"Because of the ASD on the CARS he will have either ABA or DTT on his IEP along with OT, SIT, and ST...OK?"
Uh...OMG! I close my eyes and all I see are acronyms! We had our first meeting with the St. Charles Special School District this morning. In six months, Trey will stop with First Steps services and begin going to preschool through the Special School District. But it's a process...and, of course, she explained Trey has to be accepted first. So there will be more meetings and more evaluations for Trey to make sure he qualifies. Ugh.
This lady was tough. Even though she requested a copy of the extensive 25 page report sent to us from The Thompson Center, it's not enough. They do their own evaluations...that aren't "medical based". They are "educational based". I don't get it! So my son who has been diagnosed with Autism must go through more evaluations so that the school district can find out if he will continue to need the therapy he is already receiving? I don't get that either!
She kept saying "WE will determine what's best for your son." I think she said it at least three times. I stopped counting because all I found myself focusing on were the acronyms she threw at us as if it made her sound smarter. I know I am knew to all this "special needs" stuff... but I am pretty sure that we as parents have a say in what's best for our son too! I can only hope I am wrong about this somewhat bad vibe I got today. I know there are a lot of great individuals working for the public school system, especially with special needs children. I need to keep faith they truly have Trey's best interest at heart when it comes to these evaluations.
If I had to sum up what I got from the meeting this morning with Mrs. OAL ("Overuse of Acronym Lady"), it would be just that...overuse! My hubby said tonight that she needs to understand when she is talking to people who are new to this whole world of Autism, they don't know what all that means. I totally agree. So to help him out.. and other newbies, here's a small list of terms:
Uh...OMG! I close my eyes and all I see are acronyms! We had our first meeting with the St. Charles Special School District this morning. In six months, Trey will stop with First Steps services and begin going to preschool through the Special School District. But it's a process...and, of course, she explained Trey has to be accepted first. So there will be more meetings and more evaluations for Trey to make sure he qualifies. Ugh.
This lady was tough. Even though she requested a copy of the extensive 25 page report sent to us from The Thompson Center, it's not enough. They do their own evaluations...that aren't "medical based". They are "educational based". I don't get it! So my son who has been diagnosed with Autism must go through more evaluations so that the school district can find out if he will continue to need the therapy he is already receiving? I don't get that either!
She kept saying "WE will determine what's best for your son." I think she said it at least three times. I stopped counting because all I found myself focusing on were the acronyms she threw at us as if it made her sound smarter. I know I am knew to all this "special needs" stuff... but I am pretty sure that we as parents have a say in what's best for our son too! I can only hope I am wrong about this somewhat bad vibe I got today. I know there are a lot of great individuals working for the public school system, especially with special needs children. I need to keep faith they truly have Trey's best interest at heart when it comes to these evaluations.
If I had to sum up what I got from the meeting this morning with Mrs. OAL ("Overuse of Acronym Lady"), it would be just that...overuse! My hubby said tonight that she needs to understand when she is talking to people who are new to this whole world of Autism, they don't know what all that means. I totally agree. So to help him out.. and other newbies, here's a small list of terms:
- ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
- CARS: Childhood Autism Rating Scale
- ABA: Applied Behavioral Analysis
- IEP: Individual Education Plan
- DTT: Discrete Trial Training
- OT: Occupational Therapy
- SIT: Sensory Integration Therapy
- ST: Speech Therapy
- OMG: Oh My Gawd! :)
Welcome to the wonderful world of Autism Alphabet Soup! I remember the early days when the "professionals" thought they could out dance me and distract me with their mystic mombojumbo. Little did they know that I had been dancing in the world since 1987 and wasn't going to be taken for a ride down their "We know what is best for your son" highway. As for the difference between a medical and educational difference is a bunch of poppicock! Autism is Autism end of story, and just give my kid what they need to reach their fullest potential. (Boy I feel riled up today must be my impending IEP for James this afternoon!!) When all of this gets you down, just hop over to my blog Laughter, Could be the Missing Piece http://laughtercouldbethemissingpiece.blogspot.com/ and giggle for a while!
ReplyDeleteSarah...I like your style!! Thanks for putting a smile on my face and making me feel better as usual. I hope your IEP meeting for James went ok today. You are so right about the laughter part!!!
ReplyDeleteRhonda....you are in control of Trey's education...don't let them make you think you aren't! Parents have a very loud voice, just keep moving to the top of the chain if you don't hear what you want to hear!
DeleteLove you much!