Avery's IEP meeting Results!

I had Avery's IEP meeting this afternoon.  I was really nervous about it because I've heard so many horror stories about IEP's and the meetings.  I was pleasantly surprised though!  It was relatively painless and I really didn't disagree with anything they said!

Avery will be going to the "General Education" preschool at one of the local preschool programs in the public school here.  It isn't our "home school" as our home school doesn't have the resources that Avery will need.  But it's a school that is just as close as my older boys' school.

He will be going to school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:20 till 11:40am.

He will be pulled out of class 3 times a week for 30 min for one on one speech therapy.  He will also have a speech Aide in the class with him to help him during class to communicate and talk to other children.

He will get OT (occupational Therapy) once a month for an hour plus will have time during regular class time to do sensory exercises and will get ample time at the "sensory table" in class.

They will be referring him for a AAC (Augmentive Alternative Communication) device evaluation with the county to see if he can get a device that will help him communicate during class.

They will also refer him out for a feeding specialist to come out and see if he can get some feeding therapy.

I was asked if I wanted him to take the bus or if I wanted to bring him and pick him up from school.  I told them I wanted to take him and pick him up.  They said that was fine, but wrote in his IEP that he has the option of a bus.  I was told doing it that way would help if next year I decide he's doing so well and I want him to start riding the bus they won't have to hold another meeting to authorize the bus usage for him.  It won't go into effect until I say otherwise though.

He will start preschool May 3rd!!  And he will have his first field trip May 12th!

I'm really nervous about how he'll do when I drop him off, but I'm excited to start this next phase with him.  He's made amazing progress with the private speech therapy he's been getting and I can't wait to see what progress is made while he's in preschool.

They said the first month or two will be a lot of trial and error to see what works with Avery and what doesn't work.  It will also be possible his IEP may change should they see things after he starts preschool that they need to add to his IEP or anything.  I completely agree to that.  I think they really aren't going to know what to do or what works with Avery until he's going to the school and they are spending time and seeing how he acts and responds to things.

So I really think it went well.  I do need to email one of them (not sure whether I should email the teacher, or the special education director) because I want to ask if during the summer he'll be getting any therapy through the county, and also I want to ask again about them working with his private speech therapist because I don't see it written in the IEP about the private speech therapist.

I did ask if when Avery gets into Kindergarten if he'd be able to go to our "home school" with his brothers.  I told them "I know this is a few years down the road, but I just want to ask."  I was told it will really all depend on his IEP at the time.  If he still needs the kind of speech help he needs now then no he wouldn't be able to go to our home school because our home school isn't equipped to handle his problems.  If he needs other services besides speech he would also have to stay at this other school.  If he just needs to be pulled out for speech therapy but everything else is ok (meaning he doesn't need the extra help of an Aide or anything) then he will be able to attend our home school.

Just good to know for informational purposes :)

If you're from Friday Follow, welcome!!  Get yourself a cup of coffee and catch up!  Glad you're here :)