Jodi Speaks Her Mind

Amazing 11/14/2007

We had an IEP meeting today regarding Adelina’s educational placement.  These meetings are notoriously difficult for parents of special needs kids.  You have to do a lot of research regarding what your options are and a large percentage of the time the school district will not agree with the parents regarding your choices or desires or, vice versa, the parents won’t agree on the plan of services presented by the school district.  The meetings can last hours and be very frustrating. Today we had something very close to a miracle.  The school district representatives fully agreed and even went so far as to present to us that the most appropriate placement for Adelina right now is the private school we want to move Adelina to.  It couldn’t have been easier.  Because it is their determination, the school district will pay the tuition and arrange (and pay for) her transportation to and from school every day.  This is no small thing since the school is located in North Central Phoenix, a good 30 miles from our home.  We are elated with this decision, and especially since it was unanimous.  We were prepared to foot the bill ourselves if necessary, though we desperately hoped it wouldn’t come to that.  The transportation element would also have been a burden for us.  Woohoo - God is such a faithful provider! Adelina will begin at her new school on Monday.  I’ll drive her for the 3 days next week, and then hopefully the district’s transportation will be worked out by the week following Thanksgiving.  The only negative in this new placement is the long commute, which will make her day a bit long.  But the positive side of it is that there is another student from our district who goes to the same school, and the two girls are great friends.  They will be riding together each way, so it will make for a special bond.

This decision has been a few months in the making, though we have kept the idea in the back of our minds for a long time prior to now.  Until recently, though, it didn’t seem like the timing was right.  And, until now, the school district would have been very unlikely to fund such a move.

I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off me.  We all want what is best for our kids in terms of education, and I know that this is the best thing for Adelina right now.  To have the school district agree to the point of footing the bill is phenomenal.  Go God!