Well the Dr (and US!) don't think putting Kaitlyn into the regular Preschool class is going to be a good idea. 15 kids and 2 "teachers" or not I know it's going to be a disaster. I called today to talk to the Chairperson for the Committee on Preschool Special Education about getting Kaitlyn reevaluated which is fine she says she is willing to do it because she understands our concerns. She wants us to WAIT though and put Kaitlyn into the regular PreK class and see how she does. I'm really not looking forward to doing that and it's really frustrating me. I mean, I understand the idea of it all... maybe she will do fine and I'm sure AT school she will do great but *I'M* the one who is going to have to deal with all the tantrums that come from her being triggered there with the other kids.
Right now... I just dont know what to do. Kaitlyn (even at 2 1/2) is REALLY smart and tested above average during her evaluations then (except speech) and I'm starting to realize that getting a child with Apsergers or even a Severe Social Anxiety Disorder help to be able to go to school is not going to be easy. I doubt Kaitlyn will even qualify for ANY services without the report from the Developmental Pediatrician saying specifically that she has Aspergers (since that is on the Autism Spectrum and there is a spot for that for them to agree to services) but going by the evaluation that the school district does, she will blow it out of the water and be fine. First of all it's done by adults whom Kaitlyn wil surely talk to and get along with... they need to see her around other kids and really watch her behavior overall and not watch her play with toys and can she stack some freakin blocks... ARGH! I'm getting angry about this and frustrated and sad.
I just wish I knew what to do to make it all better... if I had money I would just put her in a private school and say screw it to the public school system - but we are one of the "lucky ones" that have free Preschool and we should be happy about that...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
There are several avenues available to you. One possible route to take would be to go to special services for the school district and request a psychological evaluation on Kaitlyn. We did this for Aaron. Since you already had a private eval done, you *may* be able to waive that around and show it as proof that Kaitlyn is on the autistic spectrum and needs the appropriate therapies and proper placement into school. I say *may* because the school district may want their own eval.
Another option is to find an advocate. We chose a counselor who has a doctoral degree in education. Her specialty is helping to place special needs children into the appropriate school services and fighting the system. It may take some digging, but you can locate an advocate through support groups (that's what we did), national programs, possibly through insurance referrals, rehab centers, word-of-mouth (parents experiencing the same issues with their child/ren), or you can possibly get some help through www.autismspeaks.org .
You will need to keep records and be prepared to answer questions about Kaitlyn's development from birth through present day. It's a LOT to keep track of and I have a 3 1/2 inch binder with everything for Aaron. All his evals, letters, ARD meeting notices and paperwork go into that notebook. It goes with me to meetings and appointments if necessary.
I feel like a lawyer sometimes but who better to fight for than the welfare of my own child?
I'm sorry you are already going through this. Unfortunately, in our experience, it is going to be extremely difficult to get her services, even with a diagnosis. Our district *says* (on paper) that autism qualifies for services, but when it comes right down to it, they do not. Austin consistantly "tests too high" and he is "too smart" to ever possibly need help. Plus with all the "inclusion" sh*t (pardon my french, I don't swear, but this irks me to no end), they don't want ANYBODY in special ed. Austin is mainstreamed ALL DAY LONG and is literally impossible to live with at the end of the day, but "he's so smart." Whatever! School just started today and I have already sent off three e-mails of things that went terribly wrong on his very first day. I am not their favorite person, they hate my guts for the most part, but I really don't care. If they'd take two seconds to put themselves in *my* child's shoes, then MAYBE they would get it. We have had three excellent teachers who were personally willing to go WAY above and beyond anything that was necessary. They used their own time to learn what he needed and how to do things with him...really educated themselves, spent their own money to go to conferences, get books, etc., and spent their own Saturdays going and doing all in the name of helping him. One was especially awesome and to this day we are very close. She hurts for Austin because she knows how easy it can be to help him, if only the district would.
OK, sorry to turn into a rant, but just know, you need to seriously dig in NOW and not give in to anything to get Kaitlyn everything she needs. Don't stop - noone will advocate stronger, louder, longer than you for her. You are her voice.
Post a Comment