Making the easy not-so-easy
First I want to thank everyone for their comments and emails on the last post. Note that I added a comment there that you may find interesting.
The only things Pearlsky really needs from school are socialization and physical therapy. Most of the other stuff is just crap, let’s face it. Occupational therapy might be important but you need a real good O.T. for that to be true (for Pearlsky, at least). Her IEP specifies that Pearlsky is to get 45 minutes of O.T. twice a week. Not rocket science, right? Here is the note home the other day …
First, notice how her “2 x 45 per week” is applied. One day, three times. And, almost more interesting, why does the O.T.’s signature change? Before vs. after coffee?
Do I fight this? Do I care? It is really stupid and against the intent of the IEP, probably not at all helpful to Pearlsky … but is it worth the energy to get it right? The O.T. is not that fantastic anyway. Do I fight for the principle of it? Is there a principle?
More of a shake-my-head kind of thing then upsetting. But come on folks, really?
Same reasoning with my Ana pt is great for stretching her hip (dislocated 80%)…..she loves and thrives socializing…..but everything can go scratch. If you’re up for a battle because everything with these children of ours is a battle then give them hell; otherwise let it be.
Glad you’re back…..(give your girlie a hug from me)
She gets all the hugs … 🙁
Now now SD I sent you a hug on your last post…….
That change in handwriting is very interesting. The first so different from the last two. The first Anne is totally different. The second two signatures are almost the same, but start to drift above the line. The first does not evolve into the second and third. It would help to see how the last name was written.
You may or may not appreciate input from a school-based OT like me who regularly reads your blog, and I realize there may be some background and/or some dynamics going on with Anne the OT that I don’t know about. I wonder, though, if it’s possible that the sessions were divided up that way to benefit Pearlsky in some way or maybe because of some unavoidable schedule conflict or something else going on in the classroom or in the school building (like a fire drill, etc.). If her sessions are being broken up regularly, I would think an IEP team meeting should be held to discuss that, but, if it’s just an occasional type of thing, I would not confront the OT and I would not assume it’s necessarily a bad thing. About the handwriting: maybe the second two times the name was written it was recorded by a teacher or a teacher assistant on behalf of the OT while she was busy doing the therapy, or maybe she was writing with a “good pen” and a “bad pen” … Oh and I realize this is a very biased opinion coming from an OT and that you allowed that OT “might be important” if it’s done by a “real good OT,” but in my opinion OT can be every bit as important as P.T. (most range of motion and stretching can be done by a someone who isn’t a certified PT but has just had training from one) – and very much a part of socialization, if it’s done in the right context. I hope that Pearlsky one day has the kind of OT who proves my point!
It sucks that we can’t trust pretty much anyone anywhere when there are so many bad apples in a system that is so broken in so many places. And while there are some really good care providers and therapists they can’t even shine as much when they want to surrounded by so much bullshit and bureaucracy and red tape and other bad apples.
Although now that I think about this statement might just apply to our species in general.
Pessimist, much?
SD, would it be remotely plausible to negotiate for homebased OT instead, free up that bit more of the school day for interactive stuff that truly can’t happen at home (do you ever have her classmates round to visit? got any contact with other parents?).
A thought from a special ed. administrator: At the top right corner of the first time the OT signed there is an initial. To me that indicates that someone signed on her behalf. There is usually a reasonable, if not acceptable, explanation if it occurs once in a while. It’s worth asking about but not make a case out of.
Well you probably can guess what I think: fuck it. There’s no point to fighting on principle when the executors are mediocre. Or as Zen Master Roshi said when asked why suffering exists: “No reason.”
How is it written on the IEP? In my state, it’s illegal for the therapist/school to break it up as s/he sees fit. If it’s written for 2 x 45 x 1 it must be 2 sessions per week of 45 minutes duration in a group of one. If the OT feels it would be better served broken up, the IEP must be amended to reflect that, after parent and OT/school agree.
That said, I’ll agree it’s a pick your battle kind of thing and probably isn’t worth it.
Signature – my guess is the OT signed the first and the teacher or aide filled in the latter two. Note the change in degree, as well. Nobody but the OT would bother to record the full degree. Anyone else would just record “OT.”