Today we went to Sam's new school for his temporary ARD meeting. We've been preparing for this day and I can't explain how many knots I had in my stomach. Will they be kind? Will they be willing to understand Sam? Is this right? Did I prepare enough? WHY AM I DOING THIS!! I kept reminding myself that I was doing what was best for our son but couldn't get over the feeling of being robbed...robbed of the 2 years other kids get to spend at home with Mom & Dad. The feeling that my sweet 3 year old baby was having to get a job. He already goes to therapy and now school 5 days a week on top of it all. I felt panicked..was I making the right choice?
So we walk into the front office and Sam was fussy and tired because it was so early. This was especially so since Sam usually favors the night time as play time and early morning...well..not as his friend. We get our name badges and Sam is crying and we are talking politely and shaking hands..nervous and unsuspecting. We follow down this hallway of little Sam size lockers and some of the best artwork in the world and I start to feel relaxed. We go into the room and the moment I had been praying about began. I had my binder with our Sam's picture on it with every shred of paperwork that was pertinent to Sam and I began to speak. I didn't feel afraid in speaking up for my child, I felt confident..sure of what I was saying and relived that the faces staring back at me looked my husband and I with respect and kindness. I explained Sam's programs at The Brent Woodall Foundation and why Sam NEEDED ABA methods to learn. I handed them my carefully constructed "notebook of Sam" like it contained the meaning of life. I instructed them what page to look at and pointed out that his previous therapy was not effective and why. I gave them the list of goals that had been put together by Sam's fantastic case manager Jaci and Carley, a BCBA overseeing his programs and assistant director at BWF. They went over the IDEA as we had learned about at the parent training conference and a lot of other school related paperwork. Keep in mind this was the temporary ARD which I was skeptical about initially but left with the understanding that they were doing this in an effort to get to know Sam first before creating his IEP. Oddly enough it is common for schools to create an IEP based on a single assessment, which I think is such a shame. How can a school possibly sum up a child and everything they need based on a couple of hours of interaction. In any case we are relieved and hopeful for what lies ahead.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
RESOURCES
Today my husband and I went to "Maximizing Every Moment: A Parent Training Conference" put on by The Brent Woodall Foundation. Our initial reason for wanting to go was to learn about the ARD process and obviously to learn more information and resources on helping Sam. Let me say it was FANTASTIC. Thank you Tracy and everyone at BWF for doing what you do and helping Sam and so many kids out there like him. Instead of giving a play by play of the conference I have compiled a list of resources that I was able to gain from The Brent Woodall Foundation website, the conference and various places. I hope that you find something helpful! I will update this list periodically =).
NATIONAL http://rsaffran.tripod.com/ Autism, PDD-NOS, Hyperlexia, Asperger's: treatment, therapy, special education Autismspeaks.org 100 day kit Help after the diagnosis Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, what Sam has. www.autismcoalition.org The Autism Coalition www.autism-society.org Autism Society of America www.cureautismnow.org Cure Autism Now www.behavior.org The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies www.abainternational.org Association for Behavior Analysis www.asatonline.org Association for Science in Autism Treatment Asperger Coalition of the United States, Inc. Center for Disease Control Autism Information Center Website for parents/caregivers of children involved in an ABA program Applying for disability on the basis of Autism. http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/questions.html FAQ for Social Security disability & SSI disability. |
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