Another meeting today for the F***ing IEP

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I have yet another IEP meeting today for my son, the resource teacher (whom I am wishing bad things upon at this juncture) is giving me the run around, and it has now been 31 days since I requested the next step in testing (they have 30 days to test him) and she said she didn't test him because "he doesn't have a learning disability"... When I reminded her that he was autistic she said "well he is very intelligent and working above grade level, so I don't see why that matters" I am so frustrated. I am also going to raise hell at this meeting.... wish me luck...

Pooftis,

I'd be very interested in hearing how it went. We've had a somewhat similar situation with our son, but they are doing the testing. I'd be very interested in the school's comments, answers, and responses, etc.

Best of Luck!

SunDevil

I impressed upon them the fact that they *have* to test him whether they think they need to or not because it was requested in the SST meeting. The resource specialist (which I think is a misnomer, she specializes in nothing that I can see thus far besides being a huge pain in my a**) is hammering again and again that because he isn't slow he probably won't qualify, he doesn't have a learning disability. (Apparently autism isn't a problem unless he is mentally ret*d or needs to be medicated for hyper activity in thier minds) I may only be able to get a 504 (I think it is 504, but I have a habit of mixing up verbal things so it could be a 540) expemption for him. Now then, in order to get the IEP, he has to begin failing and badly. As a parent that goes against everything I would want to do for my child, just let him fall and not try to help him be functional, but unless it is drastic enough that he is failing they don't see a problem. So basically as of right this minute, if he has a melt down, I am not making him go to school, if he gets frustrated with an assignment, I am not making him do it. They've left me no other option in order to get him the help he needs which pisses me off to no end. My son tested in the top 2% of for the nation for math, science and 4% for reading and comprehension, and yet he is barely passing his classes and they don't think it is a problem because he passed enough to get funneled onto the next grade level. It is ridiculous.

I also can't imagine what the resouce specialist actually specializes in. Maybe her expertise in consuming resources (like oxygen)!

As I'm sure you're aware, it's the law that they test. It's not required that a child be visibly handicapped, get low test scores, or outright fail classes.

Until Feb. 1st I'd never even heard of Asperger's. I'd always thought autism was strictly for the quote/unquote RainMan types. It was on Feb. 1st when I stumbled across an article on Boston.com while looking for a technology article. It described my son and I perfectly, along with my mother, brother, and my three nephews. Since then my son and I have both been diagnosed, and his school and the county are just finishing up all his testing and evaluations.

Anyway, there is hope. Here's the link to the article that started it all for me just 7 weeks ago. I think I've seen it on WrongPlanet already, but here it is anyway:

http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_ ... isability/

SunDevil

One of my biggest sources of frustration is the fact that I know they have to test him, and if I hadn't called to follow up I wouldn't have even known he wasn't on thier list, they certainly didn't tell me that they had decided to put it off. (it isn't put off now, I am not the most friendly person when things like this come up). He already has a formal dx, as do his father and I, so I am having trouble trying to figure out why this resource lady (who admits to knowing nothing about the spectrum in the first place) has anything to do with the process or with holding it up. Grrr..... Oh well, I think I made my point today and he is on the list now. (I also have a call into the superintendent about the fact he wasn't on the list.)

As a student who's attended several IEP meetings, I can honestly say I know how you feel.
Most ESE specialists I've known have had more of an interest in running through their own daily routines than actually helping students or their parents, and a lot of them either misinterperet parents' and students' input or half-ignore it. I'm not sure whether it's because they're stupid or because they think it doesn't matter, but I'd recommend you do something about it, like transferring your son to a friendlier school.

I hope you have luck getting everything your son needs. I am soo thankful that after all the School psyche is really helping us out.

Poofits:
You said you live in Southern Calif. EMQ San Diego (Eastfield, Ming Quong) has all sorts of resources, and they go to IEPs with you so you're not alone, and they've been a big help with our kid.

If you're interested, I'll give you more information. My e-mail address is in my profile.

Everyone at IEPs seems to be afraid of me. Can't imagine why. but I hear you.

Beentheredonethat