Monday, March 26, 2007

What to do

So the director of Student Services had a meeting with the staff, and our IEP meeting, or whatever, and basically told the OT to get with our OT and us and "colloborate on a plan for Joey's sensory issue that we all feel comfortable with."

Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?

Except that the school OT doesn't do sensory stuff. The problem with teh plan we have right now is that leavin gher to implement it, when she is not skilled to do so, it ludicrous. How can I colloborate on a plan when the only problem with teh plan is qustionable personnel?

And sorry about the work we've already done. We're just screwed with that.

The only thing I can see to do is to move forward as we are... tracking down a lawyer and some educational specialists.

1 comment:

Club 166 said...

Having gone down the road of "lawyering up" in order to get what we needed, I know how frustrating this can/will be for you. It also gets expensive really fast.

Is it possible for you to pursue a "parallel track" of trying to train the OT in the school to do "sensory stuff"? I think this would be beneficial on two levels. One, it will show at a later due process hearing (should it come to that) that you made a good faith effort to work with the school and they couldn't provide the needed service. Two, you never know, it just might work!

If the school system is motivated enough, they will strongly encourage the OT to get the right training and provide the right service.

Finally, document everything in writing, and keep it in a separate 3 ring binder (or other such permanent record). If the IEP records don't show what you think happened (i.e., there are no promises recorded to get sensory OT), then send a follow up letter to the principal, teacher, and whoever is in charge for the district detailing your recollection of the conversation and the follow up action that they promised, and what date it is supposed to happen by. Document what does/does not happen, and your follow up. Paper trails count heavily.