Revisions...

We had the revised ARD (IEP) at Zach's school today. We have had several issues arise that have caused us to be concerned that the last ARD was just not going to work for Zach and for continuation of his progress. Most parents probably would feel like having a label taken off your child is a wonderful moment, but reality is they didn't say he was cured, they simply said they didn't see that it was affecting him at school. We however do. We went back in today minus our advocate...she bailed. I was upset and scared that they would fight us on a lot of things.

First priority we wanted his diagnosis to be changed back to Autism being the criteria for which he is a child with special needs. They had limited it to speech, which as we all know is only a small part of this overall picture. We had compiled lots of information about things that have occurred since school has begun. We asked for the teacher to bring data about the number of times he is being redirected in the classroom and the speech therapist brought her own as well. The teacher hadn't given us the information before, but did have it available and the results were very evident. In a certain amount of time (not for sure if it was an afternoon or hour, really forgot that part), Zach was redirected 6 times individually. The class as a whole (which in turn includes Zach) was redirected 6 times and there were 11 other redirect ions to other students. So in total he had 12...that is a lot. The committee was in agreement that was more than average even though the teacher wouldn't say that specifically. We also discussed the day of the sub...oh that day was awful. We discussed in detail how devastated he was after that day and that there needs to be a plan in place to help him and the sub know what steps to take to accommodate him. He does still struggle with changes, and this is an example of that. The speech pathologist pointed out that Zach sits up front in class and at circle time..helps him be in front of the class, less distractions between him and Mrs. Key and also keeps him closer to her for her to redirect him better. An accommodation that is taking place, but not being noted. Not that I blame the teacher, in fact I think she is a great teacher. I just think she didn't realize how much she was already doing to help him. The changes she was making to address his needs were great, but without them being accounted for in his ARD no one knows and thinks he is fine. Able to function just the same as his peers.

We discussed his social skills and needs for those to be addressed and worked on in more depth. He also will have a behavior intervention plan or BIP in place. To help on days that he is super fidgety or even spacey...ideas to help him if he needs Stem time.

Overall we asked for a lot of changes, but they all had to start with the change in Autism being his criteria for special ed and they changed it. The rest was all asked for and agreed to with no argument. His ABA therapist that we have privately will even be allowed to go into the school and work with him.

I can't tell you what a relief this is for us. I have been so scared about this meeting and once the advocate backed out I thought we were done. We did bring them muffins again, but also placed a tape recorder on the table...amazing how much more amenable people can be when they are being taped. I am excited to see these changes start to take place and hopefully they will be helpful to him and the school. He will stay in the gen ed classroom (least restrictive environment), he will get special ed inclusion support. Meaning a special ed teacher will be in charge of monitoring him and his needs. I am thrilled with that. She is a super nice lady and will be observing him regularly and working with him and his teacher on ways to address his biggest issues in class.

So overall it went wonderfully. The changes made will make it easier for Zachary to succeed in school, but also for us to obtain private services (like his OT and speech), for him to transition into other grades without so many huge issues. It is a legal document too, so they have to follow it and that makes us feel so much better.

Brandon and I really feel good about how things went. I am so thankful for the support, prayers and well wishes that everyone sent us. Zachary is an amazing little boy and he has done so much work to be successful. I am so honored to be his mom and to be able to go to a meeting like this and share his story and fight for his rights. I don't know where Zachary will be when he is 18...I don't know what the future holds for him. But, I do know that no matter what happens I will be there with him. I will support and love him no matter what his future holds. Right now I just want to make sure that the future he has is based on what he chooses. I don't want him to ever be told he can't do something or not be given the tools to reach his potential. I have seen what this boy can do in the 2 and a half years since his diagnosis. He is amazing in every sense of the word.

So we made revisions and hope for good, positive and successful changes.