To answer your first question; I approached them when DD2 was four and we had the initial testing results (she initially went in for potential autism). She was behind socially, didn't point, didn't communicate well, had speech issues, etc. The school district wouldn't/couldn't help because she scored in the overage or only slightly in the "yellow area of concern range". She simply didn't qualify. Plus it seemed EVERYONE focused on that top score and had no idea what to do with her. Never mind she couldn't spell her name. At the same time as this testing my first daughter was in the local school where they bragged about her scores and the groups she would participate in, advanced math and reading that NEVER happened. It was always pushed off until the school year ended. I watched a child who loved learning refuse to go school because it had become her job to help the others ate her table or she'd have to do the same desk work several times as she waited for her classmate.
I think we have a full scale assessment going on. The online charter is based out of our home district but is the K12 system and is about to be kicked out (charter is scheduled to NOT be renewed) so we do need a new school before next year. I have a teacher, a special Ed teacher, OT, and School psychologist all fighting to get her on an IEP despite average WIAT scores. We're awaiting some specialized test from speech though.
I honestly don't know what to expect from the doctor, or the school district, or the online charter. This is such new territory that I'm confused, overwhelmed, and fearful I'm making all the wrong choices. She has social anxiety, a big part of the reason she is home, but is working with a psychologist on this in hopes that a brick and mortar school is an option in the future. Grandma has severe dyslexia, which can be hereditary, and I want her tested for that but it seems the only way to figure that out is $1500 in testing because no one wants to cover it. She needs speech therapy that no one was willing to do two and half years ago. She hasn't out grown the issue.
We provide some OT therapy in the form of hippotherapy because we can afford it. The insurance is finally covering OT but we're on a waiting list now.
I did notice the initial IEP paperwork is stating "home-bound" is ideal which I thought was a bit premature with everything, and wants to deliver the therapies online instead of in person.
And I have been thinking a lot if this is the best place for her.
But IEP is a legal document, correct? If they find she needs help based a lot on what I see and their testing, instead of fighting a classroom teacher who doesn't see her as problem and therefore needs no help (something I'm watching a friend go through with her very similar child) then the local public school has to adhere to that IEP until it comes times for renewal, correct?
I started this all this when she was four because I knew then there was problem. I also knew that everyone saw a quiet little girl with a few quirks but was no real problem. I was hoping the initial testing would give me the foundation to get the education she needs from the local school but it didn't. Now I'm trying another way. As the psychologist stated yesterday; "this is not child who should be scoring average in average in kindergarten. This is a child who should be in second grade and looking at fourth. We need to use common sense here and get her help." (I love her for this but today the words really took meaning and now I am scared I can't give her the education she needs or deserves. It's why I am here.)
This is all over the place and I apologize. I don't know what to ask or do and will happily consider any advice I can get.
