Idiots Expound Profusely (I.E.P.)
Have I ever mentioned that I hate idiots?
The moment you combine the concept of “communication,” when dealing with Pearlsky, who, according to you, has none, the moment you mention her “intent” or “intention” you expose your inner self, that of a complete moron, or, at least a person who should not be working with this population.
From Merriam-Webster:
in·tent noun \in-ˈtent\
Definition of INTENT
1 a : the act or fact of intending : purpose; especially : the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act <admitted wounding him with intent>
b : the state of mind with which an act is done : volition2 : a usually clearly formulated or planned intention : aim <the director’s intent>
Fairly clear, fairly simple word.
I am sitting at a table with six intelligent, educated, trained professionals. And Pearlsky’s mother. The topic of communication comes up and I am told that Pearlsky …
shows her intent by hitting a switch properly 70% of the time.
Wow. Ummm, wait. How do you know? HOW DO YOU KNOW HER INTENT? The moment you tell me that she is showing her “intent” you better be darn well prepared to tell me how you know her intent. And no, you cannot know her intent by her showing her intent by hitting the switch. That’s insane. Simple question, how do you know her intent?
If you cannot prove that she hits the switch only when she wants to, intentionally, purposely, then any hitting of the switch is meaningless. It could be random, can you prove it is not?
What if you ask her 100 times to hit the switch and she hits it 70% of the time? What does that tell you? NOTHING. If she hits it 100% of the time, and never any other time, then you can make ASSUMPTIONS that it is intentional.
Then I get pissed. Actually, a lot led up to this, the meeting was a farce, but then I said …
You are all familiar with one thing that Pearlsky does, intentionally as far as we all know, that she will stop doing on strong request so we know she can control it. Why don’t you use that as a stepping stone to communication. You have been trying switches for 15 years, maybe it’s time to be creative, no? But you won’t do it.
They look at me like I am crazy. No one can think of what I am talking about. (see here or here or other posts you may remember)
You have all told me that she sucks on her fingers for comfort or tactile stimulation or for some unknown reason. You have also all told me that you can talk her out of doing it. Hence, everyone in this room believes that Pearlsky can intentionally put her fingers in her mouth, and intentionally remove them. Ummm, hello? A vehicle for communication?
Le Duh.
Then a voice from the other side of the table …
But that’s disgusting.
Good priorities, idiot.
Two more IEPs and I am done. Forever. Frankly my dear, I don’t care much about them anymore.
Where’d you get that meter?
Why not? Could even try a tape switch on a preferred finger? There are loads of flex- and bite-activated switches out there.
These people are indeed idiots.
Oh, oh, oh …. I want a meter too!!
I am not even a few years into IEP’s and I am SO over them.
Sitting in The ER for the second time today , and seeing paramedics coming and going and reminds of that little known fact about you that you divulged a bit ago. Still trying to envision you in that uniform. The meds must be getting to me …
… sounds too much like the old version of “facilitated communication” with a moderately techno twist; god save us from special education.
I think it’s ‘disgusting’ that they’d overlook a bridge to communication for her based on social protocol.
Single Dad, good catch, great post, ingenious idea, wish it had been brought up earlier. There is that springboard.
But does she truly control it, or is she just reacting on an urge? MY oldest has the habit of fingers in the mouth, and yes, the teachers and schools went ape over it, and we tried to control this as well, for hygiene reasons. It became important as one of my kids was dxed with leukemia and the chemo that followed left him neutropenic–a very weak immune system, and to have a brother who spent time with him constantly putting his fingers in his mouth…well, you know the reasoning.
He’s pushing 30 these days, and still has the habit. So I don’t know how much control Pearsky has about doing this, though the idiots at the school seem to think she is doing it deliberately. That she is aware that it something met with a reaction to have her remove the hands, is one thing, or is it another auto react that she has? But it is an opening to be pursued. I hope something comes of it.
My son has his hands in his mouth a lot, and when certain people tell him to stop, he does (one was a rather large, intimidating aide at his last school). He totally ignores me when I ask him to take them out.
He soaks his clothes when he really gets going with the hands. I bought a pair of gloves awhile back and I’ve started using them again recently. He can still get his fingers in his mouth, but he can also play with the soft spikes on the gloves.
After some hellish ieps, I skipped the last one. I’m really tired of all the bs. I’d love to see a video of one of yours! Love the meter.
IEP meetings suck
Communication… it seems that my son’s previous professionals wanted my son to perform what they deemed appropriate behaviors prior to the introduction of any meaningful communication system or device. It was insulting and demeaning. My son was forced to repeat and repeat behaviors so the professionals can prove his intentions and motives. When a preschoolers are learning their colors and they get the color right the first time, do we then make them repeat it 8 of 10 times or 10 of 10 times in a row, day after day? Oh, and how about the data, it must be logged and tallied. If your data isn’t sufficient you don’t get to learn the next color? No, we move on to the next color or task. Why, why, why do they make these kids, who have to work harder than any others, to repeat and repeat boring and tedious tasks to prove to them they are worthy of introduction to a communication device or system?