I wrote my last post- My Daughter’s IEP meeting- right after we got home from the meeting. I didn’t get to share many of the details and reasons why it couldn’t have gone better.Partly I think because I hadn’t given myself enough time to process it all. For many years IEP meetings for my daughter would make me feel nervous ill at ease and on the defensive. Like a threatened mama bear trying to protect her cub. I am not just any mama bear I’ve been to this rodeo before, heck I grew up at the rodeo that is special education. I am of the first generation of students who had special education in school that resembles what it is like today. Not in just one state mind you. My dad was in the military and over the course of my childhood we lived in 10 states and another country. From kindergarten to graduation I was educated in 7 of those places but more that 7 different schools by the time I was in 6th grade like my daughter it was elementary school for me not middle school like for my daughter I had 13 different teachers not including special education teachers and electives teachers.Back to my daughters IEP meeting. We were greeted by the receptionist in the office and shortly after by Mr. L. my daughter’s sped teacher/case manager and other important people who needed to be there also arrived.My daughter had been called to come to the office for the meeting.She arrived to join the meeting and I handed out the letter that my daughter and I wrote together( that was the subject of a previous blog post) and read it out loud.The only way I know how to describe how it went was that it was very well received-dare I say I think they were surprised and impressed by the letter. Mr. L. asked my daughter if he could use her letter( with out her name) as an example to his other students on how to self advocate.My daughter’s smile filled the room as she nodded in response.My heart was full with pride.That’s our girl- she is so awesome I thought really loud trying not to saying anything. I’m her mother I am naturally biased as I should be. I was so proud to be at that meeting for her and with her. Most everything in her IEP will remain the same until she is re evaluated.Some accommodations were suggested to be changed. Our daughter explained why those accommodations worked for her and needed to stay a part of her IEP. Her father and I also gave our reasons that supported hers. My daughter’s sped teacher Mr. L. couldn’t be a better choice of a special education teacher for our daughter. That’s not to say she hasn’t had good special education teachers in the past, she has. The best ones though are the ones that she hasn’t felt the need to explain her self to and how she learns differently. Where she doesn’t have to teach them about the way that she processes and learns. It would be common to think that if some one is a special education teacher of course they must have the knowledge and education to understand. That is not always the case it hasn’t been for my daughter and it wasn’t for me and isn’t for many students unfortunately. She hasn’t had to with Mr. L. and she trusts him and that is huge for her and our whole family. I left the meeting feeling proud of our daughter and at ease content even. Honestly how well the meeting went is still sinking in. Our daughters 6th grade year is almost over and I have to say it has for the most part has gone well with a few minor hiccups (so far) and many happy surprises as well.
My daughter’s IEP meeting was scheduled for tomorrow at 2:00 pm due to the snow storm school was canceled for today and tomorrow. So her IEP meeting will need to be rescheduled. She has been attending her IEP meetings since she was in the 4th grade.
My daughter asked me to help her write a letter on the computer for her IEP meeting.Who could say no to that. Certainly not this proud Momma.
Here is my daughter’s letter that we wrote together. I am replacing her name with Md for(my daughter)
Md wanted to write a letter about what is working for her in 6th grade for her IEP meeting.
Md and I (her mother) are writing this letter together.The following words were written after she explained what she wanted the letter to say about the way that she learns.
Here are a few things Md wanted you to know about her and how she learns that may not be written in her IEP.
Md has learning differences/disabilities and is slower to process what she sees and hears and because of that it affects her working memory taking her longer to remember what she sees and hears impacts HOW she learns. Something as simple as having extra/extended time and an organized structured enviroment helps her not only maintain her focus so she can learn but also helps her to feel confident in her self and how she is learning.
In Md’s own words.
Having Mr.L. as my case manager and advisory teacher and CWC teacher (class with in a class) has helped me a lot because I can ask him for help whenever I need it. He always makes time.I can also ask him questions about my accommodations and modifications and how they work in different classes. He understands me and how I process and learn.Knowing I don’t have to explain myself and that he understands has helped me gain confidence. Having extended time has helped me organize my time, use it affectively and has been a tool to help me improve my executive functioning skills. Having extended time on test has helped me to be my most successful this year. There has been many times where it has taken me longer than one class period to take a test. Where without it my test would’ve been turned in incomplete and in turn affect my overall grade in that class.
I am very grateful to have extended time to get to and from my classes. It helps me stay focused and not be so anxious. I’m able to organize everything I need for my classes as well as organize my time better. With the extra minute I am able to go to my locker and make it to and from class on time.
Having extended time has helped me be a better and happier me.
Thank you
Md
My daughter is dyslexic has SPD visual processing disorder and other LD
She understands that many school districts and those in Special ED do not accept specific diagnoses like dyslexia SPD ADD LD just to name a few. So she wanted to use simple terms that wouldn’t be questioned in her letter.
I am very proud of her for coming up with the idea to write the letter and that she asked me to help her. Here is hoping the others who attend her IEP meeting will appreciate her efforts as much as I do.
So this post isn’t one of my random post exactly but it is a post about my daughters experience( and my observations) so far with middle school and being in special education and having an IEP.
My daughter is towards the end of 6th grade-how’d that happen? Her yearly IEP meeting is next Friday. I have mixed feelings about it.I always do. I get nervous because I want to be prepared for any and everything. The reality is that is not possible but I am her mother and like I should I always try.
Here are some of the positives
My daughter is doing REALLY well academically. At the moment she has straight A’s. I’ve always known that with the right tools and support that she could make/ accomplish straight A’s
She is reading book series that her ETC. brother read in the 6th grade. Not only that she is reading them confidently she is also discussing them with her brother. That is SO AWESOME to me!
Her Sped- Special Education teacher (that is in charge of her IEP) is SO AWESOME! Seriously I wish he could be her sped teacher throughout middle school but unfortunately that is not how the system works. He understands our daughter and she likes and trust him and so do I and that’s HUGE for our whole family. Every time I see him I just want to give him a hug-yes he is that AWESOME.
So far her locker hasn’t been a problem neither has lunch.
She is thriving at advocating for herself at school as well as communicating with adults.
She is getting her homework completed and feeling confident about what she is learning. Another awesome thing.
Her accommodations and modifications extended time for test and extended passing time to get to and from class that are part of her current IEP are working really well. Due to her having them she is having a successful 6th grade year academically.
For the most part things are going really well for her and I don’t want that to change.
So here are some of my concerns.
Any changes to her current IEP regarding her accommodations and modifications and extended time for taking test and getting to class and from class could rock the so far smooth sailing boat and jeopardise how well things have been going for her academically as well as affect her self-confidence.
P.E. could be going better for her. I am grateful that it is only for one semester. My daughter has SPD sensory processing disorder/visual processing disorder as well as developmental Dyspraxia.Dyspraxia is common for children and adults who also dyslexic.Adults and children who have ADD are also 50% more likely to also have Dyspraxia.
Developmental Dyspraxia affects my daughters fine motor skills and over all coordination then add her issues with her vision-Her best corrected vision with glasses is NOT 20/20 with out her glasses she has low vision.she can see colors shadows and shapes but very little detail. I have told her P.E. teacher about all of this via email.
P. E. started in January and so far she has been hit in the head with a ball 3 or 4 times I’ve lost count and she has been knocked down and stepped on by someone twice her size.
Accidents happen I know but so do concussions and ABI’s acquired brain injuries and injuries to ones vision. In my opinion the LAST thing my daughter needs is to be hit in the head with a ball or any object EVER but I am her mother. I know I cant prevent accidents from happening to her.
Socially my daughter is guarded and shy. She doesn’t make friends easily. She is a wise girl in many ways and isn’t on the same page as many of her peers. She doesn’t fit into the typical average category/box and for the most part that is an awesome thing except when it comes to making new friends in middle school.
I realise and understand that there is nothing in her IEP that can help her with that.
That doesn’t change the fact that I have concerns about her being LD her social development and how it all could affect her self-esteem. Middle school isn’t easy it simply isn’t.
I remind my self to be present in the moment and appreciate all of her hard-earned achievements her success and how well she is doing overall academically.
So as I always do I will prepare for the IEP meeting and advocate for my daughter the best way I know how. I will remind myself what an awesome self advocate my daughter is and that when you know what you need and have persistence and determination anything is possible.
My daughter & I are both dyslexic & we have LD- learning disabilities.My daughter also has SPD sensory processing disorder more specifically visual processing disorder.We took her to a developmental specialist and had her independently evaluated she was diagnosed with LD when she was five.I had an IEP (individual education plan) all through school.When my daughter was in kindergarten towards the end of the year she was evaluated through school for an IEP.She didn’t meet the criteria the discrepancy formula and did not qualify. I was very unhappy & unsatisfied with that out come. I mentioned this to another mom & she said – That’s good right?- that means she’s ok. No it didn’t. It was not ok because my daughter couldn’t identify all the letters in the alphabet at the end of her kindergarten year let alone read.
I didn’t expect that response from that mom and it made me think a lot & I understood my own perspective & why I had it so much more than before.I saw an IEP as insurance-a safety net-a guarantee even that my educational needs would be met. That I would have the help accommodations & modifications that I needed and I always did.Did I need to advocate for myself to insure that -absolutely.I had always had an IEP all through school.We moved a lot I went to many schools & my IEP was constant.Of course I was re evaluated over the years details changed goals were met but I never fazed out..there was always a discrepancy I always had an IEP.So naturally when I saw similarities in my struggle to learn and how my daughter was struggling with learning.I knew what I needed to do.Take her to a specialist & request an evaluation at school and that’s exactly what I did. Our family was on a six month waiting list to see the specialist. When the appointment arrived the Dr. agreed that she needed to be evaluated.Many diagnoses were discussed & given along with referrals to other specialist.All the while I was communicating with the school about our concerns.Back to when she was evaluated& didn’t qualify for the IEP.We continued to take her to see the specialist& made sure her teachers were aware that she was receiving services outside of school.She was re evaluated the following year to changes in her vision& in my opinion her SPD / visual processing disorder becoming more of an issue in the class room.She qualified for an IEP there was a discrepancy.I remember the relief I felt when we signed the IEP.I had hope that they could finally address her educational needs.Her progress was slow but her determination was a powerful force.When she had teachers & paras she could trust & bond with she wouldn’t give up no matter how hard she struggled.The summer before third grade boundaries changed in our district and our kids had to change schools.We enrolled her in a special program for kids with LD not covered by health insurance recommended by her specialist that we had been taking her to sense kindergarten.It was a costly endeavor but we knew if we didn’t try everything possible to help her learn that her self-esteem & future would be negatively affected.Most importantly I wanted to instill in her that she was deserving of any and all help she needed. The special program did help her confidence and prepared her to continue trying to learn to read no matter how hard it was.Her 3rd grade year was her most successful up to that point and her determination continued to grow. She had a teachers and para’s who understood her and who enjoyed having her as a student. She also had a special education team who also understood her and she bonded with. For my daughter all of those things fitting together was SO important to her having a sucessful transition to a new school.My hope for her continued to grow as well.Fourth grade came along with more unexpected changes. A new special education teacher and IEP team members.My daugter liked her new special education teacher but she wasnt always sure that her new sped teacher understood her and what her needs were.I continued to encourage my daughter to communicate and self advocate and she did.Fourth grade as a whole was a challenge for various reasons and on many levels not much change was made as far as her LD/ dyslexia and reading ability was concerned.She grew very frustrated with the amounts of homework. Even with accommodations & modifications she was bringing home on average 14 pages a week and no more time to complete the home work than other students.Emails were sent meeting were scheduled without much change.That summer appointments were made for her with more specialist & doctors.Fifth grade started and everything was going well.She was coming home happy. She had less home work and for our daughter and our family in turn had less stress.She had a teacher who instantly understood her and she bonded with.I was so relieved and happy.As her mother I felt like she and I were finally in a place where her education/ special education was concerned we both could relax.Parent teacher conferences were scheduled & we found out the most amazing news.Her reading level that had been at a stand still had taken off not a little a lot.At the end of 4th grade she had been at a 3rd grade reading level.Her reading level had jumped to a 5th grade level- 2 years growth! I teared up I pinched myself I was in awe – I always knew the spark was there – I never doubted she could get where she needed to be. My concern had always been would we find the right educators, the right tools the right approach to help her? Proud doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt. I told my daughter how awesomely amazing she was! I hugged her teacher- every person at the conference was beaming! In my own mind I was wondering what this would mean for her future…her problems with spelling,her executive functioning and processing issues hadn’t disappeared.Her need for accommodations & modifications hadn’t left on a permanent vacation. She was succeeding and her confidence was growing and that was absolutely wonderful. What was far from wonderful was the uncertainty that I felt.In the state where we live the (out dated in my opinion) discrepancy formula is still used to determine who qualifies for and IEP.If the discrepancy is no longer found when my daughter is re evaluated even though she has a SLD (specified learning disability/Dyslexia) how I understand it she will no longer qualify for an IEP.Worry concering this fact has been fueling anxiety in my heart and mind ever since.I’ve tried my best to compartmentalize it to the back of my mind and remind myself that it is not in front of us yet.for the most part Ive been able to remember that and keep the worry at bay. Here we are towards the end of her 6th grade year several times a year certain test are given for reading.Last week my daughter comes home and tells me that she is very concerned because she took a reading test on the computer that day and felt like she wasnt sucessful.She couldnt de code words and ran out of time to complete the test.I tell her not to worry and to advocate for herself by telling her special education teacher her concerns.that following day she brings home information about the test and how she did. Her worry was unnecessary she had made vast improvements and her reading level had advanced. It was wonderful news on one hand and concerning news on the other on how it could affect her IEP.She had another unrelated issue at school that I sent an email about. Her special education teacher called to check in about and discuss my daughters progress and upcoming parent teacher conferences. When I got off the phone my heart was full of gratitude and I had an even greater appreciation for my daughters special education teacher.I think at least for now we are at a point where-my daughter and our family can pause the special education IEP rollercoaster and enjoy the beauty of her acheivements.
This is the first time I am attempting to write a post from the app on my phone. I hope it turns out ok. I continue to struggle with my learning disability.It is most frustrating when I need to help my daughter with an assignment or project for school.I start out thinking I can help her and that I understand what needs done and how I can help her and then later (beyond my personal self doubt) I am told I was wrong.I didn’t understand and instead of guiding her and helping her I confused her and held her back from being successful. I failed yet again in providing the guidance and help she needed.Not only do I feel bad but I also feel stuck and realise maybe in order to be adequate to help her I will need to re think my approach and consider finding a tutor for myself- the only problem would be I would need a tutor educated in learning disabilities has a ton of patience and who would be willing to tutor me (for free )in the following subjects 6th grade English Reading and Social Studies.I have a feeling it would be easier for me to win the lottery that I don’t play then to find someone who would be willing and able to do that for me. For now I will contemplate what I can do better for her the next time she needs my help even when I’m not the best one to help her.All I do know is as her mother she needs me to try to just the same.
LD ADD ETC 