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Tag Archives: IEPs
Playing Chicken
The school district and I are playing a high stakes (at least for my daughter) game of chicken. They want me to sign an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)—read annual contract—committing my daughter Katie to the generic, for-profit, non-public school (NPS) … Continue reading
More IEP Woes
My daughter Katie has once again been kicked out of school, from a special day class no less, in our oh-so-wonderful district. Apparently autism is too mysterious and complicated for them to handle. Or something like that. This time around … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, FAPE, IEPs, Special Education, Suspension, Unplanned Life
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IEP Woes
It’s January, so that means it’s IEP month. (IEPs are individualized education plans for children with special needs.) Actually, this time around, the IEP madness started in December 2015. It’s a triennial year, so my daughter was subjected to lots … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Behavioral Issues, IEPs, Sensory Integration, Special Education, Suspension, Unplanned Life
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The Things We do For Love
The other day I was driving home and saw a man in the middle of the street. It wasn’t a lazy, neighborhood street, but a congested four-lane arterial. He was cutting across mid-way between intersections, weaving through traffic. It was … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Addiction, Advocacy, Autism, Blame, Choice, Experts, IEPs, Love, Special Education, Special Needs, Trust, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 7
For two months I waited for Ms Nav to schedule another IEP meeting. Despite numerous notes and emails, she never did. Finally in late April I put my foot down and insisted on a meeting. Ms Nav replied that Pleasanton … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 6
For several days I pondered how I could observe in the un-offered classroom placement. I checked the district website and learned Mitchell was now a K-8 school. Back in 2009, Mitchell was still an elementary school. It’s where Katie had … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 5
When I was observing potential classroom placements in my home school district, both teachers mentioned a moderate special day class at another school. I had no idea where this class was or who taught it, but I wanted to know … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 4
A week later, my friend Barb (Katie’s reading tutor) and I met Mary, the Program Specialist, in front of a middle school in our home district. I liked the feel of the place. This classroom had fewer students and the … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 3
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met Mary, the Program Specialist, outside the Pleasanton middle school. We signed in and headed to the classroom, making small talk as we wandered the unfamiliar corridors. Eventually we found the classroom … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Boredom, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 2
After our first IEP meeting in January 2015, Ms Nav never sent the consolidated goals. Two days before our next meeting, she sent an updated draft IEP but it only contained her proposed goals. When I questioned this, she said … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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