Thanks everyone! meeting update

Telyco

Thanks so much for your well wishes below! I reall, really appreciate it!!! The CPSE meeting went fine...but man...when you walk into a room with 6 other people ALL there to talk about YOUR little boy- it's HARD. It's just upsetting to me that I have to go through all of this and we can't just raise our kid by ourselves. And I can't let him be a kid..I sort of feel robbed or something. I thought the toddler years would be fun. And there are glimpses of fun here and there...but our days our so filled with other people and phone calls and forms and paperwork...it sort of takes some joy out of it, kwim? But I guess that part of this is transitioning from being a SAHM to what it would be like if I dropped him offt daycare everyday.

He does qualify for a program and they gave me a list of places to call and visit. There is only one place in Niagara County and it's not really integrated...there are a lot of kids there with behavioral issues and we aren't going to put Evan into that type of facility. It's toooo...special needs, for lack of a more appropriate term. I mean, he DOES have special needs but a place like that wouldn't be the best for him.

Sooo...that means we are going to have to have a pretty long commute ahead of us. I hope that we can figure something out where DH can drop him off before work and I can pick him up with Leah. But I'll be able to take her to music class and do more things one on one with her in the morning. I just feel bad that she'll need to be carted all over the place- well both of them, really...and it's one of the reasons I wanted to stay at home in the first place. Sigh.

goosh24

I feel for you and I've only had the evaluation and re-evals with a couple of people, but it really is hard when everyone is there focusing on what is "wrong" with your child.  I'm glad he does qualify for services but I hope you can find a closer school placement!

xKimx

(hugs) Having only been on the other side of that table I can only imagine how difficult it is to be a parent in that meeting.

My sister is an OT in Niag. county & I worked in integrated preschools for Aspire for 5 yr (plus Charlie went there for daycare for 3 years) so if you have any questions feel free to shoot me a message on FB  

wendyj

I'm glad things went well for Evan. I am so sorry you are having to deal with it all. My heart hurts every time I sit in a meeting with a parent of a child with special needs. I can only imagine how difficult life can be at times.

Hopefully you'll find a program that is closer to you and offers lots of great things for Evan. They told you about mileage reimbursement, right?

mrsoc

I also know what it is like to be in the other side of the table, and I think it is wonderful when you see loving, caring parents who only want the best for their kids..which is exactly what you are doing .

TinyPinkBug

I know it is difficult sitting through those meetings.  It is also crappy that they don't have an intergrated school in your area and you have to transport.  I opted to not send Ty to school at 2 yrs old because it would have been too far of a transport to the closest 2 yr old program, so I understand your concern.  Have you ever visited the school that you feel is too special needs that is close to you?  My DH thought the school my son now goes to was for, excuse my word but it is his, retards.  His summer job in high school was working evenings as a school janitor at various schools including my son's, he had this picture in his head of what went on during the day there but he was SO wrong at what the school was really like.

In Onondaga county, they provide bussing or reimbursment of 55cents per mile round trip for each way of self transport.  I was a mess about the bus situation, but they insisted I should send him at least one way.  We did have some issues.  It is a small bus with only 3 and 4 yr olds and kids under 4 yrs old must be in a 5pt car seat on a bus.   Kids who aren't in carseats are buckled in, so it isn't some big free for all like on a regular school bus.

Do they want him to start program this year?  Or the next school year?

Telyco

Yep he can start whenever - but I did say I was thinking more of starting after the new year and continuing EI until then. We have a tour scheduled for next Tuesday at a place that has a main focus of vision impairment but works with lot of other special needs too. The big speech program has no openings as of yet.

I don't think we would do bussing yet because I'm sure he would be the last drop off and it could be more than an hour on the bus. I would like him to have the experience but that's just too long for a 3yo. They did mention reimbursement but I doubt we will submit for it...I'd rather the money stay in the system and help someone else.

The thing with the close school is that they don't have many, if any, typical kids. It's ALL special needs of all kinds. But most importantly it has a lot of kids that scream and yell all day - and I don't want to put Evan in that environment. We have had a few evaluators say to look elsewhere.

 

TinyPinkBug

Telyco:

 They did mention reimbursement but I doubt we will submit for it...I'd rather the money stay in the system and help someone else.

I have never filed for reimbursement either.  I keep debating the issue for this year.