Today was Natalie's annual IEP. Compared to her first IEP, I have significantly calmed down and only spent about 10 minutes making a list of things I wanted to make sure we talked about. Of course, I emailed her teacher and OT about goals we'd like included, and spoke with her PT for a few minutes about goals, but other than that, I didn't have to do much besides bring water bottles and snacks for everyone.
This was the first time I'd met Natalie's new SLP, Nicky, who immediately talked about how much she enjoyed working with Natalie. And even though we love love loved Natalie's old SLP, Miss Becky, I'm pleased with her new SLP and think that a new perspective might actually benefit Natalie in the long run.
After about an hour of discussing goals from her last IEP and where Natalie met them and which ones needed to be continued, we started going through the new IEP. And here's what Tom and I didn't see coming: both Natalie's new teacher Melanie as well as Nicky were shocked that Natalie is labeled mentally retarded on the IEP. It was quite interesting: her teacher said she had a gut wrenching feeling when she read it, and her SLP double checked to make sure she had the right last name when she saw it. They don't think the Natalie they know is mentally retarded. The teacher said "I'm not a psychologist, but..." she thought it might be removed at Natalie's tri-annual IEP next year. Natalie also qualifies for an IEP because of orthopedic issues, so she would still qualify if MR is removed (and "mentally retarded" is going to be changed to "an individual with an intellectual disability").
What does that mean? As I said to our IEP team, "She has a syndrome where everyone is mentally retarded, except Natalie?" We still don't know quite what to make of it. Removing the terminology doesn't remove our efforts and goals for our daughter, but it's interesting that someone disagrees with the diagnosis. Maybe we don't understand what mentally retarded means!
Of course, the IEP continued very well after that, with the bonus (answered prayer, actually) that the program specialist is working to get Natalie (and the other kids on her bus that are in her class) on a different bus so that she leaves home later (and gets to school when she's supposed to arrive, instead of 30 minutes before class starts). And Melanie has a plan to help Natalie learn to tell us when she has to use the toilet, not just wait for us to take her.
I had hoped that Natalie wouldn't need PT any more, but she still does, and we're thankful that it was approved, but it means two trips to the clinic each week for another year (we've been going to the clinic for 3 years already). And so it continues...
3 comments:
In just the year or so that I've been reading your blog and praying for your family I've been convinced that Natalie is going to break the mold. All someone needs to do is tell her she can't do something and she will prove them wrong. Plus the fact that she has awesome parents and brothers that love and encourage her and don't treat her like she is "mentally retarded". You're doing something right and you need to keep on keeping on.
Glad to hear things are going well for Natalie at school (and at home)! Getting those IEP's out of the way are always a big relief. Given her specialist's opinions, are you going to mainstream her now?
Thanks for the encouragement, Karen.
Brandi, our hope is to mainstream her, but we're going to take it a year at a time. Her teacher said there were two possible placements: regular K or mild-to-moderate K, but she would reserve her suggestion until the spring. Tom and I will tour classes in the spring. Now we have to work to educate ourselves on what each placement would mean.
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