Post by Amy Lombardi on Mar 31, 2009 12:04:11 GMT -5
Subject: Medical IEP
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 6:16 AM
Message: I was wondering if anyone has done a medical IEP and what all was needed? I heard from someone whose child has CP that they have a medical IEP so their daughter does not get penalised for missing too many days of school.
Missing school is not our issue but excessive sleepiness is. They are upset when he gets sleepy and doesn't "try" to stay awake. Specifically when this happens in band class. I suspect the band teacher is less than thrilled to have a student who is blind and that is the real issue. At any rate they are giving Clifford "strikes" for this and taking away priveleges when he gets three strikes in one week. They have also told him perhaps he should not be in band or be in band next year.
I have tried telling them that his meds can make him sleepy and that sometimes he just gets sleepy for seemingly no reason. The boy goes to bed by 8:00 on school nights and is generally asleep by 9:00, 9:30 at the latest and by 8:30 on average.
So, I was hoping a medical IEP would put in place that this symptom of sleepiness can't be helped and he should not be penalised but be accomodated. I wasn't sure what Dr I needed, be it the neurologist, the genetic dr or our family dr.
Thanks!
Name: John Heuchan
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 8:19 AM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: Tina does this more than me. I know that can be address in the IEP. Nick was to be allowed quiet time, and if it was felt he need to be away from class because of a sleepiness issue he was taken to his quiet place to nap if necessary. It was also written that they were not allowed to take "his" time away from him ie recess/priveleges. However, his teachers did work with him and got him to do the work so he could make recess. Nick did learn how to manipulate the recess, and we allowed them to get him to do his work and the beginning so he could make recess. We found that in public school system that the IEP was more for the school and what they need to do than for him.
He is now at the MD School for the Blind and 2/3 of his IEP from public school is gone, because they know what to do. We are lucky it is only 20 minutes from our house.
Teacher cooperation is utmost and if they do not want to work with the system they will make it difficult for clifford. We had a good group of teachers for the most part. We felt the best thing that happen is when the school sent representatives to the National Confernce and they learned what was Nick and what was Batten's. It was really a light bulb moment for them. One educator did not attend one of the seminars, but just sat and watched the kids in their room. She learn alot and passed it on!!!
Band I am sure is a hard one for the teacher to do.. Even Nick's instructor gave said it was hard, but he was willing to work with him. They understood Nick loves music and that was an outlet for him.
I hope this helps and everyone take care. We are trying to get to the conference this year.....
Tell Clifford "Hi" from Nick
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 8:37 AM
Message: Thanks John. I talked to the teacher this AM and she said she would make sure he was not penalised for being sleepy.
Clifford's been playing the tamborine and the maracas and as far as I know the teaching has been OK. I think its more about implementing those instruments into the songs and the fact that he can't be given a sheet a music to read that is the issue but I'm really just speculating.
Thanks again
Name: Janie
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 9:00 AM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: Chris used to have a "peer" student help him in band. Tell him when to drum by a simple touch. He also goes into school an hour later due to his rest issues. He misses one period. No way could he be awake for high school beginning at 7:30am. In his IEP, he is not penalized for missed days or arriving later than normal. I'm not familar with a medical IEP, it is just included in ours. If you bring an MD note saying he can arrive late or needs rest time, they can't refuse that.
Name: John Heuchan
Date Posted: Nov 13, 08 - 8:01 AM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: See if the teacher has a excellent student that can help Clifford. I think the peer thought would work well.
It is hard for a teacher to relate to non-visual.
Does Clifford have a PA? If so could that person help him. Nick loves percussion and picks it up by ear quickly. As much as I hate Drums this may be an outlet for him. We are looking at electronic drums that he can play along with music and use headphones to listen. This way it keeps the noise down. I am sure you try to keep Clifford just as active as we do Nick.
John
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 13, 08 - 11:30 AM
Message: Thanks Janie! I don't think he needs to arrive later per se. This is not a daily occurance at this point it happens probably a couple of times a month. His teacher also has a place for him to rest before classes start if he wants to and he has agreed to do that if he feels sleepy. What I think happened Monday was that the aide was unaware that he should not be penalised for being sleepy. He is aware now and the teacher has assured me it won't happen again.
Thanks again John, he does have a one on one aide. He has two different aides this year and the one that helps him in band is the same one he had last year and he likes this young man a lot and they really do get on well.
My feeling that he is not wanted in band is more or less a vibe I've gotten from things that happened both last year and this. I might be off base about it. At any rate I know his regular teacher and the vice principal both support his being in band.
Thanks
Name: Amy L--Coordinator of Family Services
Date Posted: Nov 13, 08 - 2:19 PM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: Hey Corrina--
If things don't seem to be improving, call me and we can chat about some options. Being a former music major (before finding my true calling in social work) I might be able to help the school figure out some other opportunities for Clifford in the band. Just because the score says there is no tambourine, doesn't mean they can't find a few places in the song for Clifford to bang away Feel free to email me or call.
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 15, 08 - 10:31 AM
Message: Thanks Amy! The first concert is December 2. Last year Jingle Bells was Clifford's song. It was great. We'll see how this goes and go from there. We've come up with some options to keep him awake or more awake in class.
Name: Tina Heuchan
Date Posted: Nov 28, 08 - 2:40 AM
Message: hello,
Its not about what "They" the school want... Its about what Clifford wants and if he wants band he has that right like every other student in school. Our music chorus teacher fought with us cause nick couldnt read print DUH... he is blind..I didnt need to be reminded . But then they tried the stunt of oh he tried out and didnt make it ... Well that didnt work either.. I just told him put music on tape and Nick will listen to it each night and sing along. He learned that way... The teacher just didnt want to put out the extra effort but they expect the kids too. I told them if he continued to be an @$ss about it I would push for all to be put in braille and then I would push for him not following IDEA act no child left behind act and the ada...remember INCLUSION not EXCLUSION. How good would that look coming from a teacher of 25 yrs.
I wasnt well liked at times but I was respected because I had the law in my back pocket. I didnt like pulling that card but sometimes you have to. Read the IDEA act and the special needs laws in your school system go over them with a fine tooth comb if you have to .. But know your childs rights once you are armed with that it goes a long way. It ended up that in the end we all wanted the same thing for Nick. For him to walk accross that stage with all his friends at the end of his 5th grade year. He did!!! I know you think they are on your side but i had teachers afraid to say anything cause of their job... I thought this was your job??I think sometimes the school is trying to protect themselves so much they forget about the child and the real reason they are there. Instead of just saying we dont have a clue but we will work with you they make it more stressful of and children and the parents.
See not only did I have problems with school my Advocate from National Federation for the blind and Nicks first braille instructor HATED each other... Be in that meeting... I wanted to leave.I finally had to step up and say its not about you or you its about Nick and if we cant put all this aside and focus on Nick then some of you need to be removed and or replaced.
Remember the law says 182 days per year they have to attend.. You are doing your job now they have to do theirs. Sometimes they just have to deal with it. I am sure your childs not the only one in the school with issues...Check out the nurses medician cabnet sometime you'll be shocked Ours had a safe for the meds cause a cabnet was too small. lol
If nick fell asleep at his desk Tracy would just a napkin under his chin to catch the droole and let him go for about 10-15 min then he would be fine. cause she would go back over what the teacher did with him... she use to say when he passed out lost one he'll check back in in 10. lol Usually this was when they where reading aloud of he was listening to book on tape. I think they just relax and pass out.
Middle school scared me alot for Nick so thats when we made the change to School for the blind. In our Middle school they moved around to much change teachers too much and 3 more schools feed into our school and they didnt know Nick like the kids that have been with him since the start.
for a while I was on more meds then Nick at first i thought it was because of nick... Now I think it was cause of the school. I found I was freaking out more then Nick lol
Hope this helps
Tina
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 6:16 AM
Message: I was wondering if anyone has done a medical IEP and what all was needed? I heard from someone whose child has CP that they have a medical IEP so their daughter does not get penalised for missing too many days of school.
Missing school is not our issue but excessive sleepiness is. They are upset when he gets sleepy and doesn't "try" to stay awake. Specifically when this happens in band class. I suspect the band teacher is less than thrilled to have a student who is blind and that is the real issue. At any rate they are giving Clifford "strikes" for this and taking away priveleges when he gets three strikes in one week. They have also told him perhaps he should not be in band or be in band next year.
I have tried telling them that his meds can make him sleepy and that sometimes he just gets sleepy for seemingly no reason. The boy goes to bed by 8:00 on school nights and is generally asleep by 9:00, 9:30 at the latest and by 8:30 on average.
So, I was hoping a medical IEP would put in place that this symptom of sleepiness can't be helped and he should not be penalised but be accomodated. I wasn't sure what Dr I needed, be it the neurologist, the genetic dr or our family dr.
Thanks!
Name: John Heuchan
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 8:19 AM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: Tina does this more than me. I know that can be address in the IEP. Nick was to be allowed quiet time, and if it was felt he need to be away from class because of a sleepiness issue he was taken to his quiet place to nap if necessary. It was also written that they were not allowed to take "his" time away from him ie recess/priveleges. However, his teachers did work with him and got him to do the work so he could make recess. Nick did learn how to manipulate the recess, and we allowed them to get him to do his work and the beginning so he could make recess. We found that in public school system that the IEP was more for the school and what they need to do than for him.
He is now at the MD School for the Blind and 2/3 of his IEP from public school is gone, because they know what to do. We are lucky it is only 20 minutes from our house.
Teacher cooperation is utmost and if they do not want to work with the system they will make it difficult for clifford. We had a good group of teachers for the most part. We felt the best thing that happen is when the school sent representatives to the National Confernce and they learned what was Nick and what was Batten's. It was really a light bulb moment for them. One educator did not attend one of the seminars, but just sat and watched the kids in their room. She learn alot and passed it on!!!
Band I am sure is a hard one for the teacher to do.. Even Nick's instructor gave said it was hard, but he was willing to work with him. They understood Nick loves music and that was an outlet for him.
I hope this helps and everyone take care. We are trying to get to the conference this year.....
Tell Clifford "Hi" from Nick
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 8:37 AM
Message: Thanks John. I talked to the teacher this AM and she said she would make sure he was not penalised for being sleepy.
Clifford's been playing the tamborine and the maracas and as far as I know the teaching has been OK. I think its more about implementing those instruments into the songs and the fact that he can't be given a sheet a music to read that is the issue but I'm really just speculating.
Thanks again
Name: Janie
Date Posted: Nov 12, 08 - 9:00 AM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: Chris used to have a "peer" student help him in band. Tell him when to drum by a simple touch. He also goes into school an hour later due to his rest issues. He misses one period. No way could he be awake for high school beginning at 7:30am. In his IEP, he is not penalized for missed days or arriving later than normal. I'm not familar with a medical IEP, it is just included in ours. If you bring an MD note saying he can arrive late or needs rest time, they can't refuse that.
Name: John Heuchan
Date Posted: Nov 13, 08 - 8:01 AM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: See if the teacher has a excellent student that can help Clifford. I think the peer thought would work well.
It is hard for a teacher to relate to non-visual.
Does Clifford have a PA? If so could that person help him. Nick loves percussion and picks it up by ear quickly. As much as I hate Drums this may be an outlet for him. We are looking at electronic drums that he can play along with music and use headphones to listen. This way it keeps the noise down. I am sure you try to keep Clifford just as active as we do Nick.
John
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 13, 08 - 11:30 AM
Message: Thanks Janie! I don't think he needs to arrive later per se. This is not a daily occurance at this point it happens probably a couple of times a month. His teacher also has a place for him to rest before classes start if he wants to and he has agreed to do that if he feels sleepy. What I think happened Monday was that the aide was unaware that he should not be penalised for being sleepy. He is aware now and the teacher has assured me it won't happen again.
Thanks again John, he does have a one on one aide. He has two different aides this year and the one that helps him in band is the same one he had last year and he likes this young man a lot and they really do get on well.
My feeling that he is not wanted in band is more or less a vibe I've gotten from things that happened both last year and this. I might be off base about it. At any rate I know his regular teacher and the vice principal both support his being in band.
Thanks
Name: Amy L--Coordinator of Family Services
Date Posted: Nov 13, 08 - 2:19 PM
Email: Click here to Email
Message: Hey Corrina--
If things don't seem to be improving, call me and we can chat about some options. Being a former music major (before finding my true calling in social work) I might be able to help the school figure out some other opportunities for Clifford in the band. Just because the score says there is no tambourine, doesn't mean they can't find a few places in the song for Clifford to bang away Feel free to email me or call.
Name: Corrina Dahl
Date Posted: Nov 15, 08 - 10:31 AM
Message: Thanks Amy! The first concert is December 2. Last year Jingle Bells was Clifford's song. It was great. We'll see how this goes and go from there. We've come up with some options to keep him awake or more awake in class.
Name: Tina Heuchan
Date Posted: Nov 28, 08 - 2:40 AM
Message: hello,
Its not about what "They" the school want... Its about what Clifford wants and if he wants band he has that right like every other student in school. Our music chorus teacher fought with us cause nick couldnt read print DUH... he is blind..I didnt need to be reminded . But then they tried the stunt of oh he tried out and didnt make it ... Well that didnt work either.. I just told him put music on tape and Nick will listen to it each night and sing along. He learned that way... The teacher just didnt want to put out the extra effort but they expect the kids too. I told them if he continued to be an @$ss about it I would push for all to be put in braille and then I would push for him not following IDEA act no child left behind act and the ada...remember INCLUSION not EXCLUSION. How good would that look coming from a teacher of 25 yrs.
I wasnt well liked at times but I was respected because I had the law in my back pocket. I didnt like pulling that card but sometimes you have to. Read the IDEA act and the special needs laws in your school system go over them with a fine tooth comb if you have to .. But know your childs rights once you are armed with that it goes a long way. It ended up that in the end we all wanted the same thing for Nick. For him to walk accross that stage with all his friends at the end of his 5th grade year. He did!!! I know you think they are on your side but i had teachers afraid to say anything cause of their job... I thought this was your job??I think sometimes the school is trying to protect themselves so much they forget about the child and the real reason they are there. Instead of just saying we dont have a clue but we will work with you they make it more stressful of and children and the parents.
See not only did I have problems with school my Advocate from National Federation for the blind and Nicks first braille instructor HATED each other... Be in that meeting... I wanted to leave.I finally had to step up and say its not about you or you its about Nick and if we cant put all this aside and focus on Nick then some of you need to be removed and or replaced.
Remember the law says 182 days per year they have to attend.. You are doing your job now they have to do theirs. Sometimes they just have to deal with it. I am sure your childs not the only one in the school with issues...Check out the nurses medician cabnet sometime you'll be shocked Ours had a safe for the meds cause a cabnet was too small. lol
If nick fell asleep at his desk Tracy would just a napkin under his chin to catch the droole and let him go for about 10-15 min then he would be fine. cause she would go back over what the teacher did with him... she use to say when he passed out lost one he'll check back in in 10. lol Usually this was when they where reading aloud of he was listening to book on tape. I think they just relax and pass out.
Middle school scared me alot for Nick so thats when we made the change to School for the blind. In our Middle school they moved around to much change teachers too much and 3 more schools feed into our school and they didnt know Nick like the kids that have been with him since the start.
for a while I was on more meds then Nick at first i thought it was because of nick... Now I think it was cause of the school. I found I was freaking out more then Nick lol
Hope this helps
Tina