Special Ed. Those are bittersweet words. I was so happy to hear them and almost as quick as I was excited my heart sank and I had to fight back tears. Because it was being confirmed to me that she was not normal like other kids her age. I knew that. I didn't need anyone to tell me that, but yet the confirmation of it was still a little painful even though it was good news.
Jaden's teacher pushed really hard with the school to get them to do an evaluation on Jaden. I had to meet with the principal, the director of special ed for the entire district, the special ed teacher at Jaden's school, and the school psychologist. I had to answer many long questionnaires that were annoying like those personality tests. Each meeting was ultimately to discuss the "bad" behavior that my daughter portrayed. It was so not fun. I wish I could control my emotions more because too often in those meetings I couldn't hold back a slight tear or my eyes I could tell were watery. I didn't like that. I think I like control too much and that was out of my control.
The principal and head of special ed for the district both told me when they met with me (individually) that most likely Jaden wouldn't qualify for special ed. They explained that epilepsy alone doesn't qualify a child for it and that because the teacher is pushing for this they are going to go ahead and evaluate her, but not to get my hopes up. They also told me that it would take 30 days to complete the evaluation. Well, within 5 days they called me in to meet with everyone that I had been meeting with individually. It was a group meeting and they said, Mrs. Taylor we have unanimously agreed that Jaden does qualify for special ed. She needs a 1 on 1 right away. We will post for the position today. They also told me that they have never qualified a child that quickly, but that it didn't take long observing her to tell that she needed full time assistance. If you're wondering what she is like, the best way I describe her to all the many Drs. that I see and have to tell each of them what she is like is this: "Imagine putting a 2 or 3 year old in a first grade classroom and expecting them to act like the rest of the 1st graders. It's impossible. She acts identical to a 2 or 3 year old. She can't sit at her desk for more than a few minutes before she is wandering the room. Then when asked to return to her desk she ignores you. Then when you walk towards her to redirect her back to her desk she laughs and runs away and makes you chase her, even if that means chasing her down the hall until you catch up to her. She requires redirection every few minutes. She is happy, she's laughing all the time, she squeals when you try to change what she's doing." That is Jaden. A 2 year old's behavior in the body and mind of a 6 year old.
So within a day the school had hired a 1 on 1 for Jaden. That made my life so much easier. I'm not spending my days at the school anymore. She has an IEP. She will have 1 on 1 reading lessons in the regular classroom. She will go to the special ed room for a 1 on 1 math lesson. And the rest of her lessons will be with the normal class with her aid with her at all times to assist in keeping her focused. I am so thankful the school has programs to help with her. It has made a tremendous difference for all of us.
I am way behind on updates, so I am posting events in the order that they all happened till I'm caught up to date:) This event took place at the end of October.
