Well, school is finally in for Max!
After a couple of failed attempts we were finally able to get a meeting together with ALL the members of Max’s team to plan for this year. I have to say that Aaron and I are very pleased with the outcome of this year’s meeting. So how many people does it take to get Max to school…well, the Escambia County School District thinks it takes eleven. There was the Director of Exceptional Student Education (ESE), Director of Pre-K ESE, ESE Transportation Director, OT, PT, Assistive Technology OT, Principal, Max’s teacher, Max’s Teacher’s ESE advisor, Pre-K director for the school he is attending, Director of Health (Nursing), and finally Aaron and myself. This year Max is at the district’s Pre-K center instead of an elementary school, which Aaron and I think is a great environment for him. He is in a General Education class in an “inclusion” spot. These are spaces allotted in general education classes for high functioning special needs children.
Max’s first day of school was last Tuesday and he loved it. We really like his teacher and her aide. Ms. Robin is attending with him. She wasn’t sure she wanted to continue going to school, but she also got a really good vibe from the class/school and Max only goes Tuesdays and Thursdays vs. five days a week. We thought the two day a week schedule was better, so that Max doesn’t get over tired and hopefully his immune system will stay stronger. This also allows ample time for his appointments and therapies. Realistically, Max isn’t there for content. He is there to learn the fundamentals of succeeding in a school environment, e.g. listening to directions, “walking” in a line, waiting his turn, and socializing with his peers. We also want to focus on getting all of the assistive technology equipment in line that he will need so that by the time he gets to kindergarten he is ready to learn with all the other kiddos instead of having to learn eye gaze, and still trying to keep up in class at the same time. I have to say, the part Aaron and I were most impressed with was that the Pre-K director for the district spent the first day in the classroom with Max and his nurse troubleshooting any issues that may have come up. So far, so good. The biggest challenges will always be having an appropriate place for Max to be changed, making sure the class environment is accessible for him, and increased awareness of handwashing/sanitizing for the other students. I give them credit, because they were all addressed efficiently. My only complaint at the IEP meeting was that the school buses were pulled into the only handicap spots (not sure if you have noticed, but this is a pet peeve of mine). I can’t believe how quickly it was resolved. By Thursday afternoon the bus was not parked there and Nurse Robin was told that all of the buses were notified that day. Guess they are just trying to avoid crazy, head spinning Traci.
This is Ms. Tran and Max playing with play-doh.
The district was even able to work out transportation for Max to get to school in the morning. We attempted afternoon busing, but it was much too long of a ride and really bumpy, which wasn’t good for Max’s neck. In the morning Max is the only child on the bus and he has his nurse, two aides to strap his chair down and the driver; an awful lot of people to get one kid to school. I am going to pick him up, but since the district couldn’t provide appropriate transportation home they are going to reimburse me mileage for the afternoon commute. That will be a big help with “Bumper,” Max’s name for our new van.
The teacher was able to work out the special areas (music, PE, art), so that Max's class has music instead of PE on the days that he is there. Just another way they really are taking care of our little guy. He really enjoyed playing his tambourine. It is a lesson for him, because they were "assigned" instruments. Luckily, I think it worked out in his favor.
Max is already making his place as class comedian as he made circle time on his first day the moment that he would debut his very first real joke. It went down like this:
Max: Ms. Robin, raise my hand
Ms. Robin: Okay
Ms. Tran: Yes, Max
Max: I have a question
Ms. Tran: What is that?
Max: What do you get when you cross a crocodile with a chicken?
Ms. Tran: I don’t know
Max: a Crocodoodle doo!
All the adults: *snickering*
All the kids: *bewildered*
Aaron was so proud! Incidentally, they didn’t have the button for Max to push to raise his hand this week, that should be there next week. Max presses it and a light flashes to let the teacher know Max is “raising” his hand. I would like to point out, sending Max to school with Ms. Robin is like sending him with his own personal paparazzi :).
On a totally unrelated note, Aaron and I took a rare opportunity to get dressed up for a Ball last Saturday, so I thought I would share a picture of us all “gussied” up.
Peace!
