NOAH AOC

My son Nathan has OCA 1B and is starting Kindergarten in 2 weeks at a private school.  I have called a nymber of times of the summer to try to set up a meeting to get his IEP in place.  It doesn't look like I will get that done b/4 school starts but anyway..   My questions are. what should I have included in his IEP??  What about his need to wear a hat or sunscreen etc?  It is all new to me, so I am a little nervous that I will go to the meeting (whenever it happens) and something will be forgotten or left off.  Please any advise/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also any expereibces with dealing with a private school and getting services would also be appreciated!!

Thanks!

Jennie

mom to Nathan and KK (OCA1B) and also Landon and Lanie

Our daughter will also be starting kindergarten at a private school in September.  I met with the Director of Special Services at the school before enrolling her in the spring to be sure that they would be able to meet her needs.  I had an IEP done previously since she's received services for years so I just passed that along to her new school along with doctor's reports, evaluations, info from NOAH, etc.  The new school does link up with our county's special services commission who is supposed to meet to discuss what services she'll need sometime over the next few weeks.  Her IEP requires her to get OT and also consultation with our state's Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired so we're hopeful that that will continue.  On her registration forms, we did note that she needs sunscreen and her hat and included a note from the doctor stating this that we attached to her medical forms.  I don't think it's written into her IEP though.  I figured the doctor's note should be enough.

Does your son's school have a coordinator of special services?  Usually those folks work through the summer.  Did you have an opportunity to meet with them before enrolling him to be sure that they can meet his needs?
 

Hi Jennie,

I am a public school teacher and the mother of two children with albinism.  First of all, if you happen to forget anything on the IEP you can have it added at any time.  You may have to have another meeting.  Also, if private school teachers are like most public school teachers, they will be glad for any suggestions you give at any time, and will implement them.  One thing to remember is that as hard as teachers try to remember each situation of all the children, things will occasionally be forgotten.  You will probably have to remind the teacher of certain things and keep in touch.  I don't believe most teachers intentionally forget.  I have experienced this with my own two children, both of which attended the school where I teach.  It can get somewhat frustrating, but we have to keep reminding.

You will be talking about classroom accomodations that need to be made for Nathan.  Things like preferential seating, low vision tools, extra time to complete tasks, freedom to look at things around the room up close, and anything you notice in particular with Nathan that needs to be addressed.  As far as sunscreen and hats, we are just really diligent about doing it at home before school.  When they were younger, I gave the teacher sunscreen to apply if they would be spending extra time outside in the afternoon.  To this date, the kids have never been burned.  They keep an extra hat in their backpacks, along with their sunscreen now.   Also, together you will decide the amount of time Nathan will be with specialists throughout the week and Nathan's academic goals.  My children (Caleah 13 and Christopher 8)  both spent some time with the vision specialist.  At this point they are on monitoring.  They never needed OT, etc.  Both are doing really well all around.  Hopefully that will give you some peace of mind.  Again, I occasionally have to meet with their teachers, email, etc. with reminders and concerns. 

I am not sure how this works with private schools, but I would think they would be as accomodating, if not even more.  I hope this was helpful.  I would be glad answer any other questions you might have.

Angie

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions!

HI! I am a mom of a 4 year old. He was classified last year so we are learning our way through this process as well. Things that we put in the iep included: preferential seating, He has a teacher of the visually impaired working with him at school and at home specifically on tracking and scanning and helping him to be able to alert the teacher if he is in a situation where he can not see. ( He knows to wear his glasses which are transitional to sunglasses) and the teachers make sure that he wears his hat, and I have to make sure to apply sunblock (blue lizard it words great ). I think the most important thing is to be in constant communication with the teachers and letting them know upfront what his needs are the iep is great but talking to the teacher is better.OH also making sure that his seat in the classroom is out of the glare of the sun and also the coloring of the table can effect learning.I think its the glare. ALso i think that you can buy special paper that does not have glare I am not sure about this but I would check that out.I was even thinking of using some sort of mat that you could put under the child's word to provide optimal learning. Good luck!

melissa

I have a first grader with OA. The school is being resistent to an IEP for our daughter because she functions so well.  In actuality she adapts so well and they see this as functioning well. The reply we were given last year was, after visual observation it was not necessary. They told us it is an education decision not a medical decision, so just because both of her eye Drs recommend it they don't see it as necessary.  This year I have her teacher on our side. Someone has recommended that a section 504 would be what we should be pushing for instead of an IEP. Have you had any experience with the difference between the two?

Hello,

I have a 4 year old in preschool.  This is his 2nd year and he is a regular pre-K (non spled) room with an individual assistant just for him .  He has an IEP (continued from his first year) and he has SEVERAL 504 accommodations.  He goes all day everyday and the school is pretty much like K.

This past summer, I researched and attended several conferences about IEP's and 504.  I talked with several social workers, friends, parents of older children and all kinds of special education professionals.  When Zach started school this year, I was prepared.  I met with every teacher and assistants, talked with his VI teacher, got the necessary evaluations etc....  I am also a former elementary school teacher and somewhat knew the system.

It was ALOT of work and I was going alittle crazy with e-mailing and follow-ups etc...   However, the school year is WONDERFUL!   Zach gets all the 504 accom. (sunscreen, lighting, seating and many more), plus has the legal backing of the IEP (goals and objectives of his services).

My hard work paid off and has set the foundation for his elementary years.  I have a rather long listing (table) of 504 accomodations that I thoroughly discussed with the teachers.  I add on to the list if I see anything, but so far so good.  Thanks to people like Vicky Vaught (she was at the ANN conference) and Jan C.--the list has really come together.  Plus, I discussed the list with a friend of mine who has a VI 5 year old in K. 

E-mail me directly for more details.  joanna.graham@insightbb.com

 Now, I feel like I can give a presentation on IEP and 504!

Jo

My son, Kaden, has OCA and is in 3rd grade this year.  (My daughter, Brynn-also has OCA, is in K).  They both attend the same public school.  The school has been great to work with.  Kaden started K with an IEP--the only things we had listed were preferential seating (up close for him, away from glares), and sunglasses and hats--where hats are not allowed at our school.  A vision teacher from the school for the blind stopped in monthly to monitor him on the playground and in the classroom setting.  We quickly changed from an IEP to a 504 plan.  I feel really good about the 504 plan and the accomodations that we have listed....we can add to or take from whenever we want to.  It is up to me to call the meeting and the teachers and principal are more than happy to meet with me.  This year, I've been very pleased.  (up to this point we have had no concerns and everything has been going great--teachers are on board to help us out).  A few new things we've added---they order large print testing materials now --Kaden took the Iowa test last week and had a large print copy.  It was so AWESOME!  The Vision teacher has brought him paper that is white with dark lines rather than the newsprint kind--you know with the faint blue lines.  (he has poor handwriting when he can't see the lines).  Although, this year, he said he didn't want to use it!  (okay then!!)  When using an overhead projector to copy things, he gets his own copy on his desk--he could not see because of the lighting.  He ALWAYS sits in the front row.  The school also ordered bright colored playground balls for his class (and Brynn's) to use on the playground.  We have talked about other options as the print he reads gets smaller as he gets older, but so far, we have been pleased with the arrangements that have been made for our children. 

 Brynn is also on a 504 plan but in Kindergarten there haven't had to be too many adaptations made for them--the print is large enough for them to see with their glasses on and they just sit close to the teacher all the time and are away from glares.  They take care of their own sunglasses for outside...neither of them choose to wear a hat while at school...I leave all of this up to them.  They know when they can't see!

Just a side note, I am very happy that I have some communication with the principal re: my children on a regular basis.  This has really helped when it comes time to place them into classes.  I have four children now who have gone through that school and with them being my younger two, I know what teachers are good and what teachers are ..... not so good....when it comes to working with children with special needs/accomodations.  I always get to choose the teachers that they get.....it has been such a blessing and has saved me a lot of heart ache as I hear others going through struggles with teachers or are just unwilling to accomodate.

 I hope my comments have helped.......

 Denise

 Mom to Zach (14), Tanner (11), Kaden OCA (8) and Brynn OCA (5)

I also have sunblock on the IEP. If he is outside for more than 20 minutes he needs it! He has a small bottle that is in the classroom for him and he also can stay in if it is too hot or extra sunny out. (some times it is brighter than other days)