Planning for grade 3 - IPRC

Yesterday I attended an IPRC meeting for my daughter it was an opportunity for me to discuss my daughters needs & strengths. It is also an opportunity for me to make sure everything is in place for the following school year.  I felt like a broken record reviewing my daughters needs again and again as we had many school meetings over the last few months  due to a few challanges we faced this year.  

Next year I've reluctantly agreed to my daughter attending a special education classroom at her home school for children with developmental delay.  I truly hope this is going to be an ideal situtaion for her.  She will have a teacher that is dedicated to working with kids with signifigant chanellges.  I  hope this teacher and support staff will see my daughter like any other child as a communicator and a learner and set high expectations for her.  I know she needs the extra support this classroom can offer her but  I don't want her to be treated like a baby. She's 8 and needs to be enouraged to be as indepentant as possible.

I found it troubling reading through some of the Ministry of Education Categories and Definitions.  My daughters IPRC states that my daughter has a developmental disability  which is defined as "a severe learning disorder".   Yes I see that and I get that but it is hard to swallow and accept. I see how far she has come and I have so much hope that she will learn to read and communicate effectively in the future.  

The definition goes on to state:
a) an inability to profit from a special education program for students with mild intellectual disbabilites because of slow intellectual development.
b)an ability to profit from a special education program that is designed to accomadate slow intellectual develeopment;
This is the part that really bothers me is this really NESSCESSAY?
c) a limited potential for academic learning, independent social adjustment and economic self-support. 

OUCH I find that last part very hard to read, accept and feel that last statement is just so negative it hurts this Mom to the core.   I worry it sends such a negative message to parents, teachers and support staff about my daughter and all  kids in this category that they can't learn, socialize or be indepentant.  I feel these statements leaves little room for optimism about my daughter's future. I am always overly optimistic, my glass is always half full, the sun will always come out tomorrow. For my daughter I always knew she would be a walker, and I love that she is a gymnast and a soccer player. I just knew she won't need to carry that oxygen tank into the classroom with her.  I was ever hopeful she would learn to eat one day.  All these things she accomplished they were big deals.  She can crawl, sit on a typical chair to enjoy a meal or a show. Feed herself a meal using her utensils.  I continue to hope that one day she will be a better communicator and a reader.  I'm certain her future will be meanful and serve a purpose yes she will likely need support in whatever she does but it still be purposeful and meaningful. Not only to Ashley but too many people that she will meet.

I was told that kids with severe learning disabilities can learn to read they just have to work at it a lot more then typical learners.  Which means picking up and reading a lot more books.  Ashley and I read many leveled readers each day she enjoys this time with me and loves books. I can not tell you if one day she will be a reader. But I can tell you that I will only fail her if I don't try to teach her.  

 

Just believe in my girl and all that she can do.

 

So I'm  just going to continue to think positively about the upcomming school year.  I would love the ministry to consider the messages they are sending parents, teachers and our kids.

Look who is 7! - Party Video

March flew by and birthday season is in full swing at our house.  Ashley turned 7 last week and I'm amazed at all the progress she has made she's really moving about. She is crawling just a little,  she enjoys balancing on high knees and trying to stand up it's fabulous progress. She's also using her spoon to feed herself a few bites.  She really enjoys her days in grade one too.  I will follow up with a blog post on all her progress later this week.   This weekend we threw Ashley a rainbow gymnastics party at Gymalaya. What a fabulous place to have a party.  She enjoyed her birthday there last year too and perhaps we will do it again next year.  A big thank you to all of Ashley friends and family that came to make this day so special. 

Ashley's smile the entire day!

 Fun Brothers taking after Grampy.

 Rainbow treats - home made by Mom!

Now I have to plan something just as fun for Damon who will be double digits  next week closely followed by Taylor 3rd birthday in 2 weeks. 

Here's a link to last years 6th birthday video also celebrated at Gymalaya.   I did a better job with the video last year. I need to another photographer besides myself at the party.  

Ice Skating - So nice to be included!!

This morning I accompanied Ashley on a winter outing with her grade one class she went Ice Skating.  It felt wonderful to be there with her on the ice.   I  recall  when she was just two sending her older brother off to skate with his grade one class feeling sad that Ashley may have to miss out on such  fun.

Five years later and my outlook is so different.   I really see many doors opening for Ashley as long as we plan there is always a way to participate.  Ashley's wonderful grade one teacher and school therapist arranged for a sledge and  Ashley was on the ice and enjoyed herself so much.  Her friends were happy to see her there and a few asked  why she wasn't on skates.    That would be something I'd love to see one day too and I think is possible perhaps a seated walker and some skates.   I love how the other kids see her doing it all.   Go Ashley Go!!!!

Ashley 6 years old, a public speaker and self advocate!

The Quest 2011

It was such a privilege this week for Ashley and I to share her road to inclusion story,  at an international conference for educators called "The Quest" hosted by York Region Public School Board.

I was emotional delivering this speech as this was truly a tribute to Ashley's entire team of teachers, aids, and therapists and only with them working together and believing  in my little girl is this such a success story.  There was a 1000+ educators in the room they gave us quite the audience. Public speaking was new to both Ashley and I but we were both very passionate about our message. 

Ashley's road to inclusion.  A road I hope many other kids will travel.

Myself and Ashley getting ready to speak!!  We were all so excited!

My words;
My daughter you're so amazing.
You were born into a storm. Coming into this world, so tiny, and yet instantly fighting for your life.

I hope this world can see how wonderful you are.

Your life started in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for months followed by daily therapy to learn to do what comes so easy to most, walking, communicating, eating and even holding a toy. 

Instead of playmates you had dedicated nurses and therapists.  Instead of walks in the park and rides in a stroller you went to therapy, doctor visits and experienced long hospital stays

Ashley speaks - 

 I just want to run and play. 

 I have something to say. 

Then I continue to share...

When Ashley entered Mrs. Gambino’s kindergarten class, she had her challenges but was welcomed by her teacher just the same as her classmates.

September Junior Kindergarten

Ashley’s speech therapist Mrs. Visconti brought her augmentative communication devices. She gave Ashley a voice for the first time!

And if that wasn't great enough that she now has a voice! 

Mrs. Visconti also worked with 

Ashley's teachers on appropriate IEP goals that were measurable and attainable.   She helped Ashley's teachers find the appropriate curriculum even beyond communication but for language and math. 

So Ashley has a fabulous IEP!   Ashley's teachers and Aids were excited with this guidance and modified teaching methods they followed thru and worked hard with Ashley each day. Ashley was able to make progress with all this support and has had her IEP expanded. This team work is the KEY to successful inclusion. 

Dream team meeting!!!

Her   classmates connected when Ashley was able to comment and ask them questions.

Ashley was embraced by neighbourhood friends and blossomed through the encouragement of her teachers and classmates. 

Seeing Ashley doing so well in kindergarten, her father and I decided NO special classes, NO limits, No labels!   She like her brothers has so much potential and the sky is the limit.

We feel it’s important that she learn how to interact with the real world and not be sheltered.   Most importantly we want her to believe in herself, and all of her abilities!

Ashley needs to be surrounded by able-bodied peers and this is hard to provide in a separated special education classroom. We feel she will do best if she exposed to typical classroom environment where her peers can be her friends and role models.

Ashley - At school they gave me a voice. My name 

is Ashley.  Will you be my friend?

 Inclusion in education for Ashley is the beginning of inclusion for the rest of her life. Just as we all want to belong, Ashley wants to belong and Ashley wants to be included. 

I don’t want the school to focus on guarding and protecting her. I want the school to focus on giving her lots of chances and choices.

They have assisted her to walk daily and in response, she led her entire class into kindergarten graduation with her walker.

She was given a simple step-by-step communication device and is now learning to use an iPad with even more options to communicate.

Ashley has been given the opportunity to stay for grade one, and we are so appreciative of the incredible support she has received in Ms. Bloom’s class.

We hope to see Ashley’s at this year’s primary skate days and were excited when Janice Lee the school’s physiotherapist suggested of course Ashley could skate with a sledge.

Who would have thought when Ashley was born that she would be up here giving a speech to all of you.  Ashley loves music and I’m sure would be thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in primary choir. I don’t see anything as impossible for my little girl as long teachers and support staff, are open minded and welcoming Ashley can do anything!

I’m confident Ashley will be successful at her home school for all of her elementary years.

I look forward to seeing how OUR family, OUR resource teams and OUR school will continue to collaborate.

With careful planning and resource management Ashley will benefit with greater access to the full curriculum throughout elementary school and even high school.

How will YOU help me to make this happen?

Ashley's closing words; 

I love being in Ms. Bloom’s class.

I love books. I really want to learn to read. 

I enjoy going to birthday parties and playing with my friends in the yard at recess.    I just want to be a kid.

And will you be my friend?   Please

We received a standing ovation from all the educators in the room. !!!

My public speaker  just 6 years and advocating for herself and others in her position look what she can do!

I'm so thankful for this opportunity.  I hope we inspired at least one parent or teacher in the room to see a child with a number of needs as an active learner and raise their expectations for all children to the sky!  

Special thank you to Erin S. one of Ashley's friends and a neighbour who recorded Ashley's thoughts for this presentation on Ashley's step by step.  It was very sweetly done.    By the way Ashley's story was just one of 5 stories shared in this dramatic presentation.  I will do my best to find out when this will air on ROGERS TV channel 63 if anyone is interested in watching this. 

Look what my girl is doing now - pulling to stand!

We are spending two weeks at my parents cottage near the beach in New Brunswick it's a small place with tiny bed rooms. The new place has let Ashley explore in a whole new way.   Ashley sleeps on a double bed with Taylor playpen just a foot away I was shocked to find her standing after putting her to bed yesterday.  Check this out, she is pleased too.  At five this is a very big deal to be pulling up to stand for the first time sometimes I hate to admit you feel like these things are never going to happen and then she totally surprises me.  I'm so proud of her!!!

This is also making it harder to put her to bed but it's so great.  This is amazing stuff for my girl!

No not my girl!

No not my girl  attempting to make a big cereal mess on my kitchen floor.
No not my girl emptying  a kleenex box for fun
No not my girl lifting pots over her head and banging them on the floor.
My oh my the amazing new skills she has and the interest in exploring, dumping and banging everything to Mommy's delight!   I thought Taylor was going to be modeling these things for her in a few months but no she is the leader.  

You see for now Taylor is still stationary but his sister is moving right  along.