IEP Means I'm Extremely Proud

Last week I attended the IEP meeting for my son James.

For those of you who may be new here, James is my second oldest child, and he joined our family via adoption a little over four years ago when he was 13 and several inches shorter than I. He is now 18 years old and he towers over me.

Helping James to find his way, to find his place in our family, has been a challenge because James is dealing with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This has caused him to have trouble being successful in school, as well, and so a couple of years ago we initiated an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for him.

A large focus with the IEP has been to get his basic academics up to a satisfactory level, but it also addresses his ability to handle stress and frustration in the school setting, as this has been something he has struggled with since he first started school here in America.

But now? That goal for dealing with frustration has been dropped from the IEP.

Why? Simply because he is now able to handle those frustrations within the classroom instead of having an "escape route".

This is huge.

Teachers flitted in and out of the meeting to give updates on how he was doing in each of their classes. 

The phrase "model student" is something I heard.

Several times.

Model. Student.

Those words mean more to me than all the numbers on the state standardized tests and the test grades and the PSATs combined.

I am soooo, so proud of my boy.

Well done, James.

Well done....








*************

Throw me a vote? You know the drill by now. Just click the juggling chick and you've voted. You can vote every day till like, forever.



Thanks!


*************

Check out my blog-hoppin' schedule in my sidebar, and come join the fun!

*************

Rudeness disclaimer:

I love all your comments,
I read every one!
But I can't hit 'reply',
I've no time for fun.
Please don't judge me,
Please don't hate.
If you have a question that just can't wait,
Send me an email at farmbeachgal@yahoo.com,
And I'll answer right back because I'm, you know, the Mom.