Our Week in Review: More school issues - Creative Learning Fun

Whew! What a week! Things have been so crazy around here. I started classes again this week and I had a meeting with Pumpkin's school to try to get accommodations in place. I also went through volunteer orientation at a local Children's hospital this week. So it has been busy!
Pumpkin's school meeting didn't go as well as I'd hoped. They are still not providing her with any special education services. They are stating that even though she has a medical diagnosis of PDD-NOS, she does not meet the "educational definition" of Autism. The educational definition under IDEA is, ?autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age 3, that adversely affects a child?s educational performance (Safran, 2008. P. 91).? The primary difference between the educational and medical definition is that in order to be eligible under IDEA, the child?s autism must interfere with educational performance. If the child?s educational performance is not adversely affected, then the school may deny services despite there being a disability diagnosis prior to evaluation.

Pumpkin is very smart and has been able to learn successfully at home with me. Although, I argue that this is mainly due to the fact that I know how to accommodate her already. Since the school will not be providing special education accommodations, I do expect her learning to be impacted. This will take time though and they'll just have to observe it. This is why I am choosing to do half days so I can after school her. I refuse to let her backslide. So, I'll do what I can, while the school plays a guessing game about what they think she needs.

The school is however planning to give her services under section 504. Section 504 requires schools to provide a student with a documented disability a free appropriate education. Any school that accepts federal funding and operates a public school program is required to adhere to section 504 (Charter schools are included). Instead of basing these services off of the IDEA eligibility requirements, it goes off its own requirements within section 504 and the American with disabilities act. Section 504 is used to help children with disabilities that are not eligible under IDEA to have some educational supports.? ?

One thing they do seem to agree with is that Pumpkin will likely need services in the future. They think over time, the challenges she faces will increase since we expect that she has Asperger's. She cannot be diagnosed with that until she is a bit older though. So we'll see how all of this unfolds. She starts on Monday.

I just wanted to share our journey with you.. Because I know many of you have been through this or will be going through it soon. I hope my journey will help someone on theirs. Make sure to know special education law before any meetings with a school!

I am getting so nervous about the start of school. But I'm trying to think positive. Maybe all of this will work out better than I could ever have expected.

Here are some pictures from our week :)

?One minute she was awake...

?and then asleep.. :)

?Doing worksheets on the iPad.

?Swimming!!!

?Angry Birds on Momma's touch screen computer

On the way to open house at school

The tower she built at school

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful week! This week I'll be back to share all the fun we've been having in History (Story of the World, Vol. 1)! :)

~ Elizabeth

Reference:

Source: http://creativelearningfun.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-week-in-review-more-school-issues.html

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