Share

Sorry, everyone - I make a point of checking links which I site in a post to avoid mistakes.

Unfortunately, I didn't check until today, and found the link to IDEA is not www, but instead:
http://idea.ed.gov/

As a note to those who found my post to represent me as quite confrontational during IEP meetings, I would like to add this.

I began the IEP process as we all do. An open mind and grateful for the professionals who were going to help my child cope in the school environment.

Unfortunately, the "powers that be", the head of the special education department had the authority. Without naming names, a few professionals were extremely careful to support his stance which reflected budget cuts as the "bottom line".

Katie had a wonderful teacher who was quick to admit that she had no experience with autism. Her approach was to ask me, "Teach me about autism. Help me to help Katie." She used art as a means to reach Katie and Katie adored her.

Should Katie have been in her care from the beginning to end of day, the world would have been filled with rainbows. We all know that our children are faced with para-professionals with little experience and many with no interest. For every great para-professional I have met, there is an equally unqualified person. Vulnerable children in the hands of an aide such as this puts our children at great risk of abuse.

I cried throughout the meeting. I kept thinking, "They are speaking as though they know Katie. They don't know her, they don't love her. They are telling me that she should be in a "special day class" and cannot function in a mainstreamed classroom."

I felt helpless and hopeless.

I became proactive and fearless with the help of Dr. Van Antwerp. She taught me to be strong and stand my ground for Katie.

I can't say this enough. We are all in this together. No one, no matter how well-intentioned, knows what our lives are like with these children.

We are exhausted. We are tearful. We are frustrated.

We are parents and we cannot afford to lose our embrace on each other.

Cassie