Special Education Department Results Meeting

The meeting went pretty well. Steve and both boys went with us. I have on my desk a giant report that is mostly a summary of things I have told them or that they tested themselves. I will hit the high points.

(a number with a % means the 'th percentile and a number that says, for example 1-8 means that jake is functioning on the level of a child who is 1 year and 8 months)

Cognition:
"Jake's performance on the BDI-2 yielded a Cognitive standard score...which falls at the 2nd percentile when compared to same age peers."

Attention and memory: 1% 1-8
Reasoning and Academic skills: 9% 2-0
Perception and concepts: 1% 2-2

Communication:
"...first percentile... The results from the [tests] indicate that Jake has significant language delays."

Receptive: <1% 1-11
Expressive: 1% 2-1

Motor Skills:
"...42nd Percentile" Jake's gross and fine motor skills were OK, and his perceptual motor skills are exceptional, rating in the 5 year old range and >99 percentile.

Adaptive Behavior:
"The results indicate that Jake's adaptive behavior or daily living skills are adequate at this time."

Social/Emotional:
"Parent ratings on the [test] yielded a social-emotional score.... equivalent of 2 years 1 month. The ratings on the [test] yielded a socialization domain standard... which falls in the 13th percentile. These results indicate that Jake's social development is somewhat below average."

Autism:
Jake was seen to have some autistic traits, and the test showed a "most likely autistic" rating, however the school system doesn't officially diagnose, so I guess its just another indicator.

From the summary:
"Results of the present evaluation suggest that Jake is currently functioning below expectancy in the areas of social skills and communication. Cognitive scores are inconsistent... Jake appears to have splinter skills and some gaps in cognitive development at this time. Adaptive skills appear to be within age appropriate limits. Overall, motor skills appear age appropriate, while perceptual motor skills appear to be exceptional.... At this time Jake demonstrates significant delays in the area of communication and social skills. It appears that jake will need additional instruction prior to kindergarten in order to learn effective ways to communicate with others, learn various age appropriate concepts, develop more appropriate social skills, and increase interaction with peers."


So, there it is. I don't really feel any different after this evaluation. It all seems to be things we already knew, just written down in a harder-to-understand and more official sounding format. The good news is that Jake does qualify for services through the school system special education department.

What does that mean? Well, for one thing, Jake will begin school on Monday! Kathy H, the preschool teacher, one of the people we met with, and also a childhood friend of mine, has room in her class. He will be attending on Mondays and Thursdays from 8AM until 10:30. I am hopeful about this because when we pulled up to the pioneer headstart building, Jake began flapping wildly, giggling and saying "School! School!" I guess I called it "school" when we went there for the assessment. He loves the rooms and played on the playground with Daddy and Manny while I finished up in the meeting and was reluctant to leave.

I realize that Jake will be in a class with other delayed and disabled children, and while I feel like he could benefit from being in an integrated program I realize that A) there is no such option available right now and B) I would rather him be in a class with all delayed children with a teacher who is trained to deal with kids like him than for him to be in an all-typical preschool program with a teacher with no experience with special needs children. Ms. Kathy also says that they have tons of flexibility when it comes to catering to each individual child's needs, and says that they will expose Jake to the typically developing children in the headstart class that is in the same building, both on the playground and in group activities. Jake will be given speech therapy there at the school by Amber (my cousin, who could not join us today) and any other services that he needs. I think this is a great stepping off point. I am still terrified that he will not like it and will break down like he did during his short stint in preschool before.

Even more exciting? Jake will be riding the bus! There are two bus drivers and one small bus (yes, the proverbial "short bus".. I couldn't help myself). Kathy said that the children who ride the bus usually LOVE it, and considering Jake's obsession with schoolbusses, I am hopeful. They will even come by one day this week to let Jake try out the bus and maybe go for a short ride around the block. I am nervous and excited for him.

Now I must stop stress-eating like I have been all day, and try not to think too much about the first day of school.