IEP: 1st Goal Accomplished!

Every year, Bertrand has an individualized education plan (IEP) meeting before his birthday with the school district.  This year, several goals were modified, a few were added, and, for the very first time, one was accomplished.  Bertrand effectively and reliably can use switches.  To say "we are proud of him" is an understatement, but we'll say it anyway.  :)

Congratulations, Buddy!  

Mama and Daddy are so proud of you!

October Progress

Bertrand
We had a parent-teacher conference in preparation for Bertrand's December IEP meeting.  Bertrand is doing well in school, and making good progress toward his IEP goals.  Given his progress at school and at home, we broached the topic of increasing physical and occupational therapy efforts at school.

Victoria
At Victoria's 18 month well-child check we learned that she continues to grow and exceed developmental expectations.  Our once teeny peanut is now 43rd percentile in both weight and height, and a ridiculous 75th percentile head circumference.  Clearly, she eats enough.  :)

IEP Meeting 2011

Bertrand's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was revised today.

He's come a long way from his first IEP last year.

These are his old "Measurable Annual Goals":

• Annual Goal 1: Bertrand will use eye gaze with an adult in the classroom to indicate turning the pages in a book or continuing a preferred activity or toy.
• Annual Goal 2: Bertrand will stay alert for 5-7 minutes during group activities.
• Annual Goal 3: Bertrand will tolerate a variety of textures and various sitting positions throughout the school day.
• Annual Goal 4: Bertrand will demonstrate anticipation of upcoming events when presented with a touch cue.
• Annual Goal 5: Bertrand will indicate a choice among two preferred items.
• Annual Goal 6: Bertrand will use a switch to activate a toy consistently within the classroom.

These are his new "Measurable Annual Goals":

• Annual Goal 1: Bertrand will sit with supervision during circle time.
• Annual Goal 2: Bertrand will improve weight bearing while at school for 2/3 opportunities
• Annual Goal 3: Bertrand will tolerate a variety of textures to participate in structured group activities and play.
• Annual Goal 4: Bertrand will stay awake/alert for 4/5 classroom activities throughout the school day.
• Annual Goal 5: Bertrand will demonstrate anticipation of upcoming events when presented with a touch or object cue.
• Annual Goal 6: Bertrand will indicate a choice among two preferred items.
• Annual Goal 7: Bertrand will use a switch to consistently activate a toy or object without adult assistance.
• Annual Goal 8: Bertrand will indicate "done" or "finished" to complete an activity 50% of the time.

These are his old "Services plus Adaptation Support":

• Special Ed. Preschool - 150 minutes 2 times/wk
• Speech Services - 30 minutes weekly
• Occupational Therapy - 30 minutes monthly
• Physical Therapy - 30 minutes monthly
• Visional Services - 30 minutes monthly

These are his new "Services plus Adaptation Support":

• Special Ed. Preschool - 600 minutes weekly
• Speech Services - 60 minutes weekly
• Occupational Therapy - 30 minutes monthly
• Physical Therapy - 30 minutes monthly
• Visional Services - 30 minutes quarterly

Last Day of the 2010-2011 School Year

Today was Bertrand's last day of preschool for the school year. It was great! His teachers & therapists all commented on how happy and alert he'd become since he started school. :)

Bertrand qualified for extended school year services (summer school at home once a week) AND (drumroll please)...

FOUR DAYS OF PRESCHOOL NEXT YEAR!*

He is already looking forward to September. :)

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*Four days in the afternoon class (12:00-2:30PM) with the same wonderful teacher.

Parent Teacher Conference

Bertrand shows off! He rolled to the toy, picked it up & played with it from prone position.

Today was Bertrand's first parent teacher conference at his new preschool! Growing-up, parent teacher conferences were never a big deal at our house. However, in the online special needs community, parent teacher conferences seem like a big, dreaded deal.

Where along that spectrum did Bertrand's conference fall?

I would've skipped, hopped and danced on my way out! ...that is, if I could still do any of those without going into labor. :)

In other words, the conference went really well! We could all gush about how well Bertrand is doing, how he is meeting and exceeding goals (goals which were lofty when we set them), and how much he is enjoying school. They confirmed what we well know: Bertrand today is not the same Bertrand they evaluated back in December.

(For the record: I LOVE LAMICTAL, DEPAKOTE & CLEVELAND CLINIC!)

We discussed what would be necessary for Bertrand to receive summer school. Summer school is set up to maintain skills rather than maintain momentum/progress. It is one day a week, in-home, and for 4 weeks only. To qualify, Bertrand would need to regress over spring break, and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

This got me thinking that even if he does qualify for summer school, obviously one day a week of school/therapy is not enough. I'll have to explore summer additional options anyway.

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Has anyone had experience with Now I Can? It's an intensive physical therapy program located in Provo, UT. (Yes, I am delusional enough to hope that Bertrand could be at a point in his seizure control that he could benefit from intensive physical therapy this summer.) Now I Can has a July 11th through August 5th, 4 week session with openings in both the AM and PM. It costs $2000 per week--OUCH! But if it is worth it...?

Individualized Education Plan

Bertrand's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was completed and signed only one day prior to his 3rd birthday! Since we've gotten a wide range of questions from "What is an IEP?" to "What is in Bertrand's IEP?" I'll give the Cristina-fied version of what an IEP is and what our experience was with Bertrand's.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) made parents of kids with special needs members of their child's education team. Parents work with educators to develop a plan--the individualized education plan (IEP)--to help their kids succeed in the public school system. So, the IEP is simply a document that describes the goals the team sets for a child during the school year, as well as any special support needed to help achieve them.

IEP meetings must be held at least annually, but may be held more often if needed. Parents may request a review or revision of the IEP at any time. It is worth noting that federal regulations do not require states to provide an "ideal" educational program or a program the parents may feel is "best." The state must provide an appropriate educational program, one that simply meets the needs of the individual student.

Going into Bertrand's IEP, my anxiety was ratcheted up to HIGH because of this last point. Endless amounts of parental anguish can be found online due to a divergence of opinion between the school district and the parents on what is "appropriate" for their child. My anxiety was unfounded. Matthew and I came out of the meeting with a strong sense of support and understanding from the people who'll be working with Bertrand. Furthermore, we felt that the goals and support outlined in the IEP document (and Health Plan) were appropriate.

Summary of Bertrand's "Team Evaluation Summary Report":

Primary Disability Considered: Multiple Disabilities

Definition: Concomitant impairments (such as intellectual disability--blindness: intellectual disability--orthopedic impairment, etc.) that affect a student's education performance. The combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accomodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. The term does not include deaf/blindness.

Assessment for Classification

Bertrand qualifies for the "multiple disabilities" classification under all following 6 criteria: intellectual ability, assistive/augmentative communication and motor systems, sensory/motor skills, vision & hearing, additional assessments by the team, medical history

Areas of Evaluation

Cognitive: Battelle Developmental Inventory 11/12/10 - Percentile 0.2

Adaptive: Battelle Developmental Inventory 11/12/10 - Percentile 0.1

Communication: Battelle Developmental Inventory 11/12/10 - Percentile 0.1

Hearing: Normal peripheral hearing

Vision: Cortical visual impairment

Motor: Battelle Developmental Inventory 11/12/10 - Percentile 0.1

Medical: Bertrand has a vast medical history. Health Care Plan to be developed.

Bertrand has a disability, as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that adversely affects educational performance and requires special education and related services.

Summary of Bertrand's "Individualized Education Plan":

1. Student Information

2. Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance

This is a LONG summary going into detail on Bertrand's Battelle Developmental Inventory scores, medical records, therapist notes, and parent statements. I am too lazy to type it out. Suffice to say that Bertrand has "complex health issues" and is severely globally delayed.

3. The IEP Team considered the following Special Factors:

• Bertrand has special communication service needs such as a student who is deaf or hard of hearing.
• Bertrand needs for special communication services are addressed in his IEP.
• Bertrand needs assistive technology devices and/or services without which he would not benefit from special education.
• Bertrand's needs for assistive technology devices and/or services are addressed in his IEP.

4. Measurable Annual Goals

• Annual Goal 1: Bertrand will use eye gaze with an adult in the classroom to indicate turning the pages in a book or continuing a preferred activity or toy.
• Annual Goal 2: Bertrand will stay alert for 5-7 minutes during group activities.
• Annual Goal 3: Bertrand will tolerate a variety of textures and various sitting positions throughout the school day.
• Annual Goal 4: Bertrand will demonstrate anticipation of upcoming events when presented with a touch cue.
• Annual Goal 5: Bertrand will indicate a choice among two preferred items.
• Annual Goal 6: Bertrand will use a switch to activate a toy consistently within the classroom.

5. Services plus Adaptation Support

• Special Ed. Preschool - 150 minutes 2 times/wk
• Speech Services - 30 minutes weekly
• Occupational Therapy - 30 minutes monthly
• Physical Therapy - 30 minutes monthly
• Visional Services - 30 minutes monthly

A registered nurse will assist Bertrand in class through Spring in order to train his teacher and her aides in seizure identification, treatment, handling, etc.

6. Participation in State & District Assessment (N/A)

7. Notices & Participants

• Eligibility for Extended School Year (ESY) services will be determined later.
• Parent Prior Notice for Free Appropriate Public Education.
• Medicaid Consent

A Big Change

Bertrand's expression upon hearing "it's a girl". Priceless. :)

Last week was eventful! My father came to visit us and was a keynote speaker at the Spectrum Academy's Autism Conference. Bertrand had his IEP evaluation and qualification meeting. (Everyone from the Salt Lake school district was great and, not surprisingly, Bertrand qualified.) Lastly, we learned that Bertrand will be a big brother to a SISTER due April 8th! Bertrand was a bit unimpressed by the ultrasound (see picture below) as his sister came no where close to resembling his favorite red monster, but mom and dad couldn't be happier. :)