Juilan's IEP

This week, Julian had his evaluation from the school system here at home.  Four teachers/psychologist came out and laid out their observations from all the testing they have been doing with him and the plan to get to the goals that we have for him.  This was the final evaluation for this stage, and now therapy will start. They were all pretty nice, and Julian seemed okay with them.  Not comfortable, just okay. 

I asked if Julian would have a chance to be in a 'normal' school, and they all said yes without hesitation, so that does make me feel better.  His IEP is simply his education plan for special needs children until he can be put in 'mainstream' school.

While Ryan and I don't agree on some of what they have said, we are willing to do whatever it takes for our child.  The biggie that we don't really agree with, is that overall, they say his 'age' is 18 months, when he is actually three years old.  I think that the problem is he can't 'answer' their questions like a normal three year old and he does have autism, so it makes it difficult to 'test' him. We, obviously, agree that his social/behavioral skills need therapy and work, and are happy he is going to get getting that.  His teacher is also a speech therapist, and will be coming out to our house  every Wednesday at 10:30 for an hour.  We think that once she spends one on one time with him, and Julian gets more confortable with her, they will see where he really is.  Also, he will have an occupational therapist (for his fine motor skills) will come see him 100 minutes every month.  He will be retested in May, and if he is still has behind as they say he is, it will continue through the summer. 

We were asked to set some goals that WE'D like to see him accomplish before May, and we said that we'd like to see him saying some words, and handling 'stressful' situations better.  They had a TON more goals for each of the catagories, speech, educational, and occupational.  I'm hoping that he can even put a dent in some of those.  I want him to be pushed as long as it's healthy, so I'll def be the hovering mom over the teachers for the first couple of visits until I'm sure they aren't expecting too much from Julian, and that Julian is more at ease with his teachers. 

The next hurdle is Julian's biopsy Monday in Columbus, Ohio (three hours from our house).  The biopsy is the test for genetic causes for his autism and bowl problems and find 'answers' as to his condition.  We are headed to Columbus Sunday early afternoon (well, around 11 am) and getting Julian settled in.  There is a couple of things that have to be done at the hospital before Monday's biopsy first thing in the morning.  We should be able to head back home by Monday late afternoon!  Mom is keeping Chaeli, and the older kids will be headed back to their mom's early that day (they can't miss school), and it'll be just Julian, me, and Daddy!  They say that he'll be sore, but should be fine to resume normal activity the next day!  I'm hoping that he handles it as well as his skin bridge procedure and as well as Dylan handled his hernia a few years back.  I'll keep everyone posted!