On a good day, parenting will test the integrity of your character. On a bad day, parenting will test your will to live. Parenting children with trauma histories will cause you to test the integrity of everything and everyone you thought you knew, for the rest of your life.
~J. Skrobisz

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Merry Christmas to ME!

Fall of 2005, Sissy entered the public school system. It is nearly 2012 and finally, FINALLY, she has an IEP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas to ME!

And what, pray tell, finally qualified her as OHI? The private p-doc wrote a very long medical history detailing her medical impairment. The clincher was the fact that she had two consecutive residential hospitalizations within one year.

So how do you get your kid an IEP?
Get a great p-doc that will paraphrase two 6-inch patient files on one 8x11 piece of paper, hand written, no larger than a 10 point font. Suffer through endless meetings for six academic years, be told by one school that it is YOU that needs the psychological evaluation, not the child, get a waiver to transfer to another school, be told that your child needs to come off her psych meds so the testing will show that she's learning impaired and not just drugged out of her mind, be accused endlessly that the reason the child is under achieving is because YOU are a lousy mother that doesn't love your child, call the state department of education and get in the good graces of the head of special services with the state so that she gives you her direct phone number with the directions to tell the special services director in your county that if they don't agree with what you're asking for your child, that they can speak to ME oh, and make sure your child boomerangs in and out of RTCs and crisis stabilization units for two years.

And that will do it!

I'm so happy I could kiss everyone. I think I'll even plant one big juicy one on Sissy's face tomorrow when I pick her up for discharge.

T - 21 hours and counting...

10 comments:

Jenn said...

Congrats, J! This has been a long time coming, and I hope it opens the way to getting her some help in the school environment.

Best of luck with Sissy's homecoming. I hope it's a peaceful and happy Christmas for you all!

Anonymous said...

Aaah, but is she coded EH yet? ;-)

Debora Hoffmann said...

I am sooo glad to hear that there's finally an IEP! I am continually in dismay over your state and schools. Though I despise how often our girls have breaks, days off, half days, etc. ad naseum, the school is on the ball with testing our younger daughter and implementing an IEP and classes that are more at her level (which isn't very high, sadly).

I've been praying for you as tomorrow draws nearer. Know that I am feeling anxiety for you but am asking God for peace that passes understanding!

Oh, and I must tell you that I LOVE the sweet teddy bear / peppermint candy apron you made. It is completely darling, and I'm so happy to have it. It reminds me of you and helps me remember to pray for you, too. Hugs!

Integrity Singer said...

@ Corey - EH?

@ Deborah - YAY!

Lorigertzauthor said...

yabba dabba dooooooooo! I'm so thrilled for you!!!!!!! You have worked so hard and so long!!!!I am praying for a soft reentry this week. I have you in my prayers. XOXOXOXO

Dawnmarie's Life said...

You've been in my thoughts this week as you're preparing for sissy to come home. I'm so glad that at least some things are starting to come together. I'll be praying for you this weekend that it's a smooth transition for everyone in your home.

sweethoneydoo said...

Or in my case for my parents, have a kid in grade K that no one can understand when she speaks. LOL. I had an IEP up to 8th grade but it was for speech impediment.

But I am so happy for you! Now if only the thing I have been saying to you for years will happen. :)

Cyndi said...

Now you just have to get this IEP written so that it meets her needs. There is always something to do.

Celebrate the things you can. Hope things go well this weekend@

kisekileia said...

What's in the IEP? I had IEPs as a kid because I was identified gifted (my disabilities went undiagnosed), but it generally just said whatever the class was doing even if the class material was inappropriate for me (generally too easy, except phys ed, in which I should have gotten remedial help but didn't).

Ranger said...

That's great to hear, all your hard work and arguing and pushing finally got it!

Thinking of you this weekend and hoping you and WG are doing ok {}