Stop Thief

The world of special needs has its own language. When we were first kicked into that world we knew little of septal defects, early intervention, or inclusion.  Acronyms? A stinking alphabetic party! OT, PT, VSD.  But, our all time favorite has become the gem called IEP.  Individualized Education Plan.  The Oh-ficial name for the federally mandated/state executed program for special education students to receive services in the school system.  Joy o' joy. 

As is normal, (that's funny -  I just typed "normal") Ryan started to go to public school for special education services at the ripe age of three.  We have been attending IEP meetings ever since.  Texas readers will note that like most things, the Great Republic of Tejas has managed to re-name everything, so the IEP became the ARD.  At one time the A, the R, and the D stood for something, but no one really remembers what. 

The IEP meeting is attended by an ad hoc team; parents, administration, special ed teachers, general pop(ulation) teachers, and district gurus.  As parents we learned a lot about how best to advocate for Ryan during those meetings.  On rare occasion over the years, Cheryl and I were out-gunned and out-numbered by bureaucratic doo-doo heads -- and those  IEP meetings were dismissed with no parent signature and a pause while we re-grouped for a more sensible IEP team.  Stories later.

But, over the last few years our annual IEP meetings have been, well ... fun.  A room full of Ryan supporters.  With what seemed like no effort at all we mapped out a plan for Ryan's education.   (yeah, I know better  - these educators worked their bow-hinnies off on Ryan's behalf.)  The word is "Individualized".  Ryan's teachers/administration hauled that word in for a touchdown -- every time! Custom made plan.  Tailor made classes.  For me, the perfect example is last years' class schedule.  The story starts with a couple of science teachers asking me if Ryan was going to take any more sciences.  They missed him in class.  I asked them to give some thought to which subject would interest Ryan AND be a curriculum that could be readily modified.   It was a given that since Ryan and math clicketh not, that we would avoid physics and its sisters.  So, we signed him up for something called Applied Science. Oops, bad call.  After two days we all agreed --- too much math.  Much hand wringing ensued because we were "out of sciences"--- no more to choose from.  But, then Ryan's Amazing File Handler offers to modify --- get this --- Honors Anatomy! She reports that the teacher is on board and they are ready to go.  So, Ryan becomes the first IEP student in the district to take Honors Anatomy. 

And now my point.  We observed the Transitions class.  One pile of students.  One schedule.  Everybody goes to the same place and does the same thing.  In a rather tacky moment, we asked ourselves, "so, the pace is chosen by the least capable?  Yuk."  We felt robbed.  Someone stole the individualization that made high school great!  We need help.