posted
Had my parent/teacher conference with my 7 yr old son's teacher. He still has lots of problems with reading and focus/attention. The school is moving forward with a complete evaluation.
With the mention of IEPs,psych eval and home study etc., I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Not sure what that all means, I just know I don't want my son to be labeled.
I was told by sons LLMD that neuro symptoms are the last to clear.
Teacher asked about lyme, said she didn't know anything about it. I talked to her about it, but honestly don't think she "got it".
Today I sent in my DVD "Under Our Skin" for her to watch. Hoping to teach the teacher....
Anyone have a child go through this process at school? What were your experiences?
-------------------- Mom to a 5 year old lymie.... Taking it one day at a time. Posts: 182 | From Ipswich, MA | Registered: Jul 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I hope someone jumps in here soon to help you out.
I know it is very disturbing and you need to know
your rights. Your LLMD sounds like he has a handle
on it, neuro symptoms last to go. I agree. Prayers.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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massman
Unregistered
posted
How about a screening of UOS for all staff + teachers ? And it may be accepted by more if there is one teacher that already has some good awareness of lyme.
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
My sister's 8 yr. son just finished his evaluation. I'll email her the link to this and ask her for the info/results.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
I have an 8 year old son and he has just been determined that he has short term memory loss which creates learning (reading) difficult if not impossible. We had him tested through the school system, at first we too did not want him labeled, but really, if it means he will get the help he needs then its not so bad. The teacher, regardless of a label or not still needs to give your child the help he needs. so I would not worry so much over the teacher, just keep giving her small amount of information to ensure she actually reads it and, as time goes on, she'll understand. It's a hard road, good luck, Cathy
Posts: 2 | From Britsol, CT | Registered: Oct 2009
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I have an 8 year old son and he has just been determined that he
has short term memory loss which creates learning (reading)
difficult if not impossible. We had him tested through the school
system, at first we too did not want him labeled, but really, if it
means he will get the help he needs then its not so bad. The
teacher, regardless of a label or not still needs to give your child
the help he needs. so I would not worry so much over the
teacher, just keep giving her small amount of information to
ensure she actually reads it and, as time goes on, she'll
understand. It's a hard road, good luck,
Cathy
Posts: 2 | From Britsol, CT | Registered: Oct 2009
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janice victorov
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22937
posted
Hi, first of all if he is found eligible for special education under the category called other health impairment. This will give him the supports needed while treating lyme.
After the lyme is gone, the IEP team can re-evaluate him and get rid of the IEP etc.
Just because he is eligible now doesn't mean he will be forever.
-------------------- jkv44 Posts: 1247 | From virginia | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
I haven't been here in so long...hope this is posting in the right place! I'm a middle school SPED teacher, have had Lyme for 11 years....get concerned about yeast issues for all kids on a lot of antibiotics....but especially for kids with Lyme. The yeast can really add to the neuro symptoms... I see students without Lyme, but with yeast issues that have trouble with processing, memory and behavior.... good luck...
Posts: 83 | From Virginia Beach, VA | Registered: Dec 2002
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JillF
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5553
posted
IEP/504 process is draining. If you are anything like me reading books that are supposed to make the special education laws easier to understand and all the info on Wrightslaw.com (or their book) was like reading a foreign language
Your best bet to be the best advocate for your son, if you feel he really needs an IEP, is to hire a good educational advocate. You pay for it though - they run about $150 an hour. But they make the process a hell of alot less frustrating, overwhelming and confusing. A good advocate knows the laws backwards and forwards and probably has experience with the school your child is going to and/or the county you are in - and that helps alot considering they know the 'right' people and have strategies on having to deal with certain people/red tape/schools, etc
There are some places that do offer free advice/advocacy - you just have to find them
Also, I recommend a private evaluation. The schools best interest is them saving money, not your child. I say this from my personal experience. I say this from horror stories I have been told from other mothers. I say this from the stories I have heard in all three of the autism/asperger support groups that I am a member of. This is what I would tell my sister or my best friend if they were in this situation
Your insurance will probably pay for most evals if you do them privately. You just have to do the legwork. I totally disagreed with all evals the school did on my son. And this was before I even knew I should have gotten private evaluations or that the schools' best interest was not my son.
Also, all evals done through the school were not thorough and completely sided on the school's favor of offering nothing/spending no extra money on my child. I had all evals re-done privately through hospitals/places that carry alot of weight and are extremely well known and the therapists/doctors could not believe the school reports. The school evals vs the private evals were night and day. Where the school said my son had no problems whatsoever, the doctors/therapists said your son definitely has problems
I wish someone had told me to go to the school AFTER I had evaluations done on my son because then the school would have had to prove that the private evals were faulty - which is harder to do.
A school proving Children's Hospital is in the wrong is much more difficult to do than have some 24 yr old SLP test my son and tell an unsuspecting mother who does not understand the laws and thinks that the school knows what they're doing and will do the best for her son that all is okay and my son has no problems and I am the one who has the problem
Best thing I was told was NEVER EVER say anything to the tune of "In the best interest of my child" because the county/school system do not care what your child's "best interest" is. They only care about and offer what is APPROPRIATE for your child and what the law says they need to provide
It is so hard to think that way or realize that that is the thinking on the school's side but if you talk to any educational advocate they will probably agree with what I was told/what I saw myself
Maybe other counties in other states are not as bad as the counties here but I had a hell of a time (and will be going through it again soon and am already feeling overwhelmed knowing what is coming up esp since I cannot hire an advocate) and I have heard horror stories of parents dealing with schools and the IEP/504 process
Posts: 1485 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
My son is a senior this year. We had his IEP meeting shortly after school started. We are at the point where we basically tell the school what we want.
We fought the school for many years until we contacted an education attorney. The school said my son had to be treated by an in-state doctor. They were wrong.
I called the Dept. of Ed for special education and was told they would contact the school. We have not had a problem since that time. This happened when he was in 7th grade.
My son has not been able to go to school on a regular since 3rd grade.
The only IEP meeting he (he's 18 now) has left to do is the exit meeting at the end of the year. Yay!
-------------------- Peggy
~ ~ Hope is a powerful medicine. ~ ~ Posts: 2775 | From MN | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I think everyone gave you good thoughts and advice.
My reccomondation is to not fear a label on your child and embrace it. If a "label" means he can get what he NEEDS, then do not fear the label. You can have it removed when no longer needed. It's more like a bandaid then a label, anyway
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