It’s Time for the IEP (if we could just find a time)
We’re still going back and forth with Charlie’s case manager about a time for his IEP and annual review—-the district seems to want to have students’ meeting by the end of April (although it is possible for any member of the Child Study Team (CST) to call an IEP when that member wishes to; I understand there is a need for districts to get the meetings done to plan ahead for personnel and other administrative reasons). There are some dates and times that Jim and I just cannot make a meeting as (1) we both have classes to teach ourselves; (2) where we both work—-Manhattan for Jim and Jersey City for me—is nowhere near where we live. At first it was proposed that Jim “attend” the meeting via a conference call but there’s nothing like face-to-face interactions. And what’s more important than Charlie’s education and school programs for the next year?
I went to visit Charlie in his class today: He’s talking (and singing—-a student sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” over the loudspeaker and he sang the whole thing back, perfectly); using a calculator to add double-digit numbers; plugging away at reading sight words; typing single words on the computer; tolerating other students getting upset (especially crying at a high-pitch); doing yoga and imitating the PE teacher with a few reminders; using a knife to cut his food (a skill we have worked on and abandoned more than a few times over the past several years).
For some reason that we’re all still trying to figure out, Charlie has been getting extremely drowsy around 10am and falling asleep no matter what he is doing. I was in his classroom today from 9.30-10.30am and—while Charlie was his usual lively self at first—-sure enough, by 10am he was yawning and struggling to hold his head up. We’ve talked about how the medications (Risperdal in particular) might be making Charlie sleepy. He takes most of his medicine first thing in the morning and a smaller dose in the afternoon; the pediatric neurologist has felt this is the best schedule for the medication to help him. Further, this is Charlie’s first week back to school after Spring Break, when he slept in most days.
And, as Jim has been emphasizing, Charlie is a boy aged 10 to 11. Charlie has already started puberty and seems to get taller, and his arms and legs longer and his feet bigger, oh, every few weeks or so (I kid you not). Jim recalls being 10 and 11 himself and struggling to stay awake at school in the mornings, and his mind being at its most active and creative at night—-and we see the same sorts of patterns in Charlie. Jim also remembers getting yelled at and literally shaken at school as he struggled to stay awake—-needless to say, Charlie’s teachers have a completely different approach.
All the more reason that Jim needs to be present at the IEP—-there’s just some things a dad knows about his boy and about being a boy. Every other member of Charlie’s CST is female. And I’m looking forward to some good conversation and learning about Charlie’s next school year which involves a big change, middle school—-it’s a not-be-missed discussion.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, Education, idea, iep, Parenting, pdd-nos, school, special educationRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Adolescence, Charlisms, Education, Family, Gender, Parenting, Sleep
8 opinions for It’s Time for the IEP (if we could just find a time)
Linda
Mar 27, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Definitely both parents at the IEP. A mutually agreeable time will be arranged.
Growing pains in boys are a fact as are fatigue, appetite, joint aches to name just a few. Our youngest boy fell several time out of nowhere, like a colt with legs splayed at age 11. At the second visit with an orthopedist the doctor told us further appointments were not needed. “He is a tall boy and growing taller and that can cause pain, growing pains!” Our pediatrician told us the same.
That boy was 6′2″ at age 15 rail thin and wore size 14 shoes and could he eat!
Kristina Chew, PhD
Mar 27, 2008 at 7:56 pm
That’s it—-Charlie just keeps growing. And growing and growing! We have to keep getting new pants and socks in particular.
Casdok
Mar 28, 2008 at 3:59 am
Good luck with the meeting - when you have it!!
Daisy
Mar 28, 2008 at 10:20 am
Definitely both parents should attend the IEP. There are facts you know and facts Jim knows, and all are important. And with two of you there, you’re less likely to miss details of the conversation.
ange
Mar 28, 2008 at 12:22 pm
dads need to be there. My husband doesn’t say much, but when he speaks up, it is with the common sense that seems to be lacking in the discussion. For example we were all discussin whether Bubba should be on the reg bus or stay on the sped bus… hubby listened for awhile and then said, “why don’t we see what [bubba] wants?” And that’s what we did.
Marla
Mar 28, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Joe went to some of the IEP meetings. If he was unable to go I usually had my sister go wtih me. It helped when I was at a loss for words. Or many times certain things sound better coming out of someones mouth other than the mothers.
M also has sleepy time issues. When she was in school it was very difficult. The school was not very open to allowing her to rest. Or they would question me about over medicating her which never left me feeling like a very good mother even though I knew I was not over medicating her. She has always struggled with sleeping through the night and that often came out during the day.
Would it be possible to try cutting back the Risperdal dose a tad in the morning and see if that helps? If that is the med you think may be making him sleepy? I know for M she would reach a point where a certain medication either was not working as well anymore or it needed to be tweaked in order to work right.
You raise a good point about his age too. M is growing like crazy and I notice that has affected her in many ways.
Good luck with scheduling the IEP.
Eleanor
Mar 28, 2008 at 2:04 pm
We both always go to all IEP meetings. I can’t imagine trying to do it alone, actually…
As to the sleepiness in the late morning, have you considered a small dose of caffeine? My son’s doctor actually suggested that a very small glass of diet coke might not be a bad idea for him, under certain circumstances. Maybe Charlie is going to grow up into one of those morning-coffee kind of people!
Kristina Chew, PhD
Mar 28, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I did think of caffeine—–I need it, that’s for sure. Hmmmmm…..
The case manager came up with a new time, in early May.
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