Wednesday, February 8, 2012

IEP Day



Today is Maggie's IEP  or Individual Education Plan meeting. It's an annual review of where a special education student stands and what the goals and objectives are for the next year. The meeting culminates in the written IEP, basically a contract on how a student's education plan will go for the next year. If done correctly, it is a helpful document for student, parents and educators alike.

 For some parents these meetings are a battle to get the items they want in the written plan. There is strategic maneuvering and planning beforehand and precision execution on the day of the meeting. This is necessitated when parents want more than the school district is willing to provide - sometimes because school districts are not doing what they are supposed to do and sometimes because parents are overreaching. Either way, it can be upsetting and difficult for all parties.

Maggie's IEP' have never been like that. Perhaps because her needs are so extreme, everyone is on the same page regarding Maggie's needs and abilities. It is a long meeting, usually about two hours, where all the different people who work with Maggie give their reports of her strengths and weaknesses. I am grateful and happy that all these professionals spend time with her and work together to help her achieve all she does. There are no surprises at the meeting because I keep myself in the loop all year long. I don't have any new issues to bring up and do not expect any major changes to her program. I expect this will be the all the other IEP meetings she has had, congenial and helpful.

Despite the love fest that Maggie's IEPs tend to be, they are difficult on me. Another year has gone by and though she improves educationally every year, she is in a different world and it is never more apparent than at these meetings.  We are measuring her but we are not using any measurement that is applicable in the normal world.

She is who she is and that's fine with me, but this is one of the few times I actually sit and think about other kids her age.  I sit there for two hours and listen to how wonderful my daughter is and I'm proud and happy; but while we focus on her accomplishments, I can't help but think about what she cannot accomplish. Most 18 year old students are not praised for their ability to make appropriate 4 word sentences on their communication device.

 Is it impressive? Hell yeah!

Does it hurt just a little? Definitely.







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6 comments:

  1. Sending hugs to you. I know exactly how you feel.

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  2. Unfortunalty I dont know how you feel.... but I feel for YOU:)

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  3. Very poignant Sally. Your writing opens up a whole world to me that I was unfamiliar with and am grateful to know more about through you and Maggie. I never was the type to take anything for granted but you and Maggie give me deeper appreciation for what matters, most importantly, love. Best wishes. xo Nancy

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  4. As a longtime fan of the author of MaggieWorld, I must exclaim again how helpful and informative this blog is.

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  5. Hola MaggieWorld
    I am a Retired SPED teacher from Mass living in Mexico and volunteering on the Board with a school in Jacotopec: http://schoolforspecialneedschildren.org/ I've been asked to design a logo and the hands on your blog here are universal. I am wondering if I can use the image. This is my first visit and I will be back.

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  6. I just snagged it off the web, so it's not mine to give. It is a good one, though. I will check out your site.

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Hi Maggie loves your comments. It may take a while for the comment to post, but you will see it eventually.