rivenoak

We're going to set up an IEP meeting soon.

Last spring, when getting ready for the yearly IEP meeting, I asked DS if he wanted to go and he said no. I'm sure it sounded like a boring time to him: lots of adults talking. I explained who would be there & what the meeting would be about, but he wasn't interested.

I'll ask him again if he wants to attend this time.

How old were you when you first started attending?

Did your parents offer you the choice in attending?

Did you get anything out of attending?

Anyone made to attend even if they didn't want to? Did you get something out of it after all?

Deafness

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

inmate23

I always have done but NEVER had voice

__________________
Please remeber I have audio processing disorder

i use asl rochester method or pop or oral

Sunshine

5
No they tell me come
I remember I feel special, not remember much else

AlleyCat

I was never allowed to go to any of mine. I thought that was the norm, actually (for me and during my time, 20 years ago.)

CSign

How old is your son?

Mine is 7, and he has only been to one meeting and that was because no one was available to watch him.

I think if he's older (7+), and you have a good history with the SD then it would be appropriate to go.

If your SD is like ours; and you know there will be multiple points of contention and likely issues, then it's best they not go. IMO of course.

As of now, I don't want my son exposed to the nasty side of SD's and "special education". As he gets older; and can seperate the SD's lack of respect, from him as an individual, then I'll bring him.

AlleyCat

Gotcha. You sound just like my parents. That's about what they said to me, too.

lanapoo

Wirelessly posted

Think I was in 3rd grade when I went to my first iep and then I went for nearly every year after that. Didn't understand what was really going on.

__________________

CSign

Very sad. I wish things were different- but some things are still the same.

DeafBadger

I don't really remember any IEP meetings until early high school. Then I was sitting in the room with the HI teachers and my parents. I did not really have a voice in the proceedings.

Sometimes my parents and the HI case worker I had would get into spats. The HI case worker would accuse me of slacking off on my grades. My mother said that my caseworker slacked off on talking to my teachers before the semester started (to tell them how to use the auditory trainer, how to talk to me, etc).

It was the school principle who stuck up for me, saying that all kids slack off a little on their grades.

In truth, I didn't know what the hell was going on!

__________________
"Ad Astra Per Aspera" - Through hardships, to the stars.

severe-to-profound in both ears, since birth. My Blog

Pale Blue Dot (cc: Select Italian captions, then Translate Captions to English--English)

"Labels are mentally lazy ways by which people assert they know you without knowing you." ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

AlleyCat

Same here. Because my parents were concerned about points of contention and issues, I think that's why they didn't have me go to any IEP meetings. That way, they got their way. The kid got no say. Otherwise, there's just fights.

Foxrac

I started to had IEP meeting in 1992 when it was my first kindergarten and I was 4 years old at time.

__________________


In Moto We Trust

deafskeptic

I don't remember doing IEP but I'm certain I would not have been allowed a voice.

__________________
Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007.
Activated on May 9th.
Upgraded to Opus 2 9/10/2010
Think Pink.
FREE JILLIO!

deafdyke

I had IEP meetings from the time I was three to when I was 18.
I started going in 8th grade.They were SO ****ing POINTLESS and frustrating. I mean I think my school was well meaning, but they did not have the abilty to provide decent accomondations. Not to mention the horrible social stuff.
One thing that I think they need to do for IEP meetings is maybe have them be child centered and have the child try out the various and sundry options. Does a mainstreamed kid know anything about deaf school or dhh program?
Maybe a good idea might be to contact Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and see if they have an advocate who can help out with IEP meetings and give suggestions abt accomodnations etc.

CSign

If I'm understanding your post correctly, I'm nothing like your parents. I have conversations with my son about his needs and advocate on his behalf. I make sure he gets what he needs as an individual. Both what he realizes at this age, and accomodations he's not even aware we've fought for.

AlleyCat

That's what my parents said too.

Point being: when you are not a child in the school and in the IEP program your parents have designated for you (one being that the child didn't have any input in), you have no idea what the child feels. I know, I was there.

CSign

I noticed your quick edit. Probably wise to do so.

The bolded line is the key difference between your parents and my relationship with my son. My son has input- and I listen to him and advocate on his behalf. With his specific wants and needs in mind.

AlleyCat

The bolded was not a quick edit.

That's fine if you want to argue. I'm off to bed, so this is my last post of the night as I have to work in the morning. BUT, I will point out YOUR post:

"Mine is 7, and he has only been to one meeting and that was because no one was available to watch him.

I think if he's older (7+), and you have a good history with the SD then it would be appropriate to go.

If your SD is like ours; and you know there will be multiple points of contention and likely issues, then it's best they not go. "

Your message is VERY LOUD AND CLEAR.

You want the kids to shut up.

Jiro

so why don't you bring him to IEP meetings?

__________________
- Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

CSign

For clarity purposes: I am referring to points of contention with the school district, then the young child should not be present. For example, at the last IEP meeting, my sons SLP made a comment to the effect of, "I don't think he needs me to use sign language." Thats the kind of sh*t young kids don't need to be exposed to.

Hope that clears it up for those who were confused.

deafdyke

In defense AlleyCat, while I do agree with that. I mean elementary school is pretty easy. A lot of kids do well especially early on. But I think that CSign is a VERY informed parent and would be in tune to ANY issues. She reads our posts and knows what our problems are.....Heck she's said that if there were any alternatives besides the deaf school, (ie dhh program or magnet program) she'd have her son in that sort of program in a FLASH.

AlleyCat

That does make a bit of difference, thank you for clarifying.

rivenoak

He'll be 6 at the end of this month.

I think I'll bring him with me, and a bag of stuff to do. If he doesn't want to listen to the talk or be involved, he can color or play.

He's quite opinionated, so I'd like to give him to opportunity to "speak for himself". If he'll talk about anything (FM system, why he doesn't like HAs, anything going on in the classroom, etc), I would like the IEP team members to hear things firsthand.

CSign

I think that's a good idea. Has your SD been responsive to your sons needs? Does it seem like he is getting the appropriate accomodations and services?

rivenoak

I can't say they haven't been responsive.

The services (speech and TOD) seem appropriate The accomodations haven't really been tested in practice except for the FM system.

We'll see what happens as I talk with this new IEP team. The only people who remain from last year are the TOD and the district audiologist. Everyone else is new to one another in regard to DS.

CSign

Well good luck, and I hope everything pans out nicely for him.

I think it's a great idea to bring him along so they can meet him and he can express his thoughts and perspective. I think having another activity for him to do is smart. Kids can only "sit and stay" for so long. ;-)

deafbajagal

It's ironic I'm reading this because today we had a good discussion at my school about empowering students at their IEP meetings in the spring to voice their transition goals, etc. We're actually training them about IEPs, etc. during our homeroom time. I'm excited about this.

I think middle school is a good age for kids to start participating in the IEP, in which parents and the rest of the committee should make sure the student is able to ask questions, provide input, etc. It's HIS/HER meeting about HIS/HER needs.

The law also is specific about the age the student must be invited, etc.

I have a funny story about the first time...and last time (lol) I was invited to my own IEP meeting. I certainly had the last say. I'll share that story later.

CSign

I think you're right in that middle school aged children are a bit better equipped at participating in, and understanding the IEP process.

I don't see any harm in a younger child going, so long as you know the SD is on the up and up.

It's great that your school is doing that. I try to talk with my son about advocating for himself when need be. I'd like for him to have the same kind of lessons your students ate going through when he gets older.

deafdyke

One thing that I'd love to see for mainstreamed kids(including oral and Sign) in elementary school is something like........I think we need to acknowledge that middle and high school are SUPER hard. Most elementary school mainstreamed kids aren't aware that there are options other then the option they're in. I would love to see something like a try out for every option....ie like spending a few days checking out the res school or trying a local magnet school or a local dhh program. Seriously, oral deaf eductors need to acknowledge that middle and high school are HORRIBLE HORRIBLE settings, and maybe even oral sucess kids could strongly benifit from ASL and deaf/residental ed.

Smithtr

I experience already 18 yrs legal IEP I remember long time ago

__________________

jillio

My son attended every single IEP meeting involving his education, and was permitted input during each and every one. The input increased as he got older, and the degree of consideration of that input increased accordingly.