Help! IEP scheduled--he's fourteen, and...

[BusynMember]

this is the year we not only plan for high school, but begin an adult transitional plan. Any suggestions on what I should bring up? I am really in the dark about this. He's still going to be labeled Special Education (and should be) with Autism as his main label. Thanks, if anyone answers or can help.

 

[slsh]

MWM, just from experience and not going by IDEA to the "tee", the transition plan should identify what your son wants in terms of post high school (living situation, job situation), what skills he needs (budgeting, cooking, etc.), what supports he might need (independent living, supported living, supervised living, and ditto job), what agencies will/might be involved post HS (here in IL I think the agencies are actuallly supposed to, like, show up at IEP mtgs but pigs will fly before that happens here and I believe the new IDEA relieves districts of insuring that happens if they "try"), and who will be responsible to insure he gets the post HS skills he needs. The new IDEA is more strongly worded (if you have a compliant state) in that the transition goals must be "results oriented" or something along those lines. I think in practice it gives parents a leg up if the kid will need education beyond age 18. I seem to also recall that with Boo, the transition specialist did an inventory of hobbies, likes, recreational/social wants, etc.

Because of Boo's severe involvement (needing 1:1 24/7 care) and because I know that I literally will have to die before Boo gets any services in IL, I blow off his transition plan. We'll make our own arrangements for programming post HS. With thank you, it's a moot point because he's beyond uncooperative.

If you've got a district that offers life skills programming or other options (voc. ed. for example), I think it's a useful tool. This also might be the prime time for you to lay the groundwork for a voc. ed. evaluation if you're not sure what your son can or might be able to do or how independently. Boo had a simply bang up evaluation, after much SD kvetching, at a local rehab hospital.

I do know of a parent here in IL who has a son who was in Residential Treatment Center (RTC) for years, returned home, and somehow Dad (who is one heck of a warrior parent) got the SD to pay for vocational school after age 18 based on IEP and transition plan goals. Pretty phenomenal.

Good luck - I hope it's a good process for you and your son.

 

[Martie]

The Dad is a warrior for sure. IDEA provides for education for qualified children up to age 22 BUT the only types of kids who ever stay in school this long are severely disabled, usually both cognitively and physically. IF a student has not "graduated" with his class, then the SD IS on the hook for voc ed/training if that is what the student needs to become more self supporting.

I have been analyzing the Adult Outcome data for three weeks, and transitional plans are AWFUL and the outcomes are really poor, especially when you consider that this sample of kids overwhelmingly has normal intellectual potential or above.

I will post the findings after the conference.

So what the warrior dad got is well within the law, but it is not common.

Best,

Martie

 

[BusynMember]

Thanks, both of you. Guess we'll have to get our armors and shields and fight. I think Wisconsin is pretty good, at least around here, but I'm not sure. As for Tech Ed, if we want Lucas to go (and we aren't sure it will help him--we aren't sure he can do a regular job without coaching & assistance) then our low income pays his way anyhow. We didn't pay to pay for our daughter. It was a scholarship due to finances.
I'm going to stress life and social skills and looking around for a possible alternative living situation for him. We are older parents and can't live forever. I don't want him to be so used to living with us that he falls apart when we're gone. I'd also like him to work half the day when he is able. That will help him a lot more than calculus. I want him to get used to what it's like to have a job. I don't want this child to grow up and live off disability, never feeling useful. He is certainly capable of some sort of work situation and will likely really enjoy working, even at a redundant job. Being on the autism spectrum is going to help him get adult services. He is Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)-not otherwise specified and classified as "Autism" in school so they can't say that Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)-not otherwise specified isn't autism.
We have a good group home, assisted living program AND a sheltered workshop all in our area. Whether he works at the sheltered workshop or gets a career (like auto mechanics--my hub is one) and gets an outside job, he will need special placement and help and a caseworker. Thanks for the heads up. We go to school on Feb. 6th.

 

[Crista]

If you have a good Special Education program the Adult Transitional Plan shouldn't be anything to worry about. I don't know WI's Special Education guide lines, but if your son is Autistic this should help you both outline a plan for the future. You don't want him to completly dependent, you want him to be as successful as he is able to be. Make these points known. You both are now an major part of the IEP team. The proffessionals (teacher, Sp. Ed teacher, ect..) should be there to help let you know what the options are that are available to your son. I don't know the severity of his Autism, but there are many programs available that will allow him to work out in public with a job coach or an aid. I will try to look up some web sites on the Autism web sites for you. Good luck with your meeting. I wish the best for your family!

 

[BusynMember]

He has very high functioning autism, BUT he still has it. That means he'll likely need some sort of assisted help as an adult...but he also will need a degree of independence. He is capable of that.

 

[Crista]

If he is high functioning and only 14, then there is a lot of different options that are available, at least in the state I live in. I have a friend that has a High-Functioning Autism (HFA) son who just graduated high school last May. He is now attending a Junior College. I will see if I can get her to post a response or somehow get you two in-touch with each other. Let me do some research on what type of services WI offers so that when you have your sons meeting you both are armed wih an idea of what is available and what you both are happy with.