-=> While eating Chocolate, Desiree had this to say: <=-
Hi Bob! How's things??? :)
 DL> This will all be started soon or already has been started. I'll get
 DL> more details on tuesday when the IEP happens. Here, there is an IEP at
 DL> least 4 times a year.
 BM> Hummm....not sure how to interpret that "policy".  An IEP is a
 BM> "living" document that can be change at any time at the call of any
 BM> members of the IEP committee.  (I initiate changes to my son's IEP as
 BM> I perceive the need to arise)  Otherwise the IEP is valid as written
 BM> for one calendar year.
Yes, the IEP can be changed here whenever the need arises... which is why
there is (probably) 4 IEP's done a year rather than one. My son's behavior
can change drastically inside of one year so I don't mind the 4 meetings.
Last year there was only 2 IEP's done... I think. I'd have to check the
paperwork.
 DL> The final one is to review the year
 BM> Here's where you lost me ... to "review" the year??  Don't you get
 BM> regular reports from the school on one of the copies of the IEP
 BM> throughout the year indicating progress on IEP goals/objectives?
Actually, I get reports *everyday*... Cory as well as the other ADD/ADHD
children in the program have communication books that go back and forth
to school every day. It's quite convenient for reminders too. The books
are kept at the school until the end of the year then I get them for
my files. If Cory's behavior has been particularly difficult any particular
morning I can let the school know, and this book is read at the onset of
each day. Where most parents haven't the faintest idea what or how their
child is doing in school and have to make an appt or wait for a parent-
teacher conference, I get a daily progress report from behavior to
academics. It will be difficult not to have that luxury when my daughter
hits school.
 BM> Formal meetings throughout the year to discuss progress are an
 BM> excellent idea but not if they are only at certain set intervals.
Like I said, for a child like Cory who's behavior and progress changes so
drastically it is a good thing. The progress that my son has made are
discussed and as to why it is working and never has anyone wanted to
change that or try something else if what we are doing, and Cory, are
working. I take the opportunity to educate the staff with the information
I have gotten and talk face to face with the person I have been corres-
ponding with over the past several weeks. The aide my son has is absolutely
wonderful! Her insight with Cory and intuition has been a god-send. Fran
picked up certain 'quiks' of Cory's that the staff never picked up the
previous year... I was quite amazed to find such a gem.
 DL> and make plans for next year. Especially if there has been staff
 DL> changes. IF nothing changes for the worse I will sign... after
 DL> of course my wants are added.
 BM> Staff changes....that's always an issue and for many a hard nut to
 BM> crack when some still don't believe there is such a thing as
 BM> ADD/ADHD.  I _always_ get a copy of the school's proposals for next
Fortunately, all the staff here are educated to a point and are personally
very interested in ADD/ADHD. My main objective with them is to keep them
as educated as I am. It would only benefit my son and the other children
they come into contact with for years afterwards. Besides this all of the
behavior management techniques that they use could be applied towards
children who do not have this disorder, to some degree.
 BM> year to review BEFORE the annual IEP meeting.  That gives me an
 BM> opportunity to see where they want to go, usually to see what they
 BM> think they can get away with dropping or changing and to marshall my
 BM> arguments if necessary.  I return this copy with my own additions
Unfortunately, alot of the time the actual school is the last to find out
if there will be any staff changes. If a teacher has applied for another
position, they usually don't find out until the end of the year. This sucks
for all involved. In past experiences, the school board has changed the
aide at whim. This caused a big stink at the last school where the teacher
wasn't even told until the last minute.
When my son entered grade 2 this year the school's program only went to
first grade. The school board made concessions because these children
don't adjust well to change, and because there were 7 boys in that school's
program. In Burnaby there are only 3 schools that have the program for
ADD/ADHD children. One school is K to 1, another is 2 - 3 and 7, and the
third school is 4 - 6 (grades). I'm hoping next year that this school
adds third grade. It's a very small school with only about 400 students.
Most of the others have 600-800 elementary students.
 BM> and 'suggestions' for deletions/changes.  The actual meeting is then
 BM> usually very brief (I already know who is going to be there and we
 BM> are, for the last two years anyway, already in agreement) and non-
 BM> confrontational.
I will be asking the school board official, if she will be attending this
meeting (I had to reschedule because of the flu) what the plans are for
this coming year with this school and the aide. To some degree I do have
choices as to where I want Cory placed. This past september he was in a
new school district because of our move in the summer. I could have placed
him at the school here in the integrated classroom program, but opted not
to... I didn't see that much progress. As it turns out the very next day
the principal was arrested for child porn and a list of other offences.
The aftermath that came from this would have been very destructive to the
progress that Cory had already made. He is especially emotionally sensitive
and this kind of activity would have been detrimental to him. I know a
couple of people who have regular contact with the staff at the school
and even 6 months later the situation is still tense.
 BM> Eight more years of public school.....
Let's see... Cory will be in grade 4 when his sister hits school... I
guess I have 13. 
 DL> Cory has been place back on the clonidine. His behavior was so bad
 DL> over the past couple of weeks that the doctor figured it would be the
 DL> best thing. After one dose last night Cory woke up this morning,
 DL> didn't whine about being tired, got dressed without any reminders and
 DL> fuss, ate his breakfast, and got ready for school without any
 DL> problems. This may just be a fluke,
 BM> Probably not a fluke....
Well, I'm still not holding my breath. His behavior has been up and down
and the evenings are especially bad. 
 BM> Ask your doc about the clonidine patch ... it puts a metered dose
 BM> into the blood stream 24 hours a day.  One patch is good for a week.
Unfortuntely, yesterday I ran into a big problem with getting the meds.
The Mental Health pharmacy has gone regional (???) and are getting on
line with the system the rest of the province uses.... they are not filling
any outpatient prescriptions for the next 2 months. If I fill Cory's meds
there, I don't have to pay for them... some choice. Guess where I go??? 
Well, it seems Victoria (head office) has screwed up my son's file, ONCE
AGAIN and he is not covered 100% until I phone the children's team back
and scream very long and loud. Cory's meds cost us about $200/month...
and now that I am not working, we really can't afford to pay for mine,
let alone his. Fortunately the pharmacy I normally deal with at the
major grocery store gave me a few to tide Cory over until this mess gets
straightened out. The other difference is Cory's behavior changes from
one brand of Clonidine to the other. We have to keep him on the 0.025
dose even though he has to take 4 a day rather that 2 of the 0.1 's.
If the patch is the same brand (Dixarit) then we can change... if it is
available. Being primarily a heart medication, I may have to pay for it
since the patch may not be on the list of mental health medications.
 BM> The only "lasting" side effect we've seen in almost 2 years of use
 BM> has been a localized minor skin rash that goes away in a couple of
 BM> days after the patch has been removed (use a different site every
 BM> time) William doesn't complain of any itching.  An extra benefit is
 BM> that there are no more "pills" he has to take..
Unless they come up with a patch with alot of other meds, then Cory will
be stuck with pills. He has no problem swallowing them and has never...
yet... refused to take his medication.
 BM> ... I've been seduced by the chocolate side of the force.
Un-huh... a chocolate lover??? Probably my most favorite of foods! 
Take care,
Desiree
... All right--hand over the chocolate and no one gets hurt!!
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]
--- Maximus/2 2.01wb
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