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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 26 2007 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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It looks like I may be helping one of my sisters homeschool her special needs child. I'm a bit overwhelmed as I know nothing really and I don't even know if they have a diagnosis for him. I'm still not sure how we can arrange this legally in our state so that is the first step. But after that, there is the next step:
Those of you who began homeschooling special needs, how did you go about finding the support and resources you needed - or even begin to figure out what you should do? What supports are most helpful - or materials. I know a lot depends on what the issues are - but we aren't even sure yet. My sis has been in the system trying to get help and some sort of real diagnosis - and now her child is 6th grade, very few accomodations are being made in the school and he is being picked on and failed - definitely not a good situation. I guess I cannot do any worse than the schools - but ... The neurologist who actually began to come up with some things actually told her to homeschool and wrote out a letter for the files so stating.
I know my sis will have to arrange for some sort of speech therapy - but beyond that? How do I work with reading, writing, what about muscle tone? He may have some sensory integration issues - where do I go for this? Since he is not my own child, I worry that I won't have the same instinct that I do with my own in knowing when they are working and not getting it and when they are just pulling my leg. I know he has our typical family vision problems - at least I'm already familiar with that but don't mind any and every bit of information you moms of experience can share.
Janet
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Lissa
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| Posted: Jan 26 2007 at 4:57pm | IP Logged
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Janet, I'm writing a series on this very topic on my Lilting House blog right now. (Special needs in the archives, or scroll back just a couple of days.)
Your nephew is entitled to special ed services through the local public school district, even if he is not enrolled as a student. Your sister can call the district's special ed office and request an evaluation. Sounds like she should ask for a speech eval and a PT eval, and maybe OT too? The evaluation is free and the school system is required under federal law (IDEA is the name of the act--it goes by the the initials, not "idea" if that makes sense) to give it.
If any of the evaluating therapists (speech pathologist, PT, OT, etc) determines that your nephew qualifies for services, the next step would be setting up an IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting to make it official. In this meeting, the specific needs, goals, and services are spelled out.
As an example, my 3yo son qualified for speech therapy and audiological services. I will take him to the local elementary school twice a week for half hour private sessions with a speech therapist. The district audiologist will provide his hearing tests and ear molds (for hearing aids) as needed. This is all free. I have also asked for a PT eval, and he may add physical therapy if needed later.
You can of course also seek these same services privately, through doctors, etc; but of course then your sister will be paying for all or part, depending on her insurance situation.
I think sensory integration falls under the OT umbrella, so I would definitely ask for an OT to be present at the eval.
My thinking is that I am well able to satisfy my son's academic, social, and emotional needs by homeschooling; but he also has specific physical needs (hearing loss, high muscle tone) for which I'd like the help of specialists; and it will be far easier on our whole family if he can get speech therapy at the school around the corner instead of having to drive across town twice a week.
I hope this is the kind of info you were looking for! I'm learning as I go, for sure.
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Lissa
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 26 2007 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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Lissa:
It gives me some ideas. The only problem is that he has been evaluated for special services and is finally receiving some speech at the school. We are totally unimpressed by what the evaluators in our state have done. My sister went to another state to get some medical evaluations. She may need a lawyer to just get through the endless dereliction and neglect in the system and by then it is too late for her son. Maybe it is an AL thing - but the situation is pathetic. Everyone has interpreted the laws to indicate that this child must be in regular school in a regular classroom doing 6th grade work - just less of it and they think they have done their job by cutting 6th grade work in half - though he is reading at 2nd grade level. So instead of OT and speech therapy, they send him home with a list of Spanish words to memorize (it is half as many as the 6th graders have - but...) They are also giving him Fs on report cards because - surprise, the poor child just cannot do the work. I'm a bit concerned with how much emotional baggage he will bring home from the experience in the school. (No one will ever be able to convince me that schools do better with special needs, that is for sure!)
In elementary, he was getting at least speech and OT. Now, in middle school, there is no special classroom for these services. They finally have found a teacher that comes and works with him, but he lost a half a year of speech therapy while my sister fought this. He had to bring a book to read to school - and since he is reading at a much younger level, all the regular 6th graders made fun of him and called him names.
My sister has been fighting this school for the entire year to discuss the IEP - so far nothing is happening and she had to fight half a year to even get him speech. They claimed that they could not accomodate him. Anyways, enough of a rant - I know it would help a lot if she could get some of these specialized therapies paid for - but not sure if it is in the best interest of the child to even mess with the schools. If I work with him, I know someone else will be doing the driving to and from as I will need to work with my own children at home. My mom is in town so we may make this a whole family venture with each doing a part.
If the school isn't really doing a realistic IEP (and no specialists have been consulted as far as I can tell) where do you get someone to help you come up with an IEP? If I had some idea where to start and what I should be working on, I think I'd be OK. But I cannot just guess where to start. (I know I won't be teaching him Spanish, but - you get the picture).
Janet
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Chari
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| Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 12:34am | IP Logged
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Janet, I have no idea...........but, I will pray for all three of you as you begin this new adventure.
God's blessings on all of you.
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Willa
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| Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 1:01am | IP Logged
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Janet,
Have you contacted the Early Intervention in your area? You mentioned how horrible the special ed services are in your area -- even though EI provides only for birth to three, sometimes the EI will have staff members who have been through the mill with their own older children, and can steer you to advocacy resources. At least, our EI had such a person and she was a great help when Aidan transitioned out of early intervention. SOmetimes they have a parent resource library where you can find things, sample IEP forms and perhaps advocacy helps.
Another thought: do you have some sort of Regional Center for developmental issues? Ours provides services from birth for ever. Again, even if he doesn't qualify for services they may be able to steer you somewhere.
I can't think of anything else. Aidan is so much younger. I don't rely much on the school for services, and in fact in our area they aren't obligated to provide services for homeschool students -- a friend had to enroll her daughter in independent study in order to get her speech and reading resources provided for.
We get occupational therapy through the Elks. Speech is through the school but scattered and sporadic because of our locality. The SLP covers a huge territory because the population is so thin up here.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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Taffy
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| Posted: Jan 28 2007 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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Janet, I've been thinking about your question for a few days now, trying to come up with a response...
I think that the first thing you should do is simply build a rapport with your nephew. Undoubtedly, by now he has learned a lot of negative associations with the educating process as a whole. He probably has a lot of negative thoughts about his own abilities too.
Try to create a safe environment for him, where he feels safe to try new things and explore new ideas. A LOT of positive reinforcement for the things he does right, and love and acceptance of him as a person who has his own gifts and abilities. Throw out all your preconceived notions as to what he "should" know and what levels he "should" be in. Try to find out where he is now and start from there.
This task will be harder as you will have to help his mother with all of this. She will probably be feeling very frustrated with him and disappointed with his inability to keep up at school. This is not an accusation, simply an acknowledgement as I went through the same thing with my own son and I'm pretty sure that most parents do. If she is accepting of the fact that you will probably need to do some (or a lot) of work at what seems to be a very elementary level, you will be ahead of the game.
During the first two-three weeks, spend some time assessing his skills and deciding on his short term and long term goals. There are many sites with lists of age appropriate and grade appropriate skills. Personally, for academic purposes, I like the Evergreen Curriculum Guide published by the Saskatchewan government. It is very detailed and I think it's easily adaptable; but use whatever goals you deem appropriate.
Once you've assessed his current skills and abilities, then you can formulate a plan, with appropriate goals - both short term and long term. And, as you are already quite experienced, you'll be off!
Hope this helps and praying for a successful learning experience for you and your nephew!
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Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
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Taffy
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| Posted: Jan 28 2007 at 10:05am | IP Logged
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Whoops! I just realized that you asked some specific questions about where to go for help...
I don't have any real help for this as the rules in Canada are different. But, I would go online and search there first. Unfortunately, our experience with professionals has been very mixed - some are good but some are simply not worth the time or expense. My first pick would be an education specialist who should be available through your nephew's school. They should be able to test him and give you a good evaluation of the skills he has now and the skills he's behind in. They should also be able to point you in the right direction for other specialists that he could benefit from...
Another avenue is to join some online groups and ask for advice there.
But, most important, do your own assessment and make your own judgements. Anyone you consult will not have the intimate knowledge of your nephew that his mother, and you as his educator, will possess. Go to the experts and learn, but always remember that you get to pick and choose from whatever advice that they give.
Good luck!
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Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 3:30am | IP Logged
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Thank you all for ideas and for your suggestions - both here and PM. I do know and so does my sis that we will need to start wherever he is at and move forward from there. I was hoping to avoid the learning curve time since this child has been so bounced around by the schools and so much time has been wasted already - either neglecting things he needs, sitting him in a classroom and basically simply moving him along without working with him or demanding so much that it is impossible. His therapists have been wonderful people and perhaps his elementary special ed teacher can help some as I think my sis had very positive experience with her. Other than her, we really doubt we can even trust the schools assesment of where he is at. The suggestion to just create an informal and safe environment for a while as I try to assess this with my sis is helpful reminder that though it may seem like wasted time to me (and I'm impatient to begin to help him have success in some way), it may be the most important part of the whole thing. My mom has already volunteered significant help - and one thing that keeps me from panic is the realization that I really can do no worse than the schools and at least he will be safe here and loved and treated with respect and dignity.
Thanks for the PM - I think it helped me realize that it really isn't that different than what I've already been doing. Trying to work with my own children where ever they are at and moving forward from there.
Thank you all for prayers as we begin planning on the details of bringing him home. I'm sure I will be asking many questions as we go along the way. I know with the vision that assessments of conceptual understanding will all have to be oral/observation type things. I keep wondering about using a lot of Montissori type things at first - not as demanding on the eyes, no pressure to perform at any particular level and nothing with grade level stamped on the front. Does anyone know a really good source to tell me how to use her manipulatives and where to get them inexpensively. (I really don't mind purchasing some of this as I will probably use this for my youngers as well). This with a lot of read alouds (for all together) and vision therapy is my first instinct - Does this sound like it is reasonable. Please tell me if I'm way off on something.
Janet
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bubbelcat
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| Posted: Jan 31 2007 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Janet, Does the psych. have NO idea other than SID what his issues might be?
The reason I ask is that Montessori can be great for certain types of disorders but can be torture for kids with attention and organizational issues, particularly if you are trying to get some basics down.
If I were you I would consider letting him de-school for a couple of months. Watch what he shows interest in when your kids are working. Watch how he prefers to interact with and interpret stimulus and information. It may seem really frustrating that he's "doing nothing" when he's already so far "behind" but the information you gather could save you a lot of heartache and wasted money on ineffective curriculum, especially since you're still really waiting for a diagnosis.
The only curriculum issue I can really speak to is reading. On the recommendation of my cousin who is a special education teacher we have been using Wilson Reading System. We are using "Fundamentals" since my son is only 7 (ADD, dyslexic) but your son would use the regular WRS. It is fairly expensive but it is designed specifically for kids with learning disabilities who are reading well below grade level. You can buy the kit and teach it yourself or Wilson has certified tutors all over the country.
Becky
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4 lads mom
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| Posted: Feb 02 2007 at 6:49pm | IP Logged
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Janet,
I just wanted to say, good for you!!! I have a little one with some special needs...and I would have to ditto what everyone else said about letting him debrief and build his confidence with reading outloud to him, see how he does with crafts....or science experiments...or playing with math manipulatives...and having lots of fun. That isn't flakey, I would think after the awful stress this poor thing has been under, he needs some fun and peace in his heart.
God love you, Janet, for taking this on. I am sure it won't be always easy, but ask Our Lady how she wants you to homeschool him...being the perfect Mother, she'll be with you!!
4 Lads' Mom with  due in Sept and 2 in Heaven
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4Real Forums : Special Blessings
Topic: how to get started
