Wednesday, June 28, 2006

My new book club

Companies are developing a computer program that reads peoples faces and determines their emotional state, thus helping to more accurately target advertising messages to their precise mood. The ASD community thinks this could potentially one day help the aspies and other HFAs, to help them clue in to the emotions of their communication partners. I was thinking it would be really great at IEP meetings, too. I mean, are those administrators sitting their smirking at me while I furiously scribble notes or lean over to consult with my partner, or to they manage to keep the compassionate look of concern glued to their faces?
Seriously, though, we had a surprisingly positive iep for A yesterday. I kept waiting for them to say no, but they really didn't. I can't help wondering if I missed something. They didn't make reference to my parent handouts in the narrative, but I'm going to make sure they get included in the final iep document, whenever we finally finish this meeting. Yesterday was day 2. Each segment has so far lasted 3 hours each. Next segment is scheduled for Wednesday 7/5, after we look at one more possible classroom option for A. And we get some goals written. Yeah, just little details like goals and placement.
I'll try to type up the handouts I did -- one was my long term vision/goals for A, and why he'll need a home program until he's 25 or can do his own laundry, whichever comes first; the other is a list of the essential components in a classroom placement for A. I'd like to have boilerplates of these available for other parents -- seems like such an essential part of the process that never gets written out.
Maybe I'll start a blog with essential IEP tools, like templates for these docs, some really relevant legal quotes, etc.
Oh, and did I tell you about the new book club I joined? The bookclub meets monthly in Santa Clara. The book we focus on is by Pam and Pete Wright -- From Emotions to Advocacy -- The Special Education Survival Guide. Each month we go over 1-2 chapters. Now, this is my kind of book club!

1 comment:

Judy McCrary Koeppen MS SLP Sage Therapy said...

Good bookclub!! Please share