How many IEP meetings to change a lightbulb

[Debi]

If team members were asked "How many IEP meetings does it take to
change a light bulb," this is they might say:

Parent - "The light bulb is not the only thing that's burnt out."

General Education Teacher - "No one said I was going to have to teach changing light bulbs."

Case Manager - "If you hadn't wanted so many hours of service in that room, maybe the light bulb wouldn't have burned out."

Transition Coordinator - "I think they cover that in life skills."

Special Education Teacher - "We don't need a light bulb, it's not like they're reading or writing."

Special Education Director - "We'll have to just keep changing his placement until we find a room that has a light bulb."

Resource Teacher - "The side benefit is that we'll have to bring them up from the basement."

Teaching Assistant - "We don't really need a new light bulb, there's enough light coming off the television."

School District Attorney - "The regulations don't require light in the timeout room."

Dean of Discipline- "Is there supposed to be a light in the time-out room?"

Assistive Technology Team - "First, we have to determine that the light bulb's really burnt out and then we can trial a flashlight."

School Nurse - "I don't know how many it will take to change the light bulb, but all the special ed children will have to go home until we do."

Secretary at the meeting - "O.K. then, how many minutes of light are we allotting in the IEP?"

Special Education Director - "We are willing to provide nightlights and maybe open the door a crack; we feel this is more than educationally appropriate and all Rowley requires."

Teacher - (Sobbing) "What do you people expect from us anyway!"

Parent - "I don't understand why you're being so difficult, it's not like we're asking for a chandelier."

School Psychologist - "The children are just lazy. If they really wanted to learn they'd study by candle light like Abraham Lincoln."

Janitorial Custodian - "I'd like to help you, but I'm not a part of the IEP team."

Dean of Discipline - "I'm just here to make sure we write it as 'change the light bulb.' The minute anyone uses the word,'screw' this meeting is over."

Special Education Attorney - "The light bulb is the least important thing that needs to be changed in that classroom."

Author Unknown

[Vic Spencer]

I have a dumb question.

What the heck is IEP?

[Debi]

Hey Vic, you are welcome to come with me to my daughter's next one. I was oblivious that they existed. It's when all the school professionals come to meet with the parents about how to provide an individualized education plan to ensure the child will be educated in spite of his/her disabilities that prevent him/her from learning just like everyone else. So, for example, if you have a deaf child then the team would meet to discuss how to ensure the student can understand lectures, be involved in the social aspect of school. In this situation the team may find a sign language interpreter or written copies of teacher lectures should be made available to the student, as an example.

For autism, it can be challenging. Because a child with autism does not always comprehend spoken language and sometimes cannot verbalize expressive langauge, behaviors can develop from the frustration. Research has found the best chances of reversal/significant improvement happens if the child receives at least twenty hours/week of one:one teaching called ABA, or applied behavioral analysis. Since pediatricians around here won't even acknowledge a problem until at least two, and because the UT speech & hearing department will likely be shut down in few months (the most widely used diagnostic center), the chances of any kid getting services here in TN are nearly zilch.

So by school age, a lot of kids with autism have not received what they need to receive, KCS won't pay for it unless you sue them, and kids continue doing without. That equates to ~$3mil/lifetime care to the taxpayer.
But hey, at least we have fun at those IEP meetings, right girls & boys?

[Vic Spencer]

Debi, is such a meeting dealing with only one child or several children with different needs? Let me know when the next meeting would be and where. I would also need to know which pussicat you are in the picture so I can recognize you.

[Debi]

ROFL! The meeting deals with one child per meeting. I will email you when the next meeting happens.

[Darlene Hunter]

Let me understand this. You are inviting him to your child's next IEP meeting, correct? While I don't have a problem with that, do you have to notify the school if you are adding someone to the list of people attending? I know the school has to list someone ie: principal or administrator, CDC teacher, speech etc.....

IEP meetings are just that, individual education plans. They are meetings that are held to determine what plan of action will be taken to meet a child's needs. These children are generally someone with some type of special needs. It could be medical, emotional, learning, mental/behavioral. Mr. Spencer, not all children have IEPs. There are some children that have what is called a 504 and there are some children who have nothing at all, meaning they are 100% mainstreamed.

[Vic Spencer]

OK Darlene! I know I am just too... too...too much!

So I opt out of the meeting!

I don't want to create any conflicts among y'all!

Vic, The All Feeling Maharishi And Grand Mufti Of Knoxville

[Debi]

I'm not sure, do you want to come, too? I'm sure all the staff at my daughter's school reading this site would welcome both of you, right?

Yes, it is my understanding that you have to notify if you are bringing a legal representative, just friends, I'm not sure. I'm trying to remember the biggest one I was at I think there were 7 friends of the family in attendance, I don't recall having to specify anything further than that.

[Debi]

Hey Darlene, are you ever permitted to attend your students' IEP meetings? I've never had any of my daughter's teaching assistants in attendance, seems you all would be pretty crucial for input.

[Darlene Hunter]

No, only certified personnel attend the meetings. Besides as a T.A., I would have to cover the CDC teacher's class while they were out for meetings.

No Vic, you are not too much. I just felt in reading that you at first might think these meetings were large group sessions for children in general. The school itself could never invite you but a parent can.

Just a bit of background, I have one child with severe asthma and one with severe ADD. The ADD is now an adult and she wasn't officially diagnosed until the beginning of her Junior year of high school. This made school very difficult for years.

[Debi]

It's my understanding anyone can attend a meeting who has an input into the child's education, I'm not sure what certified means. I've read accounts of cafeteria managers attending when the child had feeding issues, as an example. I think teaching assistants are wonderful and could provide valued input, none of you get paid nearly what you're worth.

[Darlene Hunter]

Well thank you.
Certified is the term used basically for liscensed teachers and administrative personnel. All other school personnel are called Classified. It is just how they distinguish us.

Like I said, someone has to cover the classes/students during meetings, so that is us.

[Vic Spencer]

What the heck is ROFL? Does it include the F word?! It does??!!