ARD meetings. You can read more about an ARD meeting
here. They an be quite overwhelming...the whole process, proceedures/ laws,and overall information.
We've always had really good meetings. Sadly, with most special needs students everywhere, that's not always the case. We're lucky. Whomever is on Austin's team, each year, each school, truly is on his team. They are always right there beside Anthony and I when it comes to decisions for school and life outside of school.
We usually have about two-three a year, depending on testing, renewel of services, etc. We've already had two this year, since he was new to the school. The meetings are getting a little more emotional for me. Austin is older now and a lot of the things we discuss are concerning graduating and life outside of school. Being 18, mentally disabled, and having seizures, how do we as parents, plan his future? So much has to be thought about and done. Some things we didn't even know to think about. For instance, a few years ago, we found out that at the age of 18, we need to file papers to become his legal guardian. Makes sense. At 18, you're legally an adult, on your own. Well, in his case, he isn't capable of making his own decisions and being on his own. You're also going to need to figure out that if something happens to the parents, who will care for them? Just hard stuff!
This past meeting, we went over his schedule for the spring and the rest of his school years. Even those he's in Special Education and works on his own level, he still has to have the same amount of courses and credits to graduate. OH GRADUATE! Another decision. Special Needs students are by law, allowed to stay in school until they are 22 years old if the parents choose. We've always said that he would stay until then. Austin is scheduled to graduate in a year and a half. So, at 20. He also has a choice of walking the stage then or at 22.
I hadn't given that much thought. Maybe on purpose, I don't know? I sat and thought about it during our meeting. I said to everyone, he might should walk the stage at 22 when he's completely done and leaving. It would be less confusing to him. If he were to walk at 20 he wouldn't understand why he was going to go back to school. At that moment, one of Austin's teachers said, "Well, if he walked the stage at 22, then he would walk at the same time Tyler would walk." I about fell out of my chair!
I hadn't thought about that either! Anthony says that he's always known that. I didn't. I guess it's that part of me that wants them to stay little forever. So sitting there, I'm flooded with thoughts of Austin graduating and being done with school AND Tyler!Tyler is graduating in four years! I know, four years is for years, not like it's next week, BUT it will go by quickly! Look at how fast the years have gone by thus far! My baby boys, 14 and 18 are going to walk the same stage to get their dioplomas in four years TOGETHER! Awe, together! I then started to cry!
Yep, cry.
In the meeting.
IN.THE. MEETING!
