Need to prepare for our CSE meeting - its our first time!

I think the advice you have been given is sound. I’d consider it an insurance policy for the future…you may never use it, but it’ll be nice to have it in place if it’s needed.

The things I would look for are those that would possibly help him in the future with PSAT/SAT testing, and later with accomodations in college. First, I’d ask for a list of accomodations he receives at his private school. My guess is that these include things like small group instruction, classroom/homework modifications (like being able to type assignments, or being provided with lecture notes). I’d also want to include testing modifications such as extended time, marking in test booklets for standardized tests (as opposed to those darned bubble sheets, which messed up my NT son the first time he took the SATs), perhaps the use of a scribe for essays during testing, etc.

Your focus should be on accomodations that your son is provided with regularly that he might possibly need once he leave the protected environment that he is currently inhabiting.

Ah, that makes sense, but I’m kind of lost . He doesn’t get accomodations at his present school other than what they do for everyone. For example everyone gets small class reading instruction 3x a day. Any standardized testing is automatically given extended time. Its an LD school so everything they do is geared for their population.

Is there a source of common accomodations for LD kids ?. I’d hate to overlook something just because I’m unaware of it.

The things that seem obvious to me are the extended time , preferntial seating, no grades impacted by spelling errors, getting instructions read to him , typing or assistive technology allowed for homeowrk / note taking.
its too soon to know what type of classroom will be appropriate. He’s very bright but very slow and unfocused, but things may improve over the next few years. (we hope!)

It is hard to prepare for a meeting when you don’t know what you want. Are you getting bussing from your school district? Does the “long story” about why he has never been classified have anything to do with your school district refusing/neglecting to classify him. Did he ever attend public school? One other reason to have him classified, besides those already stated, is to be able to request evaluations and tuition reimbursement from your school district, if those are of interest to you.

Linda Geraci
Special Education Attorney
Fishkill, NY
www.LGeraciLaw.com

Karen,

I attended many of these meetings when we lived in NY states. They can be intimidating—a roomful of people and you.

I think what you are asking for is that he be classified on some basis. I would provide him with whatever private testing would serve your purposes. I would emphasize that you have put him in a special education school because of his learning disabilities. If you can get them to classify him, you have got what you need. At some level, the rest doesn’t matter. They can fill out the forms as they need to because you don’t need them to do anything, at least now.

I doubt you can get him classified just on the basis of speech. My son was classified in NY state as speech impaired in K but by the end of K, that classification had been removed because of his progress. He was still in need of speech services but you have to be very severe to be classified as speech impaired. My son then was classified as having some sort of motor issue—can’t remember exactly now. But it is interesting to me in retrospect that they classified him on some nonverbal basis. When we moved, his classification was changed to specific language disability.

My son currently has an open IEP with the public school. We moved him to a parochial school but never closed out his IEP. If he should return, he would still be elgible for whatever services we agreed he needed at that time. I think that is what you are aiming for now.

Beth

He wasn’t classified b/c he was ina regular private school and we didn’t bother to go through the process. We’ve since moved to a different school district where we would consider public school when he is ready to mainstream. Hence the need to have him classified.

We do get bussing already. Yes, if we get an IEP that looks like we can get tuition reimbursement we will persue it, but that’s not our primary objective. Its more that we want to lay claim to whatever he’s entitled to, get it in writing, b/c we ‘ve been led to believe it will be easier to do that now .

But you’ve hit the nail on the head- I don’t know what else to ask for. (!) I guess I’ll see what they come up with based on his test results and then maybe use that as a baseline. thanks!

Beth, thanks for your insight.

Almost all of the children at his school were in public school previously with IEP’s and all the parents keep them current for the day when their child mainstreams. We just want to be in the same position. I’ll be curious to see what they come up with - his most recent testing includes a NLD diagnosis. I may have to go with that theme as opposed to the reading disability since his reading is so improved. Whatever works!

Karen,

I don’t think NLD is a category for classification right now. I am sure it can fit in some other category but you might want to look up what those are ahead of time. You don’t want them excluding him on that basis. I know kids who have been classified with NLD so it certainly can be done.

If your son is reading close to grade level now, it will be hard to get an initial classification on that basis.

Beth

I think you are right. But maybe since those deficits are the most severe there is something there we can hang our hat on. I don’t really care what they call it as long as he is entitled to the accomodations he’ll need. Right?

Karen,

I don’t think it matters either by what they are classified. I just wanted you to have the heads up so you won’t be taken by surprise. I didn’t want anyone to try to dismiss the meeting on that basis.

Beth