[blindkid] IEP goal/objective help needed

[Richard Holloway]

Your situation sounds very frustrating and complicated. I'm sure we' d  
all agree it is safe to assume that the doctor's measurements are  
generally going to be much more accurate than what a school can come  
up with, especially with the wide variety of different situations  
where low vision is concerned. The school /  team should also realize  
this--

Every case is so different that you probably really do need an IEP  
team to figure out all of the particulars-- I think I'd want to  
consult with all the team again to try and find a new direction, but  
also to make a point of focusing the vision services and any O & M  
discussions  (especially for this next meeting) on what your child's  
vision actually is as compared to what was previously (and apparently  
erroneously) determined to be. If possible, focus more on what you  
have to work with as opposed to the previous error.

My best guess is that with her vision being what it apparently is,  
you're going to want to focus a lot more on nonvisual techniques in a  
lot of cases, and the good news about that approach is it no longer  
matters for the purposes of IEP's how much vision may or may not be  
available. I'm not discounting her residual vision at all, but I  
cannot imagine getting productive results with print reading in such a  
situation and her history would seem to support that assumption so far.

You may get some great suggestions from others with similar situations  
here on this listserv but you're going to have the best results if you  
can get your team to recommend as many of the probable changes as  
possible, then you can follow up with any remaining "missing"  
suggestions as you can.

The other really important thing to remember since there is a history  
of concerns and this seems to be sort of last minute as far as the new  
information-- you don't have to sign the IEP if things can't be  
straightened this time around, and even if you do decide it is  
appropriate to sign, you can call for a fresh IEP again whenever you  
feel it is needed.

I wish you al the best of luck in improving your situation.

Richard



On Dec 17, 2009, at 8:56 PM, Jami Cole wrote:

> I would like to take a minute of your time to introduce my daughter,  
> Calli
> very specifically and then ask for your input and help.  We have an  
> IEP
> meeting next Monday, Dec. 21st to address, for the first time, our
> daughter's vision needs. What I specifically need is input on
> goals/objectives.  What services should Calli receive and what  
> amount of
> time per week she should be serviced?  Are there any tools or  
> technology
> that Calli should be provided?
>
>
>
> Calli suffered an anoxic event during birth. She is now 11 years old  
> and
> we've just found out how extensive her vision loss is.  She's had an  
> IEP for
> her other needs since she was an infant.
>
> -          She has choreoathetoid cerebral palsy.  She is able to bear
> weight and walk and ride an adapted bike when assisted with complete  
> upper
> body support.  She rolls but doesn't sit or crawl.  She is in a manual
> wheelchair with a head/neck support system.  Her fine motor skills are
> extremely challenged as she cannot hold anything independently or  
> isolate a
> digit for pointing.  We feel her developmental age is around 5.
>
> -          She lacks a sufficient swallow reflex and is 100% gtube  
> fed.  She
> is non-verbal except for a voiced "yes" response.  She turns her  
> head for
> "no".  She has a DynaVox 4 which with voiced prompts she accesses  
> with 2
> switches.  A switch recessed into her lap tray is her scanning  
> switch and
> one mounted on her head rest is her select switch.  She has had a  
> different
> SLP at school every year since she started using the device.  She  
> was the
> first student in our rural district with a device so the learning  
> curve has
> been very steep for her educational team.  The school is very  
> resistant to
> her using the DV4 for anything but "recreational" time.  We'd like her
> educated.  Based on her responses to conversations, we feel her  
> receptive
> communication is in the early elementary age range.  She enjoys  
> being read
> Junie B Jones books and laughs appropriately.
>
> -          Her medical needs have included multiple respiratory  
> problems and
> 2 seizure episodes.  She requires frequent suctioning, oxygen  
> monitoring,
> TID nebs and pulmonary Vest treatments.  Her doctor decided it was  
> best for
> her to remain homebound this year until at least May.
>
> -          Lastly we have always known Calli has CVI.  If anything,  
> we felt
> her vision had improved following hyperbaric oxygen treatments in  
> 2005 and
> 2006.  We have been led to believe based on the school's vision  
> consultants
> testing that her vision was 20/190 with strengths in certain visual  
> fields.
> Her IEP has included presenting her with letters/symbols at that  
> size using
> partner assisted scanning.  She has shown no identifiable successes  
> with
> these goals for over 2 years.  We now know why.  Her MD  
> ophthalmologist had
> never given us a specific measurement until this fall when I told  
> her the
> school's measurement.  She was appalled and told us her vision was  
> assessed
> that day at 20/2400 and even if she was having her worst vision day  
> ever,
> she still would never be anywhere near the 20/190 level.
>
>
>
> We need help as this vision area has been completely unaddressed for  
> 11
> years.  We have been advocating for increased use of her DV4 for  
> over 2
> years with minimal success.  We are pleased to finally be getting  
> home bound
> services where we can try and approach staff with a positive  
> attitude and
> show them Calli's abilities with her device.  We have no intention  
> of her
> returning to school as it has become a hostile environment towards  
> her and
> our trust level has been severely eroded.  Currently her IEP  
> provides 15
> minutes/month of indirect vision services.  I have seen her vision
> consultant at only 2 IEP's in over 6 years.  What should we ask for  
> in terms
> of direct vision services?  What goals/objectives would be  
> appropriate for
> her?  I've heard that she should be assessed for Braille.  I could  
> only
> imagine this skill to be possible with hand over hand assistance.  Has
> anyone ever heard of success in this area without more fine motor  
> control?
>
>
>
> Any direction that you all could provide prior to next Monday's IEP  
> meeting
> would be a great help.  We have no ideas for goals/objectives, besides
> pushing utilization of her DV4.  We are sure there is technology  
> that could
> be added to her home PC to read to her.  Whether or not the school  
> should or
> can provide technology, we are committed to providing for her with  
> little
> consideration of cost alone being a deterrent.  This may be a separate
> question, but any leads on accessibility and technology would be  
> greatly
> appreciated.
>
>
>
> With much respect for your time,
>
> Jami Cole
>
>
>
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