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I am wondering what other parents do with the new school year starting. In the past I have met with the new teachers either in the spring or in August, to discuss my sons special needs. I've always prefered they hear it directly from me, as the schools "professionals" really don't understand issues related to neglect.
My son is doing so well now, that I was planning to forego the usual teacher meeting. His full time aide, will now float between a few other grades to meet the needs of some other children. To my sons perception she is no longer there for him, but is a general aide used through out the school (in reality she is still listed as a full time aide in his 504 plan). We felt that the best time to use her with the 5th grade was during math, when frustration can cause my son to shut down.
It's been a long time since we've seen any issues related to RAD (resolved for over 2 years now). Bipolar has been extremely stable lately. Great OT working with him for Sensory Integration, and he is finially getting speech therapy for Auditory Processing (all outpatient). School has a new OTR this year. She is aware of SID and willing to colloborate with outpatient OTR (previous school OTR refused to do this). So finially we may get some of his needs addressed in his 504 plan, which will be updated in October.
Now that school is only 8 days away - I'm having second thoughts. Wondering if I'm expecting too much to send him in with teachers who haven't had any briefing on his needs. Things like free access to oral stimulation (aka - candy), need for extra movement opportunities naturally built into the day, access to lined or graph paper when he cannot do the written work on paper handed out in class, etc, etc, etc. I know the aide will fill them in, and I think she's done a great job - but she has had absolutely no training in any of his special needs. And I'm not sure she really understands the things that I think should be priorities.
Just wondering what other parents have done. I want so badly for my son to just head off to school like every other kid, but also don't want to set him up for problems. At this point, I am leaning towards setting up a meeting just before school starts.
DimasMom
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I think that erring on the side of caution might be in order. Just touching base with the teacher to be sure the teacher is onboard regarding the unique dimensions of your son could be helpful...if only to let the teacher know that you are very invovled and want to help the teacher and be informed so you can support the teacher.
Best of luck to you and Dima for an excellent school year.
regards
Art
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Can you give the aid a list of what you think is most important and let her share that with the teacher? Then call the teacher after the first week and see if things are going well and if she has any questions or concerns and share any your son has expressed.
I know what you're thinking as there are pros and cons to doing it both ways and balancing them can be very tricky.
Thanks so much for the input. Also received some great suggestions from a list for parents of EE adoptees that came home at an older age.
I have a meeting set up for the next week, just before school starts. My sons issues are just way too complex for an untrained aide to understand or explain. Theres the rad scar tissue. We hardly see it these days, but he is highly sensitive to shaming experiences. Then there is the bipolar. While well controlled right now, that is likely to change with puberty and growth. Then there is the sensory processing/auditory processing issues, still not well addressed in his 504 plan.
I guess part of my worry is that our school has been highly resistive to all of my sons diagnosis - so that aides head has been filled with all these crazy mom ideas. Although I truly believe she feels his diagnosis are legit, she is in a tough position since her employer does not valid his diagnosis.
Last year was a good year. Main teacher was pretty open to trying my suggestions and had a lot of success with these. I just want to make sure this information gets to the new teachers. Things like - with a new math concept. Having him sit in a quieter area to do his work, and going over it with the teacher after he has completed a few problems on his own. That way the teacher can give individual instruction if he seems confused.
I'm hoping for another good year. From what I am told - last years teachers are the best team in the school, none can compare. But I am still optimistic that their successes can be passed on to future teachers.
DimasMom