Comments on: No Day But Today

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:14:46 +0000

Ok Sorry I am writing comments on old posts but I’m catching up — and I second the whole Touch Math thing, kids with DS are typically really good visual learners (there’s a program in Orange County, Ca called The Learning Program, they’ve corralled a lot of the ‘best thinking’ on how kids with DS best learn, and it goes without saying that it is hard to generalize but that seems to be one of the big common threads – visual learners). That has been huge for Cooper, as have flash cards (again, good visual memory). As for the IEP, I sweat buckets under my clothes and always feel like a truck hit me afterwards, even though for the most part they go just fine. And I’m sorry about the whole standardized testing thing — we can opt out in California, so we have — I think our kids get so much extra evaluation that they deserve to skip it! (but I think that teacher is right, Sophie will suprise you and likely a few others, too!)

By: The IEP that Melted in My Hand | Girl in a Party Hat

The IEP that Melted in My Hand | Girl in a Party Hat — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:53:44 +0000

[...] IEP meeting was last week, and we’re still in the throes of finalizing/reviewing/sign-seal-and-delivering, but things [...]

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:33:32 +0000

Maybe knowing the scaffolding of the day is what allows Sophie to enjoy the present moment.

Two years ago, the New Yorker had an article about people who are so cognitively impaired (usually due to head injuries) that they can’t remember more than a few moments at a time. Instead of joyful presentism, these people lived in disoriented near-panic. The one time they felt comfortable was when the people who had been musicians got to listen to classical music. The music helped orient them, apparently, it gave them a pattern, it helped them know where they were in time.

It helped me realize that we all need to know what pattern we’re dancing in. That may be true for Sophie, and maybe even for the IEP. Or maybe not.

Anyway, I study history AND I believe in relishing the present moment — and I want to think that is not as contradictory as it seems.

By: Amysilverman

Amysilverman — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:57:21 +0000

Suzanne — I totally relate (and not only on the wine — I drank half a bottle Friday night!). Sometimes I feel like we have way too much therapy. I insist on as much “push in” as possible, but many of the therapists still prefer pulling out. Sigh. It’s a continual work in progress — hardly a once-a-year endeavor, huh?!

By: maya

maya — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:37:31 +0000

Oh Amy. This post made me laugh and cry at the same time.

And “live in the moment.” Wow. That’s some advice I need to take (and practice!) too, especially for the next year (see my email to you….) So true.

And I hear you on the tics. Leo’s current is “what’s that sound?” And since I rarely guess accurately which sound he’s referring to, there is a long list.

By: Suzanne Perryman

Suzanne Perryman — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:11:46 +0000

I drink a lot of wine the night of the IEP. What else can I say? I used to fight for more services, now we have too many. The PT wanted to hang out during zoe’s recess. No! 12 people sitting
around a table detailing more weakness than strength. Ugh. Touchpoint math has rocked for us. I also have insisted on co-servicing in the classes. Ie, speech therapist works on end sounds with zoe using her site words or working on reading. OT visits in art or center time or computer lab. Less pull out. I fought for some great technology aids, computer programs with adaptions and Zoe got a laptop she uses in the classroom now. Hope you had a cocktail that night! Hope you are well. I miss mww

By: Amysilverman

Amysilverman — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:42:17 +0000

funny, we discussed exactly that in sophie’s IEP! made me wonder why touch math (as they were calling it) hadn’t come up as a topic before. sigh. but good to know it’s worked for you guys.

By: starrlife

starrlife — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:52:41 +0000

Does your school use touchpoint math? Our school does and it works well for Kayli.
I wonder if these questions are a good thing- she is locating her time and schedule, orienting herself. I know that we kind of focus on Kayli’s daily schedule and go through it with HER , I wonder if she’s sick of us doing it LOL! Kayli lives mainly in the moment and has a poor sense of time going by or future so now that she is learning to tell time and concepts before and after it is interesting to see ow she puts it all together with a focus on concrete things (Rachel Ray, bedtime, school etc.).
I think there certainly is some truth in the light bulb concept unfortunately…..Sigh.
Sounds like a meaty IEP meeting!