For context,
My son is in a blended pre k class, finishing his first year. He turned 3 last June, and in August he started school, half day. Still goes to daycare half day too. We tried the IEP route, and after receiving his IEP draft for the next school year, I’m not feeling confident at all to send him back.
I understand autism is a spectrum. Here in the U.S, he was diagnosed as a level 2. It’s been a year and in short doc visits, I get told now he seems more of a level 1 as his speech started increasing. His speech is coming along, but besides that, his biggest struggle are transitions and routine. From preferred to non-preferred. Something that is highlighted in his IEP he does have tantrums. I guess communication got confused, I was told his meltdowns go pretty fast. The IEP states that they can last from five minutes plus. He has accommodations such as visual aids, a timer, first/then, sensory breaks..
Yes, he’s made some progress and I also understand sometimes progress happens slowly, but the thing that threw me off the most was a particular question. It stated if his disability is affecting the other students learning and they answered, yes. yet he is still being assigned a blended classroom for the following year.
My son is very smart. I do not want to discredit his progress. He’s really come out of his shell these last couple months, but I feel based on everything that was stated in the IEP it has me second guessing his stance in school.
I don’t know what else to suggest to help with transitioning, how to calm the meltdowns. I see his potential, I really do. I do feel like he belongs in a contained class not a blended class 😅 is that possible? Ahhh his review IEP is tomorrow and I’m stressing