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insegnante
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| Posted: Oct 07 2008 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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Have you ever used these (evaluation, speech/language therapy, other?) Did you ever have a problem related to being a homeschooler, or someone who planned to homeschool when the child was older? Or even someone who simply declined to take some of their advice (I do anticipate seeking some kind of "professional help" for this child but can certainly imagine disagreeing about exactly which things we should do.) I know this might vary by location (I'm in Fairfax County, Virginia,) but any input is welcome.
I am just hesitant to get involved with the public school system at all but it's not the same as sending him to school. We pay taxes, and these are tax-funded "free" services. It sounds like the easiest way to get an all-around, in-depth evaluation of our son's development. The developmental pediatrician says that if he is eligible, and it seems likely he will be, he can have a preschool teacher come over once a week to work with him and also show me things to do to help him. I have little doubt that he'll be eligible for the free in-home speech and language services at least.
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Theresa
mommy to three boys, 3/02, 8/04, and 9/10, and a girl, 8/08
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sarahb
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We used the school for free speech therapy. Our experience was overwhelmingly positive. The Lilting House blog had an excellent post about IEPs and parental rights which you may want to read carefully.
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Mary G
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Theresa,
I think it would depend much on the state/county you're in. SarahB is right -- check Lissa's blog (the old Lilting House is now "Here in the Bonny Glen") as Lissa has lots of posts about IEPs, using public help, etc. She lived in Virginia (out in the Shenandoah I think) and now lives in Calif. But she should be able to help you ... her email is on the blog.
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Tina
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We are in the City of Manassas in VA and we have had a really good experience with the school system, for the most part. My 6 year old has been meeting with a speech pathologist since she was 3. We have always had to take her to the school, which bothered me at first, because my older (and obviously school age) children would be with us. They sometimes got some "looks". But everyone who mattered, as in those with any authority, knew who we were and why we were there. Now it has become so comfortable that we know the principal (from all the IEP meetings) and the woman who greets people as you enter the building. They are kind with my children and know them by name.
And the speech pathologist is so good with my daughter. My dd6 looks forward to it every week and is progressing so well, that by Christmas, she won't need the services any more.
The only unfavorable thing I'd have to say about it is with my dd9. She was evaluated by them a few times over the past few years, for possible speech, OT and PT services and they said, after testing, that she did not qualify. She may not qualify, according to their testing, but it was obvious to her pediatrician and I that she was in need of some help in these areas. Unfortunately, she wasn't weak enough in any one area, just somewhat weak in all 3.
But every other experience we've had with the schools has been favorable. One thing that helped put me at ease before my first IEP meeting, is that my sister-in-law is a principal for a school in PA. She told me that they must make every effort to inform and include parents and they can not do anything without parental consent. So when we went to any meetings about either of my children, they were respectful and really looked to me for my thoughts and opinions.
I am happy to have used the services that the school offered. It has been nothing but a positive experience for all of us.
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LisaR
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sarahb wrote:
| We used the school for free speech therapy. Our experience was overwhelmingly positive. The Lilting House blog had an excellent post about IEPs and parental rights which you may want to read carefully. |
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ditto. I am so grateful for our neighborhood school providing excellent speech services to two of my kids. I went into it positive, confident, and hopeful, and was treated with respect, and even admiration  for homeschooling my kiddos.
I have had experience spanning over 5 years with 4 different therapists. All have provided lots of "extras" for us to work with at home as well.
I am so glad that I choose not to listen to the many who wanted to warn me the dangers of choosing local school district. Frankly, we did not have the few thou to spend on private or Easter Seals help.
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KC in TX
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Well, for us here in Texas, we do not qualify for services since we are homeschoolers. I don't know if by law that's true, but I don't care since I don't want this particular school district to give us any services (they're awful). We are lucky that we get our OT and speech paid for by our insurance company.
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insegnante
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| Posted: Oct 08 2008 at 7:42pm | IP Logged
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http://melissawiley.typepad.com/liltinghouse/2007/09/the-iep -story.html
The above post by Lissa describes the kind of thing I'm concerned about. That's all I've read yet from her blog. I refuse to consider my husband and myself just members of a team like the one described making decisions for our child -- it is one thing if it is a matter of working as a team with people who are providing services that I've already entrusted them to provide because of their expertise, but to have them then have to (or make it sound as if they have to) "approve" our child no longer working with them at all anymore or something like that, regardless of what we judge best for him?
We already scheduled an evaluation tomorrow, though. I hope this doesn't, in their minds, "obligate" us to devise one of these "IEPs."
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Theresa
mommy to three boys, 3/02, 8/04, and 9/10, and a girl, 8/08
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4Real Forums : Special Blessings
Topic: services through public school system?
