IEP woes

[tingngabe]

I haven't posted here for awhile, but we are having some iep issues. My son has an iep for autism, speech and language delay, developmental delays. He's in 6th grade. His current most recent reading evaluation placed him at reading level of that of a second/third grader. He is currently doing 6th grade modified work. I was notified in October that he failed every word work quiz since the start of the school year. The marking period ended in November. He ended up with a D in ELA. We recently had a parent teacher meeting and I was told he turned in a test with, "I don't know" written for all of the answers. He was then given help with the test. The teacher read the questions with him. His iep states he is to have his tests and quizzes read to him. When I asked about this I was told it was Open note/open article. I'm not sure why that makes a difference. The school is now saying they will read him the test only if he raises his hand and asks. Does this seem appropriate? He is verbal. He had a pragmatic language delay and autism. Both cause issues with social reciprocity. Would it be wrong if I say he must take all test and quizzes one on one in a resource room? He is mainstreamed in a cotaught community. Currently his grades are fine. The marking period just started. I did ask for further testing as I feel he could be dyslexic. There is minima communication with the sped ed teacher unless he breaks some minor rule. Then, I hear all about it. I'm digging out his iep as I am pretty sure it says he is to have one on one for testing. If not, that can be changed, correct?

[healthy11]

I'm hoping other people will respond, because I don't have personal experience with co-taught classrooms. My understanding was that in those situations, the special ed teacher would ensure that students with special needs have those needs met. (Is he in a middle school or junior high now, or is it a K-8 school?)

You mentioned that his IEP states he is to have tests and quizzes read to him, but "The school is now saying they will read him the test only if he raises his hand and asks." WHO at the school is telling you that? It seems to me that if his IEP doesn't say "he will have tests and quizzes read to him only if he requests it, or unless they are open note" then the school should be doing it. (And since you're a member of the IEP team that identifies the goals and accommodations, I'm sure you wouldn't have signed off on an IEP agreeing to those limitations.) Along those same lines, if you do feel he requires all tests and quizzes to be 1:1 in a resource room, that would also have to be agreed to by the team.

(I don't mean to further upset the situation, but is your son agreeable to going to a resource room for every test/quiz, knowing that he's probably the only student who will be leaving the mainstream classroom each time? Could your son wear headphones and listen individually to a recording of the teacher asking the questions or is your son also permitted to give verbal replies, rather than just writing down his answers? Is there a "study carrel" or other space in the regular classroom where he could get tests read to him by the sped teacher?)

[eoffg]

Hi Tingngabe,
You can request an IEP Meeting at anytime, which the school must arrange.
Where you can discuss and make revisions to his current IEP.

So that it can state specifically, what will be read to him.
With the: 'only if he raises his hand and asks'?
This would need to be written into the IEP, for them to require this.

Though what this raises, is the idea of helping him to develop 'self-advocacy skills'?
Which could be written into his IEP.
But a plan would need to defined, to work on this.
Perhaps it could begin, with instead of automatically reading all tests to him?
That he could simply be asked, if he wants the test read to him?
Where thinking about, and then replying yes or no?
Is a start for self-advocacy.
When this is established as the norm.

The next step, could be to tell him. That if the teacher forgets to ask him, then he needs to remind the teacher to ask him?
Where the teacher occasionally doesn't ask him, to help him learn to advocate in an easier way?

As he goes onto higher grades, he will increasingly need to self-advocate and speak up, to get any support from teachers.
So that it could be helpful, to have a plan in his IEP. To help him to gradually develop self-advocacy skills?

Though in regard to having tests read out to him?
Something that you could also look into, are 'Pen Scanners'?
Where you just scan the line of text/ the question, and then it is read out loud.
That uses a speaker in the Pen, or ear-bud headphones can be plugged into them.
So that it can be used in a classroom, without disturbing other students.

As he gets into higher grades, it will become increasingly difficult, to get someone to read tests/ quizzes to him ?
As well as finding a separate room?
But with one of these pens, he could simply take it out and scan each question and have it read to him.
Without bothering anyone.
The use of one these pens, could be added to his IEP, to establish a history of him using it.
Where I'm rather thinking of a long term solution.
So that each year, when goes into the next grade with new teachers?
The teacher can simply be advised, that their IEP allows them to use a Pen Scanner for all tests/quizzes.

I've been following the development of these Pen Scanners for some years.
Where I found that their is now an officially recognised, 'Exam Pen Scanner'.
That has been certified, as only working as a Reader.
This is important, as their are Pens that after scanning, will the give the answer.
So that it is only fair, that he shows his Pen will only read to him. Not give him the answers.

I'll add a link to one company that produces these Pens.

www.scanningpenshop.com/en/reading-aids.html?price=-1000

[bros]

It can be changed, but I would say them requiring him to raise him ahdn every time to request an accommodation - which could be a confidentiality issue - is their misguided attempt at getting him to learn to advocate for himself.

[tingngabe]

I sent a request for further testing to look specifically for dyslexia (not sure the school will even do that) and requested an iep meeting. I was looking over his old SDIs and his more recent SDIs and they changed them to "as needed based on observation". Yikes! How did I miss this vague SDI?! So, I asked for a meeting. I'm currently putting together my iep folder. I haven't needed to organize and be grumbly about his iep in a long time. I am glad they want him to be self advocating. Yay for that, but not during test time.

[healthy11]

I found a webinar that talks about IEPs for students in Pennsylvania who have reading/writing issues. Perhaps you'll find it to be of some help: www.pattan.net/Videos/Browse/Single/?code_name=ieps_for_students_with_reading_and

[tingngabe]

Thank you so much for link. I'm going to watch the webinar as soon as I get home!

[melvinhoward]

Did they conduct the test for Dyslexia?