IEP Numero Dos

Yesterday we had our second ever IEP for Caleb (for those of you who aren't aware, IEPs are an annual thing and since our first one was last year, it was time for our second one). I was honestly not at all nervous for this one, quite a stark contrast from last year! I was actually looking forward to it (not to mention I used my mother-in-law's recipe and brought blonde brownies *they're KILLER*). Might as well sweeten up the process (thanks for the tip, Dad)! I had met with Caleb's teacher last week to go over our concerns as to where Caleb is developmentally and where we hope to see him in the future, so I was prepared for all of her recommendations.  OH and since TJ couldn't make this IEP I thought it'd be nice to bring my dad along for the ride; he's been a special ed teacher for a number of years and I was glad to have him there not only to advocate for Caleb, but to support me as well, and he made sure my team was on top of their game with all of their T crossing and I dotting.

Caleb's teacher began by going over his Pre Kindergarten Assessment, which is academic.  She said in all her years of teaching (both special & gen ed) she had never had a student score so high...!!!  He only missed TWO points: one because he doesn't have the right grasp for his pencil (even though how he holds it is functional, and he can correct it when asked) and one because when he was asked to count to 30, he stopped at 29.  HAHA!  I can't tell you how happy I was to hear that, and how proud TJ was when I told him over FaceTime (beautiful moment). 

Now, after all of that celebrating over his academics, there are a lot of things we still need to work on.  His Kindergarted Survival Skills Checklist was less than stellar.  He needs improvement on independent work skills, focusing, play skills, and coping skills.  If you know Caleb, you know these are not surprises!  He has to be constantly reminded to stay on task and he needs numerous verbal prompts to completion.  He's Autistic so DUH: play skills are a huge obstacle.  And he has a hard time regrouping when something upsets him...he just cries.  And cries. 

He successfully completed all but two of his goals from last year's IEP (including speech goals) and those two have been rewritten and five more have been added...and three new speech goals...totalling TEN GOALS.  That's a lot, people.  It's a lot, but he's doing so well and I have so much faith and hope that he will make progress!  I won't go into each and every goal on this blog (even I wouldn't want to read all of that), but the main themes (other than speech) are that he needs a LOT of verbal prompting from the teacher/aides in regards to staying on task, he gets SO upset at loud noises/screaming that it incapacitates him, and he has no interest in joining in and playing with his peers.  Oh and personal space.  I'm actually kindof celebrating that he has a goal written regarding personal space because this time last year, he wasn't at ALL near his peers...and now he has a few friends he "likes" and thinks are "funny", so he gets too close (hee hee, silly Autism). 

So what does the future hold?  In the fall he will be starting Kindergarten at our home school where they have what's called the Explorer program for children with high functioning Autism...because honestly in a gen ed classroom of 30 kids and one teacher, he would be totally lost...and frankly a gen ed teacher would not have the time/resources to attend to his needs at this point in his development.  He'll be integrated with typical peers for computers, library, art, recess, and eventually some academics.  The purpose is to have him need less verbal prompting and more independence, and to encourage and facilitate more peer interaction.  The class teaches the same curriculum and is taught at the same pace as gen ed, so I'm confident with it.  He will also have speech twice a week, all in group and none individualy (which concerns me a wee bit...I may need to stew this one). 

And that's that!

I'll leave you all with the verse that was my JAM yesterday...

What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31