On Thursday I got a call from the school saying that they weren't dropping the ball and that they had turned over Harley's transition to the director of special ed services for our area. Brenda went on to explain that it will go to a committee on Tuesday (with Monday being a holiday) and we should have an answer by Wednesday morning as to Harley's placement for next year.
About 5:00 I got a call from the director of special ed services to interview me and get more information about Harley. As we talked she said he most definitely qualifies for placement in this school...even the fact that he is eligible for SSI would qualify him...however when she was discussing it with the school officials, they felt that Harley was too high functioning to attend Fletcher Miller. She had heard about the gravel eating incident but the school hadn't told her about how he pushed a kid on the playground for asking him to play...The school failed to tell her that when he talks to someone he stands far too close (we are still teaching personal space) and touches the person's chest (could you imagine him doing this while talking to a female peer?)...they didn't tell her about how he hallucinates and has to be sent out of the classroom because he's disturbing other students...
It was such a weight lifted off me for her to say that she was glad to take the extra time to speak with me because with the information the school had provided she would've had a hard time justifying his placement at this school when she goes to the committee on Tuesday.
I told her I need to know as soon as possible so that I could start the transition process, writing social stories with pictures, driving past the school, stopping to play in the playground...discussing the transition to middle school in general. She was "impressed" that I even knew what a social story was and was even "more impressed" that I know how to write my own. She tells me she struggles with the schools and spends a lot of time trying to teach them how to write a social story and they never follow through and that many parents have no idea how much a social story can help in various situations.
After talking with her for over an hour she ended the call stating that it was such a pleasure to talk to me and that I seem very knowledgeable in what is available and what to do for my child. It's always nice to hear an outsider say something like that, it was just the boost I needed at the time.
I too am glad she took the time to speak with me about the transition and I am feeling confident that Flecther Miller is the right placement for him through the rest of his educational career.
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