[blindkid] Rough Draft IEP

Fri Oct 30 17:57:41 UTC 2009

Eric,

We have done much of what you mention as well. I agree that it is  
extremely helpful for others involved in the IEP to have a clear  
impression of not only parental expectations but to know that the  
parents are very actively involved with the kids education.

We typically go all around the table and relate details about progress  
and expectations in considerable detail but have not tried the photo  
approach. I like that approach and goodness knows we have plenty of  
photos to choose from... We will give that some serious thought--  
great idea!

Richard

On Oct 30, 2009, at 2:39 AM, DrV wrote:

> A few more thoughts.
>
> My experience has been that "case managers" come & go after a year  
> or 2 or 3. They are usually just Special Ed trained & few truly have  
> experience or understand blindness issues.
>
> Those that have blindness/VI experience, often have misperceptions.
>
> I think that the functionally the true "case manager" role is  
> fulfilled by the parents.
>
> Everyone has their own approach to IEPs.
>
> We always ask for proposed goals ahead of time, try to meet & speak  
> with each of the service providers ahead of time to get of sense of  
> where they are coming from, & when our kids were younger, both of us  
> would take time to go in & observe each class or specific service  
> (ie O&M, OT, PT) a week or so before the IEP meeting. That allowed  
> us to informally touch bases, showed our interest & allowed us to  
> speak from experience.
>
> We still prepare a formal handout of "parent comments & concerns"  
> for each IEP Meeting where we list out our short & long-term goals,  
> any ongoing medical issues, outside activities, issues in each  
> subject or service area, any specific goals we want worked on. We  
> include a picture on the first page & the last few pages are  
> pictures of our son doing various activities. The pictures make it  
> real & I think tap into the emotional bonding sense you want to  
> create in the IEP team, & also importantly show what we the parents/ 
> family unit are doing. We pick pictures in which they are happily  
> enjoying the activities & choose ones that show them doing both  
> everyday normal things & things that challenge their perceptions of  
> what our child is capable of doing if the appropriate high  
> expectation is there. We have found that the pictures serve as great  
> ice-breakers & spur pre-meeting conversation that changes the mood  
> in a good positive cooperative way. Everyone looks forward to the  
> pictures at this point.
>
> We insist that our handout be included & numbered as part of the  
> formal IEP meeting documents. Each handout finishes with the phrase  
> "Please record in the IEP Team Meeting Comments section that this  
> 'X' page parent-provided Parent Comments & Concerns Document is to  
> be included in its entirety as part of the official numbered IEP  
> meeting document."
>
> I follow this up by emailing a PDF of the entire handout so that it  
> can be uploaded into the electronic IEP system.
>
> The following year's teachers may look at the file. I think the  
> pictures draw them in & help remove some of the potential anxiety  
> because they immediately see an image of a happy kid excitedly doing  
> normal or even challenging activities. This already challenges  
> preconceptions of what a blind child is capable of before the  
> teacher starts to work with out kids.
>
> Again, just a few thoughts.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Eric V
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mark feliz" <felizfamily5 at msn.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org 
> >
> Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 19:22
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Rough Draft IEP
>
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> First of all your child's case manager and you should be in  
>> constant contact so that you know what will be written prior to the  
>> meeting. Secondly, after I discuss with the parent I write a  
>> "draft" IEP. The team will review the "draft" IEP. during the  
>> meeting. Any team agreed upon modifications/changes can be made  
>> after the meeting and sent home.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "L" <lburns24 at yahoo.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:45 PM
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"  
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Rough Draft IEP
>>
>>> Absolutely you can!
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPod
>>>
>>> On Oct 29, 2009, at 8:30 PM, vicki magee <maxi93bradon at yahoo.com>  
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Can you ask to look at the rough draft  IEP prior to the final  
>>> meeting, to see what the school district is proposing.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>
>
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