In the process of deciding just what to do about Caleigh's schooling; Eric and I were talking about the inevitable fork in the road. I feel very Robert Frostish lately.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Now I just need to find out which one is the less traveled and which one will make all the difference for our girl.
Caleigh didn't go to school yesterday. Today we have a GI appointment, OT and a meeting with our MDCP lady. It's a busy day.
Caleigh's pain has increased since we finished the antibiotic last Wednesday. Her tummy is big. She is stooling at least 4 times a day. She tells me 5+ times a day "I feel sick" "My tummy hurts." Before going off the antibiotic she mostly said she was happy or sleepy. When she isn't being fed she tends to not notice as much. It's the feeds that seem to be bothering her. Sunday morning I woke up to the smell of Elecare. The tube had come open and the pump was feeding the bed for who knows how long. Caleigh seemed a little more upbeat that day not getting all of her feed. I'm very interested to see what the GI has to say about everything.
We have a neuro ophthalmologist appointment lined up. We also have a meeting with a child psychologist. We will be talking CVI with the neuro opthalmologist. We will be talking to the child psychologist about counseling techniques, and possible testing for school including the idea that Caleigh might be what is known as twice exceptional. We are hoping to get some more direction on Caleigh's education and vision. We are hoping to learn a lot from our upcoming appointments.
Until then, I will play the two scenarios in my head. A life in the public school system or a life of home and community education. They are two completely different paths. Equally just the same. Which one makes all the difference?
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Now I just need to find out which one is the less traveled and which one will make all the difference for our girl.
Caleigh didn't go to school yesterday. Today we have a GI appointment, OT and a meeting with our MDCP lady. It's a busy day.
Caleigh's pain has increased since we finished the antibiotic last Wednesday. Her tummy is big. She is stooling at least 4 times a day. She tells me 5+ times a day "I feel sick" "My tummy hurts." Before going off the antibiotic she mostly said she was happy or sleepy. When she isn't being fed she tends to not notice as much. It's the feeds that seem to be bothering her. Sunday morning I woke up to the smell of Elecare. The tube had come open and the pump was feeding the bed for who knows how long. Caleigh seemed a little more upbeat that day not getting all of her feed. I'm very interested to see what the GI has to say about everything.
We have a neuro ophthalmologist appointment lined up. We also have a meeting with a child psychologist. We will be talking CVI with the neuro opthalmologist. We will be talking to the child psychologist about counseling techniques, and possible testing for school including the idea that Caleigh might be what is known as twice exceptional. We are hoping to get some more direction on Caleigh's education and vision. We are hoping to learn a lot from our upcoming appointments.
Until then, I will play the two scenarios in my head. A life in the public school system or a life of home and community education. They are two completely different paths. Equally just the same. Which one makes all the difference?
5 comments:
Ah yes -- life is full of those fork in the road moments! You will totally choose the right path and once you do I'm sure you will feel total confirmation as to why you choose it! Keep lovin your girl and wanting what's best for her -- that will always lead you in the right direction!
We had a fork in the road with our son. We chose the private school route and never regretted it! We spent so much time and money at ARD as we always had our psychologist attend.
Private school allowed our son the freedom to expand his giftedness without being fettered by his autism.
I keep all of you in my prayers.
Just keep going. The right path will present itself. Sarah, too, was out of the box. I mean she was out of the box of special needs kiddos too! She always has been. Remember that whatever decision you make can be changed at ANY time. Nothing will be permanent. At 15, Sarah has an IEP through the school, but has 'homebased' schooling (I teach her and they provide evaluations, materials, computers, horseback riding, etc...whatever I want for her). They would cover social opportunities too if I asked for it. Or 1 hour a day in school if I asked...whatever. It's an awesome set up. So, things can be very individualized for Carleigh if you want. But it took me a while to get here. I was told by the superintendent that no other child in our district has an educational plan like Sarah. He was not complaining, just talking about it.
There is the statement that a child should be educated in the 'least restrictive environment'. Well, for Sarah, least restrictive means schooled at home where she is FREE to learn at her pace, without frustrations, chaos and incorrect assumptions of others. THAT was too restrictive.
Just throwing out another side to the coin. Follow your gut and take your time. Maybe Carleigh would do better going, say, twice a week. Maybe she needs a day to recoup between 'school days'.
There's almost so many options that it's overwhelming, lol.
I agree with Lesley-- all you have to worry about is making the right decision for Caleigh's current needs. When her needs change, you can change your mind-- as often as necessary. :-)
Is there any way that you could get the funding yourself to hire the aid-- one that you've interviewed and selected yourself, who believes that Caleigh is "in there" and can support Caleigh and the iPad, so that Caleigh can speak for herself? If that's possible, that may be worth considering.
I have followed Caleigh's story for some time, though I don't think I have ever commented. You have one amazing little girl. How could anyone query the responses you get from her, via the iPad? It is obvious she is of superior intelligence - a gift from God to compensate for her disabilities, perhaps?
I was really concerned when I read about her first few days at school; the obvious lack of understanding of just who this little girl is, and what her needs are. Paramount is her need to be HEARD and to be able to show her talents. I know you will decide what is best for Caleigh. There are many other areas of life in which she can be with peer groups, but to be confined to other people's thinking of what she 'cannot' do rather than learn to help her express what she can do would be a huge injustice, both to her and to you, for the work that you have already done with her. This little one has a huge wealth of knowledge, and probably an equal thirst for more knowledge, and I pray that this may be realised. God bless in your decision making.
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