So, in 2 hours I have the but tutchers second IEP meeting...

[mcctatas]

wherein I sit and listen to them tell me that despite the fact that he has a medical diagnosis of autism, he does not meet the criteria for an educational diagnosis, and although he has already met all of the end of the year academic benchmarks for Kindergarten, he is sadly lacking in social graces which is in no way tied to the autism that they say he does not have. Should we place bets on how far into the meeting we get before I snap?

:rant:

[LaraMN]

1. Bleh.

At least my kid has a condition that's so readily acknowledged as thoroughly disabling that I don't have to argue that line.

Lovely.
I'll send you some sanity vibes.



:hug:

[Fleshdancer]

2. well that sucks

If this is how the meeting goes, then snap early and snap often. That's bs.

I see this situation requiring a litte bit of Skittles Diplomacy.

[mcctatas]

5. If only I could magic Skittles here before 3:00...

perhaps I will just have to try and channel her :P

[Midlodemocrat]

3. You are shitting me.

You have a medical dx of ASD and you can't get the school to adjust his IEP to include social skills? Where is this?

I'm sorry. The lack of competence in the public school system infuriates me.

And, one question. Who is saying he lacks social graces and it isn't tied to his autism? Because that sounds suspiciously like a doctor's dx to me and at least here in VA, that is patently illegal. No educator may even hint that a child has any type of disorder to a parent.

[mcctatas]

6. Hell, even I think he lacks social skills, but his MD, his OT and

vision therapist and I all know that it is tied to his autism. Of course since the school district says he does not have autism, they are left to make up their own reasons, my personal favorite to date:

"Do you think maybe he is being manipulative?" Are you f'ing kidding me? The same kid they said "Doesn't pick up on social cues" and "Has a hard time relating to peers" is suddenly the freaking puppet master? :wtf:

[Midlodemocrat]

11. How the hell does the school district get a say in his dx?

I think you need an advocate. There has to be someone in that area that can help you with this. That is utter bullshit. No one, NO ONE, but a licensed health care professional should be diagnosing a child. ESPECIALLY a five year old.

[mcctatas]

12. Ironically...

I am a family advocate but due to some weird wording in our states educational laws, autism is the only dx that schools do not have to recognize as an educational dx, it is maddening

[Midlodemocrat]

14. My God. I don't know how you do it. I would be ready to kill someone.

[LynzM]

4. Ugh, dude...

I don't know what avenues you've already pursued, so I won't offer any advice, just a whole lotta (((((hugs)))))...

[NYC_SKP]

7. Ahhhh, IEPs. I remember them well.

In my case it was juveniles who, despite meeting all of the objective criteria for BBS (boiled brain syndrome- I just made that up), could not be identified as worthy of services because they had:

A. missed too much school
B. been known to smoke the herb or otherwise do the drugs

And "A" was a favorite because I was often pretty sure that their missing school was closely tied to their having needed attention earlier.

Gee, do you think maybe they missed school because their parent(s)/guardian SUCKED or that they had an LD???

:banghead:

Good luck in there, keep yer cool! :hi:

[mcctatas]

8. It's funny because in my professional life, I attend these regularly

as an advocate for the parents and am able to keep incredibly cool (with a few spectacular exceptions), but with my own little but tutching spawn, I am like a pissed off badger before I even walk in the door. I need one of me to come along :P

[vard28]

9. I'm a badger mom too

If we aren't, no one else will be. Stick to what YOU want and what is best 'cause it's YOUR kid. I'm with ya in spirit.

[vard28]

10. Oh and one more thing...

tell 'em next time you're coming with your attorney. Funny how they'll make things work sometimes.

[LeftyMom]

13. I'm sorry the school people are being assholes.

I don't know fuck-all about dealing with IEPs or asshole school administrators- my complete lack of patience for that sort of shit is one of the million or so reasons my kid is homeschooled- so I won't give you any advice. But I'm sorry that their inability to shut the fuck up and just do what's best for your kid is adding stress to your life.

[PaddyBlueEyes]

15. You wont snap

You will hold it together and do the right thing like you do every time....Hang in There.. ILY :hug:

[JVS]

16. Send him to Colonel Ott's Military Academy in Alaska

A fine education!

[mcctatas]

18. OMG...

every time he sees sarah palin on TV he says (and I shit you not) "I can see russia from my house". Of course he also got in trouble the first week of school because when they were talking about states everyone had visited he said "I would never want to go to Wyoming" the teacher says "why not but tutcher?" and he says "Because dick cheney is from Wyoming and dick cheney is the devil" (I guess it proves he pays attention to everything I shout at the TV)

[JVS]

17. Ohh, one more thing which might actually be helpful.

IIRC the IEP is not reserved only for those with learning disabilities. At least where I was from, anyone who tested into the gifted program could also have an IEP (most never bothered get one). If they won't go for the Autism, you might be able to flank them by getting the IEP via gifted and then make your adjustments how you please.

[mcctatas]

20. Thank You....

I had forgotten all about that! I am just hoping they don't push for ED, our school system still favors self contained settings for ED kids (let alone the fact that he is most certainly NOT ED)

[applegrove]

19. Say "oh Snap" to them when you feel like exploding.