IEP and the School District

Well here we go-----------------I try to get a copy of my sons IEP from the school district and what am I told?? I cant have a copy because my son is over 18 and 'BY LAW' I am not entitled -----

What the Hell ???? for hmany years have I attended the IEPs BY MY SELF signed the IEP  BY MY SELF and could not put the IEP in place until they have my signature and now just because he's over 18 they cant give me a copy???? I know this is the law and i don't dispute Dakotas rights what I dispute is the  double standard that its ok for me to speak for my son , make arrangements to make decisions for my son  be responsible for my son but i cant have a copy of a document  that needed my signature to put into place----                                        As I said  WHAT THE HELL???   my signature was on that document and they wont give me a copy----yes I have a copy floating around  the house somewhere but I needed it quickly and rather than go thru the  hassle of digging at home I though it would be "easier" to just go get a copy--BUT  NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Well this is what I am gonna do:  they wanted him to tell them over the phone that I  could have a copy --I told them he really doesn't talk on the phone    then they said well he can sign for it  of course I was going up there for other business so I was trying to kill 2 birds with one stone and wasn't successful;Soooooooooooo In his own hand printing which is relatively  indecipherable  I am going to have him write me a permission slip to do business for him and have him sign it and have it notarized --make copies and every time I need to do something for him I will whip out the paper that is barely a kindergartners  printing  that will be Notarized and them lets see what they say????

You know there always a way to slay the dragon a different way I guess you just have to get creative  with what kind of a sword you use! 

PERSPECTIVE

THIS IS THE KINDA OF SUBJECT THAT I THINK MANY PARENTS WHO LIVE WITH AUTISM RARELY SPEAK ABOUT---- MY MOM :ALTHOUGH WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT MAKES A GREAT ATTEMPT TO GET MY SON TO SIGN CARDS FOR ME  FOR OCCASSIONS LIKE MOTHERS DAY AND MY BIRTHDAY-- I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT . WHAT  IS MISSING IS HIS ABILITY TO TRULY PROCESS THE FEELINGS AND UNDERSTAND THE "SOCIAL " VALUE OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE PICKING OUT A CARD AND SIGNING IT---- I AM NOT A CARD PERSON PER SE BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT IT IS SOMETHING I WISH FOR ---TO ACTUALLY HAVE HIM GO TO A STORE AND PICKOUT A CARD AND SIGN IT AND HAND IT TO ME  WOULD BE A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT--- ITS FUNNY HOW TYPICAL PARENTS TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR GRANTED

THEN I LOOK AT OTHER THINGS LIKE HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE A YOUNG ADULT WHO STILL LOVED TO BE AROUND ME ; DOESNT WALK AROUND WITH HIS PANTS DOWN AROUND HIS KNEES;ISNT DOING DRUGS OR DRINKING ;OUT LATE PAST CURFEW;ISNT BRINGING HOME A GIRL PREGNANT AND I THINK THAT  I CAN DO WITH OUT THE CARD!

PRESPECTIVE IS HUGE WHEN YOU LIVE WITH AUTISM. OUR KIDS HAVE SO MANY ABILITIES  THAT MANY OTHER "CHALLENGED " KIDS DONT  ITS SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER PRESPECTIVE SEASONED WITH A LITTLE ATTITUDE AND YOU WILL BE ALRIGHT 

MY KID THE ROCK STAR

May was so busy -- I cant believe its been over a omonth since i wrote anything-- I several stories about Spring Break Disneyland and the prom  but for now have to be in the present

We attended a retirement party tonight and found out that we were living with a 'ROCK STAR"

Here's the story

Have to tell you I am so excited about -- I took  Dakota to a retirement party for the teacher who home schooled him before we got him into Alta Loma and she has been there for both of us  for IEP's and all; opening her room to Dakota so he had some main streaming and contact with "reg-ed" students--A N Y W A Y

 

There was a live "rock band" there -- and I was supposed to take him for just a short while then on to his dads-- well when he got there and the band fired up  he was not going anywhere, he started bobbing his head and clapping at the end of the songs and before you know it  he was up and dancing around with many of the people he knows from school-- not the kids in his classes but the security and the maintenance and the teachers

WHAT A CRACK UP    

 On the very last song he had already been messing around with the lead singer who was trying to get him to sing into the mic and when they finished with BROWN SUGAR by the Stones he was singing the lead and rocking out! Everybody was on the floor - - the lead singer had him doin all the oooo- ooooh's and the hook "Brown Sugar!" It was absolutely the best

After the band broke down one of the guitarists who is a special ed teacher came in and said to one of the other teachers that he could not believe Dakota -- he said "I cant get 2 words out of this kid at school but put a mic in front of him with rock and roll and he's a rock star!"

 

I could not have felt better   That was the best reward I could get !

It wasn't even about Mrs Thomas' retirement anymore it was about how my guy stole the show!!! -- How proud I was --- and how vindicated I felt as a parent who has told people over and over again that these kids just need to find their niche---and how it was for more than Dakota it was for all of us who knew it all along that our kids just need a chance.

Oh yeah and one feather in my cap for keeping that radio on KLOS and playing rock and roll for him before he was out of my womb!  He knows all the words!

 

Hail to my "Rock Star" and I dont mean the drink!!!!!!!