Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Offer (for now) from LAUSD

Well......we had our evaluation with LAUSD last weekend. They knew we wanted E to continue services and not wait until Sept so they graciously rushed our IEP (Individual Education Plan) appointment to yesterday.
We sat there for over 2 hours while all the therapists read their reports (like many times before). They said how special Emmie is and how she does show great potential.
And then the offers.....(the lawyers in the advocacy group Adam went to through Regional Center told us NOT to sign the IEP offer right away as they usually try to give you the least possible to save money).
OPTION 1
Emmie qualifies for 2.5 hrs of services per day at the special needs preschool. Not individual therapy...she would be in a classroom of 12 other kids (at different special needs levels) and they would not be working with her one on one. The teachers in the class basically show the kids how to function in a school setting. She would have to keep her regular preschool full time and we would have to pick her up and drop her off at the other school for 2.5 hours everyday and then take her back to her regular preschool. WHAT? Are you nuts? Great if we had all the time in the world to not work and drive all over the city. OR we also have the option of E being transported by a city worker on a bus. I DON'T THINK SO. For a kid who likes stability and thrives on a schedule we don't feel like uprooting her everyday to be with a different driver, different teacher and different kids is a great option. Not going to work for us....
OPTION 2
We can have a therapist come into her regular school for 1 hour A MONTH and show the teachers what to do to help Emmie. This doesn't seem like a lot but if we're going to have to help E on our own this might be the best option. That way she can be comfortable with the same teacher and kids.
Adam and I are torn by what to do.
Physically she seems to consistently be a year behind (BUT SHES SUCH A SMART GIRL)...so do we keep her in a regular school but maybe a year back if the older kids pose a safety risk with being so much physically quicker and physical?
We're going to have to continue to work on therapy with Emmie at home and have  found a great website that has some of the things she used in therapy:
www.sensoryedge.com
A little annoying that the prices are so high as they know people need these things but whatever.
Thank goodness I have a crafty husband!! He's already been talking about the things he wants to build for E to practice on (balance beam...stairs...etc).
I found a Polymicrogyria Group on Facebook and there are local LA parents that want to get together. I'm really excited to meet other parents and share experiences. Polymicrogyria Group Facebook

 

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