Austin’s IEP

Ok, So I’ve gotten a couple of questions about it... and I’ll do my best to post the answers.

Our state offers Early Steps for children under three with Development Disabilities... Austin was of course included in this because of his SMA.

Once he turned three he was tested to see if he could receive services through the school system... We had to go do a huge evaluation. They tested everything you could imagine from Hearing and Vision, to Gross Motor skills and fine motor skills, Cognitive ability, Speech, everything.

In order to receive services through the school system he would have to qualify in three areas.

He of course qualified for PT to work on gross motor skills (though just barely... I found out at the meeting that he wasn’t nearly as far behind for his age as we thought). They also decided to qualify him for APE (adaptive physical education) which kind of goes hand in hand with the PT. He also was qualified for OT... his evaluator told me that although she didn’t see a need for it now, there was no way to know whether he would or would not need it in the future so she qualified him based on the possibility of him needing it. He was also marked down for some in class assistance (if he would have been in school).

So he qualified...

Since he turned 3 in the middle of the school year, he wasn’t able to get into the preschool classes that they offered, but he was eligible to receive the services (PT, OT, and APE).

In April they called to tell me that they were making the list of preschool students for the next school year and a spot would be held for him if we wanted it... After thinking about it, we jumped on the opportunity to get him in.

Yesterday I met with his teacher to go over his IEP for this school year.

I was amazed at how much they were willing to do for him at just a simple request.

Some of the major points of the IEP:
Some one will be waiting at the drop off area to help him to his class and will carry his backpack if he isn’t able to... (I’m not sure if he’ll be able to, especially considering how long of a walk it will be).
Some one will be available to help him get to the cafeteria and to carry his tray to his seat at lunch time.
He will receive at least 30 min a week of each PT, OT, and APE. (he has certain goals in each area)
We will provide the school with an umbrella stroller (for now since he doesn’t have a chair) for his “bad” days when he is having trouble walking the long distances to certain areas of the school.

Other than that its just saying that he has the right to be in a class room of his peers and there were other areas for accommodations that would be made for testing and such things... but preschool doesn’t really have any tests... so that didn’t apply to his situation. It also states that he will be included in all activities ranging from Assemblies to Field Trips, and that accommodations will be made so that he is able to participate in the activities as needed.

There are goals in there for every aspect of his day... including on how to make him more independent and even to help him with things such as personal hygiene. Most of the personal hygiene areas that they will work on will be potty training related (which he pretty much his... even over nights... YAY!)

Other than that its pretty much just preschool stuff...
He’ll be encouraged to go to the restroom with as little assistance as possible (but there will be assistance if its needed)
He’ll be encouraged to feed himself with a spoon/fork and drink from a cup with no lid with as little assistance as possible... (and will as little spillage as possible... but again... he’s only three so they expect the messes).
He will receive instruction in small group form...
He will be taught to use scissors on his own with little to no assistance (of course with lots of supervision).

He will be in an ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education) class at this point. Mainly because the school system doesn’t offer class for 3 yr olds, they are only included in the ECSE classes if they are eligible for other services. However, they do divide the ECSE classes by ability both physically and mentally, so all the children in his class will be close to the same ability level as he is.


I’m very excited about the opportunity and I really think Austin’s going to enjoy it. He will be re-evaluated at least once every 3 years (to make sure that his needs are being met and that he is receiving the services he needs). However if either myself or his teacher notices something and feels that he should be re-evaluated before that time, we can put in a written request for an early re-evaluation and then one would be preformed at that time.

I think that just about covers all of it. If you’ve got any questions about a specific point just ask... I tried my best to cover all the areas of it, but I’m sure that I missed some points...