Comments on: Helping Inclusion Work FOR You http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/ God Inspired Blog Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:32:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Goldie http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3252 Goldie Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:49:28 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3252 I cannot believe that there are still so many struggles in the school system, but the law vs reality are often 2 very different things. I am so happy for you that you found a good school for your son. i was just pondering yesterday how i would prefer inclusion for my sons if they continue to need services and wondering about the challenges of that... it was after I had to leave storytime at the library b/c they were SUCH a disruption to everyone else. Inclusion can be tricky, or it can be wonderful, as in your case. you give me hope. I cannot believe that there are still so many struggles in the school system, but the law vs reality are often 2 very different things. I am so happy for you that you found a good school for your son. i was just pondering yesterday how i would prefer inclusion for my sons if they continue to need services and wondering about the challenges of that… it was after I had to leave storytime at the library b/c they were SUCH a disruption to everyone else. Inclusion can be tricky, or it can be wonderful, as in your case. you give me hope.

]]> By: lisa rudy http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3221 lisa rudy Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:26:47 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3221 Thanks so much for your post on the autism.about.com site. It sounds like you've been through much the same process as we have - though our solution (so far) has been to make a move which, in part, has allowed us to homeschool our son with autism. We finally decided that the educational system overall just isn't set up to allow our son to thrive. IEPs focus entirely on challenges, problems and accommodations - never on strengths and abilities. Standardized testing keeps even creative teachers from doing their best for our children. Budget constraints place parents at odds with the entire administration! Congrats on making it work for your son - what we found was that honey was great in creating non-confrontational conversations with teachers and administration. But when it came to seeing results, they seemed to assume that the IEP was just a set of suggestions - not a legal document! Worse, for us, was the lack of vision for our kids overall. When the administrator asked us why we were concerned about preparing our son for high school, I knew we had a problem! Best, Lisa (About.com Guide to Autism) Thanks so much for your post on the autism.about.com site. It sounds like you’ve been through much the same process as we have – though our solution (so far) has been to make a move which, in part, has allowed us to homeschool our son with autism.

We finally decided that the educational system overall just isn’t set up to allow our son to thrive. IEPs focus entirely on challenges, problems and accommodations – never on strengths and abilities. Standardized testing keeps even creative teachers from doing their best for our children. Budget constraints place parents at odds with the entire administration!

Congrats on making it work for your son – what we found was that honey was great in creating non-confrontational conversations with teachers and administration. But when it came to seeing results, they seemed to assume that the IEP was just a set of suggestions – not a legal document!

Worse, for us, was the lack of vision for our kids overall. When the administrator asked us why we were concerned about preparing our son for high school, I knew we had a problem!

Best,

Lisa (About.com Guide to Autism)

]]> By: thecanvasgrey http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3220 thecanvasgrey Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:40:34 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3220 I should add that the principal that told me that was looking out (I believe) for her staff AND my son. I know that her statement made all the difference in what happened next and the actions that brought us to the elementary school of our dreams. Three years ago I couldn't have imagined that my son could be truly wanted and valued for the things he brings as opposed to the things he doesn't. We are so very thankful for it even though it was difficult for a time. All things worked together for good. I should add that the principal that told me that was looking out (I believe) for her staff AND my son. I know that her statement made all the difference in what happened next and the actions that brought us to the elementary school of our dreams. Three years ago I couldn’t have imagined that my son could be truly wanted and valued for the things he brings as opposed to the things he doesn’t. We are so very thankful for it even though it was difficult for a time. All things worked together for good.

]]> By: thecanvasgrey http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3219 thecanvasgrey Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:15:23 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3219 Mary I'm so sorry to hear that Brandon hasn't had the support he needs. I am happy to hear he has friends, enough that he wants to say in that school for "one more year" what an accomplishment! I hope and pray that my son will have friends at that age. It certainly gives me hope! Thanks for sharing! Prayers for you and yours! Mary I’m so sorry to hear that Brandon hasn’t had the support he needs. I am happy to hear he has friends, enough that he wants to say in that school for “one more year” what an accomplishment! I hope and pray that my son will have friends at that age. It certainly gives me hope! Thanks for sharing! Prayers for you and yours!

]]> By: thecanvasgrey http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3218 thecanvasgrey Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:08:37 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3218 Mere, you are an exceptional teacher and person. I know what you mean exactly. Mere, you are an exceptional teacher and person. I know what you mean exactly.

]]> By: Mercedes http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3217 Mercedes Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:53:51 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3217 Good tips~I just can't believe a principal would tell you that...unless she knew she couldn't provide for him. A few of us teachers (kindergarten and pre-school) fight for the students and special-Ed isn't too fond of us...but an IEP is the law!!! Why say we are going to do it when we know we won't...we will but they don't! We have a new principal this year and I so hope she fights for us and pushes to get the services required for these students! Good tips~I just can’t believe a principal would tell you that…unless she knew she couldn’t provide for him. A few of us teachers (kindergarten and pre-school) fight for the students and special-Ed isn’t too fond of us…but an IEP is the law!!! Why say we are going to do it when we know we won’t…we will but they don’t! We have a new principal this year and I so hope she fights for us and pushes to get the services required for these students!

]]> By: Mary http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/helping-inclusion-work-for-you/#comment-3216 Mary Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:18:07 +0000 http://thecanvasgrey.wordpress.com/?p=313#comment-3216 Deb, You are so right. Unfortunately the school that Brandon goes to isn't the right one for him. There is basically no longer any support for him there. Yet being in grade 8 this coming fall, he doesn't want to leave the school because all of his friends are there. His reasoning, "It's only one more year." Brandon has certainly fell through the cracks in this school. Neither the principal of the vice principal have been supportive when problems have come up. I agree with you wholeheartedly about this issue, though the school board is not supportive either. Brandon is not the only child falling through the cracks in this school district and I'm not sure what can be done about it. Neither honey or confrontation has changed things. It saddens me that this can happen to kids in the 21st century. Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. Blessings, Mary Deb,

You are so right. Unfortunately the school that Brandon goes to isn’t the right one for him. There is basically no longer any support for him there. Yet being in grade 8 this coming fall, he doesn’t want to leave the school because all of his friends are there. His reasoning, “It’s only one more year.”

Brandon has certainly fell through the cracks in this school. Neither the principal of the vice principal have been supportive when problems have come up. I agree with you wholeheartedly about this issue, though the school board is not supportive either. Brandon is not the only child falling through the cracks in this school district and I’m not sure what can be done about it. Neither honey or confrontation has changed things. It saddens me that this can happen to kids in the 21st century. Thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention.

Blessings,
Mary

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