Kindergarten aide
Gus is starting kindergarten next year and we just had his IEP meeting. His preschool teachers and his pediatrician recommended that he have an aide for recess, PE, and any fieldtrips. The district said no, but we're not signing the IEP.
Did any of your sons have aide's in Kindergarten? If not, how did they do? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Lori Ware on
-
What is their reason for denial? My guess is that it is money, but if they said that, it is a violation of federal law.
My son does not have an aide for any of those activities, but he is in APE, not regular PE (and we have had problems with APE) and he is supposed to have someone watching him at recess. It is in his IEP and that gives me a leg should something happen and he was not being watched (a leg to sue that is). I am not suit happy by any means, but it is there job to keep him safe and those areas are a huge liability for them. THey need to understand this....
Good luck!
Lori
-
Permalink Reply by Lisa Groeger on
-
I don't think having an aide in kindergarten is a good idea at all. Neither of my boys had an aide. Unfortunately, they need to learn their limits and have access to the kids so they can see the limits themselves. I felt that an aide at that point would start the isolation so young and then the kids would be afraid to play with them. If they start out like everyone else and they grow up with these kids like my sons have, the kids learn to accept them for their limitations and it becomes part of the everyday landscape. Yes, a few times some kids fell into my sons or they were inadvertantly knocked over but it was very rare. Neither one of my boys have aides yet and they are 15 and 12. My 15 year old is in a wheelchair but is self sufficient still and my 12 year old is still very ambulatory. Don't worry so much, I think he will be fine. One thing the school did was have trucks, sand toys etc out on the playground through like 3rd grade for alternative play that doesn't involve running etc. Truly he will be fine.. If he has an IEP he should qualify for Adaptive PE. My boys had adaptive PE at the same time of their regular PE and they would go to regular PE with the adaptive PE teacher and when they were doing things they couldn't or too hard she would take them to the adaptive PE area and do other things so they were participating with their peers when they could. This plan will also be in place next year for my 12 year old who will start jr. high. he will have adaptive PE at the same time as the regular PE and pick and choose what is appropriate.
-
Permalink Reply by Wyatt's Mommy, Melissa on
-
My experience with school districts and actually anything in general, is they will always say no the first time. I guess that's their way of weeding out the ones who won't persue it. You're son has every right to what is necessary to keep him safe and successful. Every district (as far as I know) have a director of Special Services (maybe a differnt title where you are) I'm assuming you met he or she at the IEP meeting. My advice is just don't take No for an answer. There are advocate groups in all states to fight for Gus's rights. Find that person and they will do the work for you. They know what is legal and what isn't. Public school especially can't deny Gus of anything. Look into the NO Child Left Behind Law, I'm sure there's something in there that will protect Gus's rights. Good Luck.
-
Permalink Reply by Lauren M Fritz on
-
HI Tonya,
My older son is just finishing out his first grade year. While we didn't feel he needed an aide for kindergarten or first grade, we found the teachers and aides in his classes both years to be very helpful. (Jake does receive Pt, speech therapy and adaptive PE through school). What has happened is that the aide assigned to another student in his class has informally kept an eye out for Jake too. I agree that unless you think he needs someone with him all the time, he will have a easier time socially without the aide for now. Jake has figured out as he has gone what he can and cannot do. The plan adjusts as we go. I remember the anxiety I felt about having the plan totally in place before Jake started kindergarten, but it turns out I didn't need to be so worried. What has really helped is for me to be a friendly, vocal parent willing to develop good communication with all of Jake's teachers. Hope that helps!
-
Permalink Reply by Michelle on
-
Jake won't be having an aide for KG this Fall. He's been in the special needs preschool program at the local high school for nearly 2 years (since 3), rides the bus from there to his daycare, etc. and functions fine w/o an aide. I too am worried about the playground come first grade (next year) when he's out with the big kids because it looked crazy and he'd definitely get knocked down (the KG kids have their own littler playground). But for now, the schools thought waiting on the aide till he really needed it might be better. Jake hates not being "like all the other kids" so we agreed. And KG only lasts 2.5 hours anyway. Our IEP process has been pretty thorough and everyone was very helpful. We even had a transition meeting between the preschool and the elementary school a couple weeks ago. My understanding is that if you really want the aide and push hard, the school generally relents.
-
Permalink Reply by Cheri Gunvalson on
-
Our son Jacob is 18 and just graduated from HS. I will share a few ideas we used, take what might work and feel free to leave the rest. When he was small I brought sand box toys that all the kids could play with in the pea rock around the playground equipment. The playground aids brought the bag of toys out daily and one was tasked to stay close to Jacob to help him up if he fell down. Jacob liked to play with army men and tanks etc in the sand at ome and the pea rock at school. I was told the other kids layed with the toys more than he did but it was always an option for him. At first the school was worried hey might lose some of the toys I said no problem they were inexpensive toys. The kids did not ask where they came from...they thought it was the schools. Likewise, when he got older I brought in a bunch of board games (my mom found a bunch at garage sales) they set out in the lunch room for all to play with, the teachers also allowed Jacob to stay in at recess and work on his school work or read. He did not have any behavior issues and I know we were very fortunate to have such cooperatvie teachers. Jacob did not want an aid and in elem it was fine as each teacher was very good with accomadations. At the end of 6th grade we had our IEP meeting preparing for 7th grade and 6 new teachers. Jacob was very firm..he did not want a middleaged woman (aid) following him around HS. The 6th grade teacher wrote a great letter to the HS teachers, one that brought tears to my eyes about the accomadations they would need to make and how after a short while one doesn't see Jacob's disability but a student with creativity and insight like no other. The case manager put that in all the new teachers mailbox that spring and again in the fall before we had the fall into meeting with the previous years teachers to give the new teachers insight. At these mtgs we always had the PT to help with desk modifications etc. We did this each year he had new teachers. The previous teachers would update the letter. We were lucky to have the same adaptive PE teacher as the school only had one, there were years she was schedule else where but when I pointed out they were not in compliance with his IEP they would put her back to Jacob class. In HS as PE was more difficult and he did not want to do the accomadations he chose to have an extra study hall. He is off to college in August and we are setting up as he would say "hired help" at home in the am to help prepare for college this fall where he will have help in the am and pm. I do not know what is the best way to do these things but we tried our best to accomadate what Jacob wanted...ie to be like the other kids. It did help that he has an older brother and younger sister on the bus etc to let me know where there was an issue as Jacob like his brother was not one to tell me but his sister has always told me sometimes more than I want to hear. I will not tell you it has been an easy journey but he is looking forward to college. Our local paper interviews the HS graduating class and when Jacob was asked what was he looking forward to it was, "going to college, women and getting out of Dodge". Good Luck Cheri
Michelle said:Jake won't be having an aide for KG this Fall. He's been in the special needs preschool program at the local high school for nearly 2 years (since 3), rides the bus from there to his daycare, etc. and functions fine w/o an aide. I too am worried about the playground come first grade (next year) when he's out with the big kids because it looked crazy and he'd definitely get knocked down (the KG kids have their own littler playground). But for now, the schools thought waiting on the aide till he really needed it might be better. Jake hates not being "like all the other kids" so we agreed. And KG only lasts 2.5 hours anyway. Our IEP process has been pretty thorough and everyone was very helpful. We even had a transition meeting between the preschool and the elementary school a couple weeks ago. My understanding is that if you really want the aide and push hard, the school generally relents.
-
Permalink Reply by Jeni Ward on
-
This was a very interesting discussion! Colin will start K in the fall as well. I am a little worried, but I have not asked for an aide. He was doing fine on his own in preschool, and I just plan to talk to the teachers and other school personnel about what to watch for. His PT and OT have both said they will work with teachers, including visits to the classroom to be sure he is getting what he needs. I don't really want him to be singled out from the other kids in any way at this point so that he is able to make friends a little easier.
But if you want an aide, the district should come up with some sort of plan. Our OT and PT wrote Colin's IEP, and I trust them. Is there someone there that you trust that can help you out/
-
Permalink Reply by Tonya on
-
Hi Jeni,
I responded to your email before I saw your message on this thread! We mjust had our meeting at Gus' school and he will not have an aide next year, just extra help if he needs it in PE and on the playground. They do have a "safety plan" in place for him, that all teachers, aides, subs, must review.
Jeni Ward said:This was a very interesting discussion! Colin will start K in the fall as well. I am a little worried, but I have not asked for an aide. He was doing fine on his own in preschool, and I just plan to talk to the teachers and other school personnel about what to watch for. His PT and OT have both said they will work with teachers, including visits to the classroom to be sure he is getting what he needs. I don't really want him to be singled out from the other kids in any way at this point so that he is able to make friends a little easier.
But if you want an aide, the district should come up with some sort of plan. Our OT and PT wrote Colin's IEP, and I trust them. Is there someone there that you trust that can help you out/
-
Permalink Reply by Karen on
-
Hi
I am in a similar place to Cheri. My son just graduated from HS and is off to college in the Fall. Erik had an aid for 10 days in HS when his arm strength had a major change. He was thankful for the transition support, but was ready to have her gone as soon as possible. I think to have an aide or not is dependent on the child's needs. Erik is very independent. Having an aide would "cramp his style." He is commuting to college by bus without an aide. I figure that he will know when he needs one. So far his upper body strength has recovered some and he is able to function well.
In elementary school we had Erik's IEP in Oct. so the new teacher could see what accomodations he needed. Usually there was an aid in the room (general) who would help him get his notebook out of his backpack etc. When getting to recess and back to class took all his time, we got him a scooter which protected him in the halls and out on the playground. He would park the scooter outside the classroom and outside on the playground so he could ref a soccer match or be a score keeper. He did not take adaptive PE. In our district it is the kids with cognitive delays that were included in adaptive PE. His teachers didn't think it was a good fit. Instead he did stretching with his peers and helped officiate games etc. In HS Erik and I met with new teachers the week before school started to explain who he is, his disease and what accomodations he needed in their classroom. This was seperate from the IEP. Each year, Erik took on more of these responsibilities.
-
Permalink Reply by Kelly Bruhl on
-
I am a kindergarten teacher in CA. Not sure what state you're in, but in CA the kids must be with a credentialed teacher during any class time. Most elementary PE teachers do not have a credential. You may want to point out that his teacher will lose her prep- time if she has to go out to PE with the class. As far as field trips go, I had been taking the day off work to transport his wheelchair. Little did I know, they can throw the wheelchair in the compartment under the bus. If you can't go on every field trip, I would hold out for a field trip aid. Cade didn't really need a recess aid until 2nd grade. I guess that just depends on his progression. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me at Kelly.Morony@yahoo.com
-
Permalink Reply by Lee Ann Faeth on
-
Hi Tonya,
My son just graduated Kindergarten last week and I did have a full time aide written into his IEP. In my case, we were fortunate that the school district didn't argue, but I made sure ahead of time that I was very prepared. He did not need the aide for anything academic, but I was very concerned about the playground, getting to and from school activities and PE. Although it was not part of her job description, during the times that he didn't need her assistance or watchful eye, the aide worked with other children in the class and assisted the teacher with class projects, etc. My son NEVER knew that she was there to help him and for me it created peace of mind knowing that there was someone there to help and watch out for him.
© 2023 Created by PPMD.
Powered by
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
