I picked up the latest firm to come home with the boys and whipped out the pen. I've filled out miles of these lines through the years: for camps, programs, school stuff, busing to all of the above. I have folders after folder loaded in its bay over there on the shelf with with physicals, TB certifcations, immunization histories. Only things I'm missing are the boys' birth certificates, which Jill stupidly handed to me to put somewhere safe. I'm sure they'll turn up.
Level I Assessment reads the latest form; Tools for Schools! is the adorable logo in the corner. They want the parent/guardian name, the student name, the school district. Our address. Kids' stuff.
"After leaving school," the form reads, "I would like my child to participate in (please circle all that apply): supported employment with job coach; sheltered workshop; full-/part-time employment; day habilitation; vacational school/training; day treatment. College. Military.
Vacation school! Great! Oh crap -- "vocational." How many parents circle one of these in a fit of optimism then scribble the circle out later? What is day treatment? Sounds like something out of The Snake Pit or Willowbrook, though I hope I'm dead I'd let the pen hover over it. "College" and even "Military" just taunt me.
In which kind of jobs does your son/daughter seem interested?
Son. "Alex, what jobs are you interested in?"
"iPad!" Like most modern workers.
"Jill," I tell her, "I pulled this form and figured it'd be like all the others. But, well, take a look. it's going to require some thought." She takes a look and it's about five seconds before she puts her palm over her mouth and rests the whole weight of her head on her hand.
What do you see as your child's social strengths? What do you see as your child's social needs? What do you see as your child's vocational strengths? What do you see as your child's vocational needs? What skills do you think need to be developed to help your son/daughter reach his/her vocational needs? What chores does your child have at home?
Those that I remember to give him. Picking up his room. Folding laundry. In fact, we put "Folding laundry" on his IEP. "'Sloppy' if unsupervised when folding," Alex's OT still reports.
How about setting the table for family events, then? Or not running around without underwear during family events? Great at one, sloppy at the other. There's no form for what my life is.
Posted by Jeff Stimpson
at 6:00 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 8 May 2012 6:05 PM EDT
