Don't know what to request for my child's IEP Help!?

Question

My daughter has CAPD central auditory processing disorder and ADHD. Her IQ is over all 99 and higher in other areas. She is 2 years behind in reading and has great difficulty in math. She has a speech IEP, but she needs extra help. What should I request. We live in Southern Ca. P.S. How hard is it to get Fast For Word written into an IEP. Also I don't know what kind of accomidations I should request? Please inform me.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, you can't get a specific curriculum written into the IEP, especially a commercial product. What I would do is ask for an assistive technology assessment. A team of experts will test several devices for your child and see if one of them helps. DO NOT take "No" for an answer. Insist on this! They may try an FM system that allows verbal information to be delivered in her ear to eliminate the auditory figure ground problems that often occur.

Your child will benefit from visual supports and preferred seating in the classroom, so you should ask for the following:

*Seat at front of room

*Tests taken in small group or alone

*Graphic organizers to support verbal lectures

*Visual schedule of daily events

*Visual prompts for routines

*Desk copy of notes from verbally delivered lessons

*Allow wait time for answers to verbally posed questions

*Use visual aides to support spoken information

*Provide tape recorder to tape lessons

*Use clear, concise speech when giving directions

These should help, but be sure you get the assistive technology thing going! This can help a lot!

Answer 2

Most districts will not write in a specific program such as FastForward, unless they are already using it and..they feel your daughter would benefit.

Speech Only kids in my state are allowed accommodations for classroom work and tests, if needed. This is decided as a team and guess what? ---your part of that team. So don't be afraid to speak up.

You will want to research and investigate a list of accommodations which you think would be needed for your daughter to succeed. If you or the district staff aren't sure, it can always be written in her IEP "To be used as needed."

If she is 2 years behind in math and not progressing so that she will eventually catch up to her peers, then she should qualify for reading support or special ed support.

It sounds as if you need to request (in writing) that they reconvene  her IEP to discuss these issues.

Our district has a Problem Solving Team. They are called by different names. The purpose is to work with parents to devise interventions (RTI) to assist students in areas they are struggling in. If after 6-8 weeks,  there is no progress or very slow progress (data must be kept by the school), then the next step is to determine if they need an evaluation in the area of academics or if they data simply serve as enough info to show a learning disability and need for services.

Wrightslaw.com is an excellent site for parents to learn about special ed services in the schools and how to advocate for your child.

Answer 3

I wonder what therapist is telling you to get Fast Forword.  Parents all get sold on this program being a savior when research shows little if any benefit from this program.  It is very expensive with little results.  Both Earobics and Lindamood have better results even though the jury is still out.  Be careful before you try to get your child stuck on a computer for 90 minutes a day.

Answer 4

My children started school barely able to talk. The school provided them with the bare minimum as far as extra help was concerned and they weren't even doing that right. I got fed up and called the state. Not to report the school but simply to learn my rights.

End result. I took my children to outside speech testing and a developmental pediatrician from a famous hospital in our area. When I walked into the IEP meeting for my kids they got everything that was recomended by outside sources.

So, my advice to you is do some research and gather a network of professionals that are on your side. I don't know about where you live but here in CT everything is about budget. So, schools will evade responsibility or do the bare min. It is unfortunate but that is the way it is.

By combining outside resources with increased school help (they doubled the days of help) my kids now speak with ease. Last year the speech teacher said they would be in Speech at least until 5th grade. LOL You would never know now. Good luck, it is hard having a child with disabilities. You feel guilty, you feel sorry for them, its frustrating because simple tasks are so huge, but they are special people, so anything you think needs to be on that IEP make sure you say it!

Answer 5

You never said how old your daughter is or what grade she is in.  I have worked in Spec Ed for 7 yrs on the high school level.  Students usually have the following in their IEP's

Extra time on tests

Have tests read to her

She may have to be put in a remedial reading class but this is something that will be determined by reading tests scores

IEP's are individualized based on the unique needs of the student.  Be an advocate for her and tell them at the IEP meeting what you think she needs!

Answer 6

Pumpkin, sounds like a chore but it can be done. I'm on the other side of the country, Massachusetts, with a smart, funny, creative son who also has autism.

My suggestion to you is yes, you can ask for whatever, but have the information to back it up. From what you are saying here, sounds like you have your evidence.

I would suggest that you get in touch with a parent group with parents, like us, who can help you come up w/ a great plan for your daughter's IEP. Also, I'll include some links to check out. Also see about any federal, or local organization that have educational advocates that can help you put a plan together to get more 'bang for your buck' (so to speak) for the best IEP that your daughter deserves.

Remember, YOU are the expert of your child. ONLY you can get the best plan for her.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

It sounds like you have already gone through testing and I am assuming she did not qualify for learning disabled.  If she is 2 years behind in reading you may want to have her academic testing updated (if it has been awhile) to see if there is a gap now.  You may have to go through a process to get more academic testing done though.  Some states allow a child to be labeled as OHI (other health impaired) with a diagnosis of ADHD but others do not, so you may want to ask about that.

If your daughter is identified as speech impaired (not language impaired) your options are more limited because accommodations are not typically given to speech impaired students.  Language impaired students usually can get testing accommodations such as extra time, small group, and breaks during testing.  

Another route you can take due to the diagnosis of CAPD and ADHD is a 504 plan.  This would give her similar accommodations on testing.  Depending on where you live this could be a separate plan or rolled into your daughter's IEP.

Best of luck!

Answer 8

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/

I do not know if your child has Asperger's Syndrome...I cannot think of a way to ask before I tell you about this... But, this is the best site I have ever seen to inform others about Asperger's Syndrome.  

As far as the IEP goes... I was given this link by someone through OASIS.  

http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/i...

This is the IEP "How to".  

I conduct research as a "job"... More of a self appointed job...  I am not the best resource you could have... But if you need anything else "looked up" online, or if your child does have Asperger's Syndrome and you would like a place to go to be able to talk to numerous other parents that have children on the spectrum...Please ask me.  I will help you in any way that I can.