IEPs and Progress Reports

I forgot to tell you about the last IEP meeting!

I was not looking forward to that one. I was angry, because they were telling me a lot of garbage about how what they were doing was not restraint, and how restraint is not listed as a last resort in his IEP. (It most certainly is!)

I had contacted the special ed supervisor for the school, and asked her if my only options were to get my lawyer involved, or to go to the state board of ed to file a complaint. I also asked her what she would do, if she were in my shoes. How would she react to having her child restrained so often and so traumatically? How would she feel if she were repeatedly being told that her child was not being restrained, he was just being held down by up to five adults in a "calming chair?" And he was not being restrained, removed and secluded - he was being "transported"? How would she feel if she showed up to pick up her chid, knowing that he was being restrained, and then being uable to access your child because that restraint was being done behind LOCKED doors? I asked her a lot of questions like that, but the only response I got was that she would attend the next IEP meeting. I was not optimistic.

However, when I got to the meeting, they told me all kinds of good news (for a change!). They said that they are now using his "wellness chart," and using it consistently and often. They are not only getting good results, but they are amazed with how well it is working! YAHOO! I've been upset that they wouldn't use it, because I had hoped it would help teach Nathan when he is getting upset (self-awareness), and what to do when he feels that way. The idea was to de-escalate him before he gets out of control. I believed it would greatly reduce the frequency and the severity of his meltdowns, if they would only use it. And now they are! Thank God. And it seems to be working quite well.

They told me that Nathan has made a lot of improvement since the beginning of the year. That's news to me. I knew his grades were better than last year, but I don't really hear a lot of good things at these meetings.

Anyway, the IEP went well. And since then, Nathan has gotten very good reports about how he is doing in school. He is happier. The teacher seems happier. And I'm happier. Finally, they seem to be following the IEP. He has not been restrained in a long time.

His report card was very good! It was just the progress report, not the official report card. This is about mid-way through the semester. But nothing was "unsatisfactory." Phew! And most things were "excellent progress"! I'm so proud of him!

I know the school really hasn't changed their minds about restraint, and intend to use it just as they did before. But as long as they are helping Nathan to avoid restraint, and teaching him self awareness and self de-escalation, then I guess that is at least better than it was. He only has a year and a half left at this school, so I'm hoping we can keep him there if possible, but I am also ready to yank him right out if the garbage continues (and involve the lawyer).

I am also hoping we don't have to pull him away from his only real friend, who is in his class.

I have another IEP coming up. They are once a month now. And I am planning on bringing my tape recorder this time, just in case. I surely don't trust their note-taking.