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Post by Mayleng on Feb 4, 2004 11:24:15 GMT -5
Well, we met today with the the head of the SPED dept, Scotty's teacher and the school psych. This was just a preliminary meeting. Once again, Scotty is a puzzle to them, and they need time to work out the best approach to his organizational skills. They all agree that his poor listening skills are only and optical illusion, that while he is daydreaming, he is indeed listening keenly. They feel pulling him from class would do nothing and might even have a negative impact. They want to try to avoid pulling him out of the classroom as they feel he is so comfortable there, it is the best location to work with him in. Fine with mom and dad. They didn't really have the 504 prepared as they haven't fully decided how to approach him, with regards to specifics. Only that something needs to be done, some extras. This meeting was to formally inform us that they would be looking into how to better help him with regards to organization and listening. So far the plan is for the Sped teacher to work once a week with Scotty within the classroom. If the teacher and sped dept feel he needs more then they will consider pulling him out for resource room time. But I have to agree with their plan of keeping him in the class as he needs a while to adjust to physical surroundings, new people new faces new room layout, that might only set him back, be counterproductive. They made it clear his disorder is not taking the form of a behavior problem, nor is he a hindrance to the class.
There is an assistant teacher who is assigned (mostly) to two other kids in the classroom who, all along has been giving some time to scotty with regards to writing and refocusing. He will be more "officially" involved in helping Scotty.
We will meet again next month to see what the fine tuned plan will look like. So far we all agreed that during creative times in class he should be given some roaming and pacing time around the class room as his body needs to fillow his brain activity, and keeping him in his seat makes being creative hard for him. Thanks to the Psych and the sped teacher's go ahead, we will start script and (against class teachers wishes) he should be allowed to use it for any and all assignments if he does well with it.
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Post by Mayleng on Feb 4, 2004 12:41:10 GMT -5
It's good that Scotty is going to "officially" get help from the assistant teacher. I know you will keep you eye on the situation. They should come up with a formalized plan on the 504 and you should get a copy.
This is a legally binding document, and if they don't follow the plan now or in the future, you can sue the school. Just so you know how powerful the 504 is. It has more legal standing then an IEP. Make sure you get a copy of the finalized plan.
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Post by jwm on Feb 4, 2004 20:12:54 GMT -5
Hi Millermom, we have our meeting for a 504 plan on Monday the 9th. The counselor, principal, and his teachers agree that he is doing ok in the classroom so they have decided to keep him in the class for similar reasons , like Scotty, my son Chris is not a behavior problem at all. He does need some extra help especially with directions and understanding math concepts. He really struggles in math. I hope things go well for Scotty and you. Please let us know how things go. I will let you know Monday how our meeting goes.  |
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Post by Mayleng on Feb 7, 2004 14:02:23 GMT -5
Yes, ty mayleng they will draw up the plan as they work with him to find the best way to approach his needs. I will run it by you when I get it. Is this how they normally do it?
JWM, Thank you. I think if it's better in the class anyway, for some kids. Sometimes pulling them out can be worse. especially if they take time to acclimate
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Post by Mayleng on Feb 7, 2004 17:09:33 GMT -5
Yes, ty mayleng they will draw up the plan as they work with him to find the best way to approach his needs. I will run it by you when I get it. Is this how they normally do it? JWM, Thank you. I think if it's better in the class anyway, for some kids. Sometimes pulling them out can be worse. especially if they take time to acclimate If they are still fine tuning the 504, I will give them some time but don't let it fall behind. Also, a 504 is a yearly thing, so you need to update/revise it yearly. He needs one every year. Don't let them drop it. You will have a meeting to revise it yearly - keep an eye on that. Someone posted at schwab recently about a kid who's 504 was never followed nor was it ever updated, the school just let it slide and now the kid is in high school with no help and no 504 and failing. The mom was advised to call the Office of Civil Rights and file a formal complaint and a get a new 504. Schools don't tell you these things. |
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Post by Mayleng on Feb 8, 2004 18:57:37 GMT -5
If they are still fine tuning the 504, I will give them some time but don't let it fall behind. Also, a 504 is a yearly thing, so you need to update/revise it yearly. He needs one every year. Don't let them drop it. You will have a meeting to revise it yearly - keep an eye on that. Someone posted at schwab recently about a kid who's 504 was never followed nor was it ever updated, the school just let it slide and now the kid is in high school with no help and no 504 and failing. The mom was advised to call the Office of Civil Rights and file a formal complaint and a get a new 504. Schools don't tell you these things. You know me Linda, I'll be certain they are following the 504. I have a reputation of being a pain in the ass at the school, so does my husband. Luckily, we are (currently) well liked as are my kids, annoying as they are. This is a great school and we are very lucky. Scotty's psych evaluation even had a whole paragraph dedicated to myself and my husband in relation to how well scotty copes with his issues and his comfort with his disorder. The doc wrote that "his parents have obviously nurtured his thought process. His unique thinking and ideas have obviously been met with encouragement and interest at home." So I feel we are taken seriously and respected on one hand, on the other hand we are a little feared  . A combination I recommend to any parent. It has worked for us so far. |
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Post by Mayleng on Feb 8, 2004 19:11:54 GMT -5
It great that the psych added his positive comments about you guys as parents. In alot of cases, the first reason they use for a child being ADHD or LDs or other disorders is to blame the parents and their homelife. Unless you have a child who is LD or ADHD etc, the people would never understand just how much goes into parenting and helping our kids on a daily basis.
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. A combination I recommend to any parent. It has worked for us so far.