Sometimes certain statements just stay with you. Last week, Don and I attended a routine IPRC (The Identification, Placement, and Review Committee) meeting at Summer's school. This committee:
decides whether or not your child should be identified as exceptional - Summer's 'Exceptionality' is defined as Physical: Cerebral Palsy; decides an appropriate placement for your child and reviews the identification and placement at least once in each school year.
Basically we discuss if Summer's needs are being met. This time, the meeting was with the new principal and the Special Ed Coordinator. It is an opportunity for us to voice any concerns with her learning or school experience.
Basically, the areas identified as Learning Needs are Summer's gross motor, fine motor, personal care, and self care. So, that means she needs help with shoes, coats; tying, buttoning, zippering etc. Nothing new there. It's hard to get it all done with only one good hand.
Her strengths were identified that she is a tactile learner, she is highly motivated, social skills with peers, positive attitude and intellectual curiosity.
The one statement that stuck with us is when the Special Ed Coordinator said: "Summer has really blown us away." I guess others can see how hard she perseveres and are impressed by her - as are we.
