Robert's IEP meeting
A surprisingly smooth IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting at Robert's school today -- we just got back a little while ago. The long and short of it is that he'll stay put the Baird Center for this year, and I'm very grateful for that. He's still got a lot of work to do to develop coping strategies and peer relationships.
Met the new Asst. Director of Special Ed. for Mashpee today -- Carla Thomas. I wanted to dislike her just as a knee-jerk reaction to all the shit we've had to put up with over the years, but I have to say that she impressed me: She's quiet, she says the right things, and she seems conciliatory and anxious to facilitate what she can.
We had a frank discussion after the meeting and Bonnie and I let her know that we had no ill will towards her, but years of problems with Mashpee schools gave us a lot of ammo to work with. She made it clear that she just wants to have a good working relationship with us. I don't trust her, yet, but she made a really good first step today. That's the best sign we've had in quite some time.
Also, the first meeting of what I hope will become the Mashpee special ed parent's advocacy council (SEPAC) is scheduled to happen tonight. I'm going, along with Bonnie. Should be interesting.