Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional IEP Question

Question: does your DS's IEP have a gifted tag? We know that straight gifted and 2e don't present the same or require exactly the same intervention, but from a funding perspective it could make a difference. Where we are a child gets ministry tagging for different pieces that are fund-able. For example, gifted is one tag and Autism is another ...so a child with Aspergers may be tagged with both. So... if he's tagged for visual impairment but not giftedness, there might not be the same funding.

Also it's ok if you don't like the psychologist... because it's really the teacher that matters They're the ones that make the IEP happen as well as create the school environment (nurturing OR toxic) for the child.

BY the way, DS' regular, daily kindergarten teacher was wonderful and "would not endorse any" behavioral disorders (psych's words/complaint). He loved DS and knew he was struggling and thought he was gifted but was at loss as to why Ds was so stressed and anxious (at the time). All of DS' "specials teachers" that is - art, library, music teacher said really nice things about DS commenting on his creativity and intelligence (quoted in the IEP, which was so nice to read). The main problem last year was an "assistant" a reading assistant who was awful to DS. She was so rigid and hard on my DS (shamed him publicly a few times) that he deteriorated completely... And when I say deteriorated, I mean it, I never saw him fall apart so badly it was so disturbing and upsetting. He was so anxious he couldn't swallow. Literally couldn't swallow (causing all kinds physical problems even). I literally had to ptich a complete fit with teacher and school to get DS out of the the assistant's daily group. Once he was out of her group and away form her he recovered really well and by the end of the year he was "normal" again. Teacher apologized to me for letting the assistant problem go on for so long at the risk of DS. But I truly feel psych felt like DS should have just been able to "obey" the assistant. She doens;t believe the assistnat was at fault at all - she thinks DS is the problem. I think DS' hiddent disabilities and giftedness paired with an awful assistant caused DS breakdown but of course schools never see any "problems" on their side.

Incidently (or not) The school psych included a completed BASC-2 form from this "para-professional" in its entirety in the IEP draft report. I filled out a BASC2 as did DS's regular kindy teacher. Neither of my BASC form, nor teacher's, indicated very significant risks and neither was included in the IEP report. Just the paraprofessional's which is AWFUL and gives him high risk scores for every disorder that the form tests for. I kid you not. Why did she include that? I believe she is using it to make the case that DS needs a behavioral specialist.

Of course they don't... sigh. I'm sorry that happened.

I'm grateful you've shared this as well... I'm training to be a teaching assistant as we speak (I have a class tomorrow ). I'm impressed so far, actually, about how much the instructors have been emphasizing how important compassion is.

Maybe your son's assistant was too focused on achievement. I wonder if that was just her personality or if she was under pressure to produce results? (I think I may err the other way...in my application I stressed that I feel I can contribute by making kids feel welcome and safe in school... and they still accepted me into the program, ha ha)

Anyway it's good to hear that your DS has a good teacher. That can make all the difference.

Hmmm, no it does not. It does refernce his superior intelligence twice and does include his WISC IV scores. I will put this as an issue to discuss at the IEP, then?

Good to know. I really like his current teacher so far.

Same here. I think they want all the "statistically significant" info they can get, so they just include abnormal results. My DS has many "at risk" areas on his psych ed assessment that are just not applicable. Honestly I'm more relaxed about this now, though, because I've seen them support my DS and he's happy. It seems less now like a witch hunt and more like simply overzealous record keeping.

You could ask about it. I'm in BC, Canada so it might work differently here. I'd ask though - never hurts. At least his intelligence and test scores are mentioned - that's good.

Aww thank you so much. I am not sure exactly what the problem was first hand b/c I never got to oberve her with my DS (or any kid) at all (even though I volunteered a lot in the class. I was never allowed to be there when she was there. DS reported she shamed him for his poor fine motor skills (called his writing "pre-school style" in front of the group, used his writing as an example of how pre-schoolers work and not kindergartners (thing was he worked so hard to get to pre-school level - he is almost two years behind in fine motor due to the hypontonia ... I think assistant didn't know he had a 504 or didn't care or understand it. And DS, of course, is very sensitive. His big fear was to be held up as "stupid" or inadequate. And she did precisely that. Teacher talked with her about her doing that... However, DS told me that he "could never trust her again." She also would refuse to let him use his favorite color marker, or let him have his favorite color and then not assign any work with it... that kind-of thing. She hated that he questionsd the "why" behind leassons and rules. And yeah beleive me all day of DS' questions can be annoying but he truly is curious as to the "why" behind lessons and rules. It actually helps him comply. It sounded to me like she got into power struggles with him and was more concerned about "winning" against my DS than "reaching" my DS.

Yes!! Same with my two. They just don't accept "because I said so." They behave much better when they have an answer to "why." From a parenting perspective sometimes I stick to my guns with the "because I said so" and I tell them: "I could tell you why, but sometimes in life you just don't get to know, so you better learn to deal with that!" (Ah, life. ;p )

So true with my DS too! Actually, once my DS realizes/feels that most of the time a person will explain and tell him why, he trusts them enough to accept when they can't or won't due to time, energy ect... it's like a trust thing. But he will revisit the issue with you when he catches you not busy and more willing to chat and debate... LOL