Update on Perry's school saga..... About This Page:

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by PamelaK

I know that public schools are doing more and more training to help teachers, aides, and other school workers better understand Autism Spectrum Disorders. Unfortunately, these are often one day workshops that briefly go over many possible behaviors, possible behavioral redirections, and possible rewards for kids on the spectrum. I say "possible" because the entire day is constantly emphasized with how each child is different.

The good thing is that the schools are TRYING to make sure that those who work with students on the spectrum have some training. The bad thing is that it is such a short bit of training and the entire day seems completely rushed from one topic to another, so that by the end of the day you still don't feel as if you have a grasp of what you can do to help these kids. Attendees to the training will go home with all kinds of papers that have ideas on what can be done to help these students and maybe even some hands on things they did in the workshop. They will go home with a small inkling of what they can do to help these students get the most out of their school experience. However, for some children on the spectrum the little bit of training the educators receive is not nearly enough.

Good points, Pam.

I work in private and public schools AND my private clinic. I've also worked medically based pediatrics in a hospital. Each role is completely different, and the clinicians in each setting each have a different spin on their expertise based on the setting.

There are some excellent teachers and therapists in any setting who take those special training classes and apply it to the broad base of knowledge they already have without missing a beat. I also know of several who spend hours doing research for the one student in their class who has an issue that is new to them because they want to do a good job.

But, I'm sure that does not always happen.

[EmpressLizBunny]

i LOVE the ideia of hellboy at an iep meeting that would have been AWSOME!!!!

when i was in between elementry and middle school i was having a really hard time in school the county(one of the richest in the us and consistently has atleast 1 hs in the best in th us round up)tried to tell my mom to homeschool me the only problem with that was my parents are devoriced and my mom had to keep working
their next sugestion was to stick me in the state run residental school for juvinile delinquents(i think only 1/4 of the students were actualy sentenced ther by courts but it was a full locdown type place) wich was a great idea for a person who cant deal with lots of otherr people (please notice the words are driping with sarcasim) and whos only constants were her mother and shrink both of which would be taken away by this school

can u tell im still bitter over how they treated us(mostly my mom they tried to tell her it was all her fault so toatly not true)

stick with it and good luck!!!!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Liz, I am so sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds as if you have not had an easy road!

This is certainly an interesting discussion, but I want to throw out my opinion that, when possible, the best way to manage an IEP is for all involved to get along.

If the usual rule is that there are two sides to every story, I think there are twice as many sides to the story when we are trying to do the best thing for students.

V ery often there is no real correct placement ANYWHERE for a student's unique needs. It is just as frustrating when a good Child Study Team Member drives all over to visit multiple placements only to know that each one falls short in some way.

OK, I'll admit, I've seen some pretty bad districts over the years BUT the majority are really trying to do the best thing for the student.