Special education, riding a bus, and IEP Alaskan style

Liam has been in special education in the Anchorage School District for 2 weeks now.  He loves his school, which consists of 1 "buddy bear" (i.e. typical developing peer), 3 other kids with IEPs, a special education teacher and an aide.  On Wednesdays, the moms and kids go to McDonald's after school for lunch and playtime at their indoor play area. 

The first thing the school did was revise Liam's IEP to add in speech therapy.  Here are some tidbits from the IEP that are worth sharing.  It lists student strengths: "sweet, complies with directions, strong academic skills, cooperative, loves music, very active (HA! don't I know), good gross motor skills, loves school."  The IEP notes that Liam's delays in language, social development, and adaptive skills "adversely affect his ability to function independently in a classroom."  In summary, "Developmental delays will affect Liam's ability to demonstrate learning, communicate his wants and needs in the classroom, and to socialize with his peers." 

So why chose special education over mainstreaming in a regular preschool?  In Liam's case, he didn't qualify to attend any private/regular preschools as Anchorage preschools do not take children that are not independently potty trained.  His IEP notes "The preschool program is modified by a smaller class size, structure, prompts, routines, and use of facilitating strategies for behavior and communication."  They have a whole page justifying why a less restrictive environment does not meet Liam's needs.  I don't think any parent ever aspires to have her child attend special education, and it took some setting aside of pride to embrace what meets Liam's needs the best.  Liam needs someone who can really focus on learning adaptive skills like using utensils, dressing himself, and potty training.  He needs prompts to engage is age appropriate socialization beyond running and wrestling.  Without these things, he won't move ahead.  My hope is that this is just a short time, and he can be mainstreamed by kindergarten.  I never saw life taking me here, for sure.

Lighter stuff.....Liam qualifies for the school bus, and since his school "day" is 2 hours, I decided to take advantage of it.  Today was his first time on the bus, and here is some fluff:

Cheese!

He looks so tiny here, especially for doing such a big boy thing

Brothers running up and down the driveway:

The bus coming up the hill

Buckled in all safe and sound: