Today I got an interesting call from the school administrator lady who was the one that I locked horns with at the IEP meeting. She says she had a meeting with her boss (today. the day before the scheduled case conference) and apparently after the letter I wrote in response to the Prior Written Notice I was sent, they have another idea to try out.

Instead of our Case Conference tomorrow, Johnny and I can go to check out another pre-school that has more nursing staff on duty and where he'd get a one-on-one aide. It's got a higher level of care and training. Which I'm comfortable with for now for his needs, but I'v never heard of this place so we'll see how that goes....My questions going in there will be "Is THIS his least restrictive environment?" If I feel that it is better, than I'll go for it WITH it clear that we will re-assess his need for this placement at the end of the school year. I don't want him to spend his time stuck in somewhere that he can't get out of if he gets to a place where he's able to move beyond all the added supports, ya know? I even told her on the phone that I want the support to be there to help him be less dependent and to learn to do things himself so he CAN go to the other integrated pre-school that has less supports. KWIM? Does that make sense? She seemed to be gritting her teeth while giving the option, so it's my guess that my cc'd letter (that also went to her boss who would be in charge of the Case Conference) WITH the doctor signed/dated letter of his current/ongoing medical needs made enough of an impact to get this option out there.

Any ideas? Any thoughts on this? I'm not sure if I am being sweet-talked somehow into a situation that will be a sort of "told ya so" that this other pre-school is more appropriate for his needs or something. (yes. me looking on the bright side. ha ha.)




Johnny's Journal: http://www.caringbridge.org/oh/johncamden/index.htm

When do you have to decided. Abigail goes to a different school then Emily. There are only 2 schools with preschool in my town. We have 8 schools. When she goes to kindreten I fully except her to go to our neighbohood school.Ech year you make a new IEP so I do not think that you would have to stay with the same place. If things change then you could change to. I would check it out. If they are willing to give him 1-1 there I do not see why that para can not go to his own school. How far is the new place from your house? Check out the new class. if you think it nice then go. I would also see if they have any pear models . Let us know what you decided.

Carol mom to Adam 6/17/96, Emily 8/7/98 & Abigail 8/16/04

at what ever you decide. Let us know.

Carol mom to Adam 6/17/96, Emily 8/7/98 & Abigail 8/16/04

Thanks Carol. I appreciate you reading and commenting on my pre-school transition threads. I wonder if I'm the only one who has had this much trouble? Is there something wrong with ME or my school district or what? No one else seems to have/or have had these issues. ??

I was right. That classroom was full of kids in wheelchairs, gait trainers, standers, and getting tube feedings, meds, etc, etc. Obviously not the LRE for Johnny (or any kid) Even if Johnny still had a need for some/any of those things, I would want him in a more "regular" room! There WERE peer models, but sadly, not ones that demonstrate the clarity and patterns of speech I'd prefer Johnny to speak!

I asked why they would want us to view this classroom and how they thought Johnny would benefit from it more than the other two we'd viewed and she said it was a 4 hour program vs. a 2 1/2 hr program since I'd expressed that I want his feeding skills worked on in school. They have breakfast and lunch in that 4 hours but no snacks. ??? Johnny still gets breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner, and bedtime snack. Even Myla still gets a mid-morning snack in her Kindergarten class so I'm not sure what that is all about.

Here's the plan. I want him to go to the second room we viewed WITH an aide who could taper off as his skills, independence, motor, and safety/health issues warrant, and have one meal and one snack there that the could focus on working on his feeding skills with him. Is that too much to ask for? Really...

Off to enjoy a nice Thanksgiving holiday with my family.


Johnny's Journal: http://www.caringbridge.org/oh/johncamden/index.htm>