to, they listened more carefully to what I had to say. In time, they truly saw me as an equal participant, I had the knowledge. (through books like those mentioned above)
I hope this helps.
Re: child study team meeting?
Star,
Thank you so much for that info, I will be getting these books, as I need them desperately! We had a meeting w/ the audiologist yesterday to have the results of Jake’s APD testing explained, and he indeed has APD. He will require an FM device at school, and also will need speach/language therepy. She gave us recommendations for home and school and I will bring these to the CST meeting. I finally received a letter inviting me to this one yesterday.( I will definately let them be aware that I am well aware that they violated my parental safegaurd rights in how many areas again?) I hope they will take me seriously that I am very willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that my son is treated fairly, and his needs are met. I plan to educate myself alot more(as much as I can before this meeting takes place) Another one of my concerns, that I did not voice in my posts the past few days is Jake’s teacher. He came home from school SOBBING. This teacher and I have had 3 conferences this year so far, and at the beginning of the year I had explained in great detail, all of the trouble we have had (including a miss-diagnosis of add which he was on adderol-it did nothing for him even after 2 increases) and also that he was quite a sensitive young man. She has told me on more than one occasion that until he was “classified” she would not “baby” him(by modifying his schoolwork, or changing his seat to avoid getting distracted) I litterally begged her to at least change his seat this week because he keeps getting yelled at for getting distracted by the girl next to him. In my letter to her I appointed absolutely no blame to anyone regaurding the distractions. Well, she moved his seat (now he sits next to the class bully…nice) and told him “by the way Jake, this IS your own fault” She has referred to him as lazy, and a quitter. I feel this is verbal abuse! I contacted the school principal yesterday after this comment, she hasn’t returned my call yet. He already is very aware of his difficulties, and his self esteem is suffering…I want him out of this class immediately! Prefferably out of the school, but due to demographics, we’re stuck for now….We are praying that all of this can be resolved or at least voiced at the meeting as his teacher obviously will be there. They told me in the invitation that the alloted time for each CST is 15 minutes, I guess I better talk fast….wish me luck! And thank you again so much for all you have shared w/ me.
Re: child study team meeting?
If 15 minutes doesn’t get it done, tell them you will have to reconveine at another time to finish. Don’t let them push you. I again will say sign nothing (other than the sheet that states you were at the meeting) at this meeting. Do you know if they plan to classify him? Those kind of teacher stories make me crazy! She clearly needs to be educated. Most reg ed teachers don’t have any training or education on learning disabilities. They should, however, know common decency and kindness.
Well, I am not exactly sure where you are in the process. If you had an eligibility meeting recently and he was found eligible than this meeting is probably about the program and placement that your son needs. The IEP meeting. If this is the case, I would advise you to sign nothing at this meeting, even if it seems in order, until you take the IEP home and reveiw it more closely. If this is the IEP meeting, remember that you are an EQUAL participant in developing the program and plan for your child. Write down any questions you have and bring them with you.
And, if I missed the mark and you are not at this part of the process, then please clarify. The Child Study Team should have given you information on what the meeting is about.
Good Luck to you.