Conference moira::parenting

    In NH when they are three the then go into the special Education
    program.  Contact the school system and the should be able to point you
    in the right direction.

    to get services in NH you need to show "delays" in 2 area to qualify
    for special education program.  Just slow development of gross motor
    skills is not enough.  My son has CP, but we needed to show delays in
    visual preception to get him into the program.
    
    

    I'd talk to the school.  If they are as involved with local services as
    they seem to be, they'll probably be able to link you up with someone. 
    It seems to me that, even though your daughter is "only" 3, she is of
    school age (technically), and you may be able to work with your school
    district to develop an IEP for her.
    
    Having said that, did you check with your pedi about allowing her to
    participate in something like Gymboree classes, or taking her to the
    local Y to swim or something like that?  It could be a fun way to
    supplement the physical therapy she'll need and could be a boost to her
    self-confidence.  Although I never met a 3-year-old who needed help in
    *that* department!
    
    Good luck, you are in our thoughts.

    My town (Framingham, MA) offers preschool screenings three or four
    times during the school year. We had our son tested last fall (he was
    almost 3 1/2) and the team that screened him suggested a full
    evaluation, which we did later that fall. The end result was that the
    team found some speech and language and fine motor deficiencies, but
    the members felt he might improve with maturity. We were asked to
    re-test him this fall, which we plan to do--especially because Matthew
    developed some behavioral problems late last spring that the
    psychologist at our health plan determined were a result of his speech
    and language deficiencies. Consequently, we've been paying out of
    pocket for speech and language therapy all summer, and I'd like the
    school system to pick up the cost.
    
    Definitely check with your school system regarding preschool screening,
    evaluations, and treatment. Our dealings with the Framingham school
    department have been positive so far. Hopefully yours will be too.
    
    Nancy-

Noelle saw the neurologist last week.  The neurologist stated
that she's clearly a bright little girl (as her proud parents
beamed) but that she (the neurologist) did notice delays in both 
fine and gross motor skills.

She wrote a letter to the school system Special Services
Team requesting a full PT and OT evaluation.  I am now making
lots of phone calls trying to make things happen as quickly
as possible.  

So far, the special services person told me that they want
an educational evaluation in addition to the PT and OT
evaluation.  In order for Noelle to receive medical services
at the expense of the school system, she needs to be
"educationally handicapped".  I now have the names of
the educational evaluator and the OT evaluator, and I expect
to hear from them to make appointments for those evaluations
by the end of next week.

Once all the evaluations have been completed, we will have
a team meeting of the Brookline Elementary Vice Principal,
Noelle's pre-school teacher, all the evaluators and us.
It is at this meeting that it will be determined whether or
not Noelle's developmental delays qualify her for treatment
provided by the school system.

At this point, I'm a little fearful that the school system is
going to say Noelle doesn't need therapy.  But I keep reminding
myself that Noelle will get the care she needs -- we're just
determining who will pay for it.  If the school system insists
that these delays won't affect her education, then I have to
believe that Matthew Thornton or John Hancock (we're in HMO Elect)
will cover it.  

Another fear is that if Noelle is labelled "educationally handicapped"
then future teachers will see this on her record and expect her
to be dumb.    

Not sure which I'm wishing for :-)

- Deb B.

    Hi Everyone,
    
    I don't usually have time to write, but felt that I needed to reply
    to this note.
    
    I would question the school's statement that any child would have to 
    be educationally handicapped to receive services under either IDEA or
    Section 504. I would venture to guess that there are physically 
    handicapped children in the district who are receiving PT & OT, 
    and what about kids with sensory impairment. While we know having a 
    hearing or sight impairment does impact a child's education, it 
    does not mean the child is educationally handicapped.  And what about
    children with language disabilities. They receive the sevices of a
    speech and language pathologist to overcome their disability.
    
    I would also suggest that you ask the school for a copy of the
    eval results before your team meeting.  You may also want to 
    call PIC in concord.  (parenting information center) to get the
    name of an advocate who can help you understand IDEA and Section 504.
    
    Good Luck!
    
    Carol
    
     

    
    
    RE:  Educationally handicapped coding
    
    In NH, an educational disablility is defined as "any person 3 years
    of age or older but less than 21 who has been identified and evaluated
    by a school district...and determined to have autism, deafness,
    deaf-blindness, developmental delay, hearing impairment, mental
    retardation, multiple disabilites, orthopedic impairment, other health
    impairment, serious emotional disturbance, a specific learining
    disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury or
    visual impairment and who, because of such impairment needs special
    education or special education and educationally related services."
    
    The way it was described to me in laymen's terms was if the service is
    not rendered at the time it is identified as a need, and lack of
    service delivery would cause an educationally delay/handicap then at
    the child should be coded in order to receive service.  
    
    My daughter is hard of hearing.  She too is quite bright, and not in
    any way handicapped, but if she did not receive speech/listening
    training she would be educationally handicapped when she entered the
    1st grade.  It is my opinion that it is my job as a parent *NOT* to
    allow teachers to treat her as "dumb" because of her coding, and I
    assume it will be at least 12 years of fighting for that not to be the
    case with her teachers.  
    
    I am not sure of what happens if the child is provided services and
    develops to age appropriate during the school years, Do they remove the
    code?  Unfortunately, I don't think we will be that lucky, which is why
    I never asked that particular question.
    
    -beth

We just had the team meeting with the Vice Principal
of the Elementary School, the special services coordinator,
Noelle's pre-school teacher, and the PT and OT who performed
the evaluations.  I fully expected the recommendation would
be for weekly PT and possibly weekly OT.  I also expected
the school system to refuse services because her delays
were not impacting her acquisition of education.  I
was rather surprised (pleasantly so) at the outcome.

Noelle has "sensory integration issues" -- that is, she is *extremely* 
sensitive to touch and sound -- and it is the belief of the evaluators 
that it is this sensitivity which has caused the motor delays.  For
example, Noelle's feet are particularly sensitive.  Jumping involves
jarring impact to the soles of the feet.  Since this is a highly
unpleasant sensation for Noelle, she doesn't do it.  Since she
doesn't jump, she hasn't developed her muscles nearly as much
as other children her age.  The evaluators recommended
OT twice a week and the school system agreed.  We wrote up
a "Student Action Plan" on the spot and plan to start services 
next week.

I'm very pleased with the outcome.  Noelle was not coded
"educationally disabled" and I'm not really clear on why the
school system is providing the services.  But the Vice Principal
(who's the head of the special education team) stated that she'd
rather head off any problems and that it's cheaper to provide
services early, than it would be to address this when she's in,
say, 3rd grade.  

We will review Noelle's progress in May to determine whether or
not OT will continue through the summer.  And we'll probably
enroll her in something like swimming or gymnastics (as suggested
by at least one noter) to supplement the OT. 

Whew!

- Deb B.

The following is being posted for a member of the PARENTING notesfile
community who prefers to remain anonymous at this time.  If you wish
to contact the author by mail, please send your message to me and I will
forward it to the anonymous noter.  Your message will be forwarded with
your name attached unless you request otherwise.

      Carol duBois, PARENTING Co-moderator

**************************************************************

Hi,

My 17 mo. old daughter was recently diagnosed as having low-muscle tone.  
Are there any other members of the parenting community that have a child 
with a similar diagnosis?

My daughter walked at 12 mo. but is still quite awkward and falls alot.  The
fact that she is greater than 100 % in both height and weight can make moving
around awkward.  I am arranging for her to have PT through our insurance
company -- wish me luck!  

I'm a first time Mom and I'm very concerned about this.  I would really like to
correspond with other parents 1X1 about this.  If you would be interested in
sharing your thoughts, concerns and ways of helping your child/children develop
would you please send a reply to a moderator and he/she can forward it to me? 

Many thanks...

A concerned Mom

    My son has low muscle tone as a result of having Down's Syndrome.  He
    is coming up on his 2nd birthday and still isn't walking yet.  Since 
    your daughter was walking at 12 months, it sounds as though she is
    only minimally affected.  My son has had an early intervention program
    since birth that includes PT.  I would think that if your Pedi has
    diagnosed low muscle tone for her, than you should have no problem
    with the insurance issues.  I will say, that to date, even with my
    son's major delay, the PT has only been what I would call passive. He
    doesn't have regular therapy sessions where they give him a work out.
    Mostly it's just been monitoring his progress and suggesting simple
    games and/or methods of getting him through a particular stage.  Mostly
    the effects have been that he will master the skills, it just takes him
    a little longer with a lot more practice.  I know it can seem
    devastating to hear that your child has a developmental problem.  I've
    found it helpful to try and focus on the achievments rather than the 
    delays to try and keep my attitude postive.  Drop me a line if you'd
    like to discuss anything further.  
    
    Sharon
    

My 3-year-old was diagnosed with low muscle tone at
her 3-year well-child checkup last summer.  Look for a note
titled "hypotonia" and you'll find a note very similar
to your own.  Feel free to send mail to me and I'll let
you know how Noelle progressed/is progressing...

- Deb B.