Child Study Team meeting

One of the things Dr. E wanted us to do was to set up a meeting with our school district's child study team to have Thomas evaluated for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  This basically means that they would evaluate him in his current school environment and would then provide a detailed plan that the teachers would be required to implenment.  Since he is only in preschool this was not my main objective for meeting with the child study team.  Sure an IEP would probably help, but his teachers have been given written strategies and are implementing them well.  Plus I just paid for the SMart center to have the school consult as discussed in my earlier post.  I think that they are doing an amazing job and I am so grateful for what they are doing with Thomas.  I am very pleased with his progress, so I don't want to go from the parent who is an advocate for their child to being "that parent" who wants everyone to go above and beyond for their child.    There are 12 other children in the class.  It's a fine line and I am well aware of it.

My main objective was to discuss getting Thomas into the school district's preschool program.  It is for special needs children first and then there is a lottery whereby a few more children without special needs may attend.  This was important to me for three reasons:

1.  This preschool was in the same school building Thomas would be in for the next 9 years (K-8th grade); therefore he would be familiar with the school prior to entering kindergarten.  A familiar routine, which is so key to him.

2.  The preschool is exclusively for the town residents and so everyone in his preschool would be transitioning to kindergarten with him.  He would know several of his classmates before kindergarten; therefore decreasing warm up time because of familiarity.  So important!

3.  With all his classmates being from the same town, it would be so much easier to arrange playdates and get to know the other families; therefore increasing his comfort level in school.  Again essential.

It would be perfect!  I just pray that they are receptive and have some understanding about selective mutism and how he should definitely qualify for the preschool.