Yesterday was the ARD meeting. I believe it was the second one for the year as the first one was when we formally requested a re-assessment evaluation for an Autism Spectrum Dx addition to his IEP.
We had been given the findings report during the weekend so we'd gone over that and I had spoken with the school Psychologist as well since, so I knew we were getting the diagnosis added. Weight off my mind. Last time we tried was his first go around in 1st Grade and we were denied. Or rather, they found things...but not that were affecting him "academically"...therein is the rub!
This time tho, we all were in agreement. So we simply proceeded to the new accommodations for him. He also received a Speech addition now that he is older, it had become more evident that his prosody and pragmatics need help and there are a few letter sounds to work on as well. We absolutely agreed. The OT had some suggestions and findings as well relating to his fine motor...again, agreed.
In all we added quite a bit to his IEP. Speech twice a week, notes given on a sheet of paper at his desk vs only the overhead or board as transfer of information is rough for him. My husband and the Diagnostician also pushed for a calculator addendum to be put in..not necessarily for NOW, since math fact fluency is something he needs to get, and we are working on...but just to HAVE it there so its one less thing to fight for later on. We also added in frequent breaks during testing....small group testing vs entire class...and trascribing (he writes his answers on the test itself vs the scantron..which can be tough for him and cause additional anxiety). Some things about social interactions...lunch buddies, giving him jobs that are seen as important so his peers see him as important and competent, etc.
All in all we tried to lessen the level of anxiety he feels in class, prepare him for the inevitable testing, oral presentation, and social interactions that WILL be part of the higher elementary grades he is now part of. I think it went very well, and everyone present had nothing but nice things to say about him...how gentle he is and how sweet...how interested he is in pleasing the teachers. I know that to be true since he lives to play by the rules in general. But it is nice to hear!
Now we head out to conquer the rest of 3rd Grade and hope the things we enact help, and the results are good!
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