[reb621]

My husband and I are being considered for the adoption of two siblings in Colorado (we're from Indiana, which I've heard has a tough person in charge of ICPC!).

Anyway, their profile is a little vague, so I was hoping someone could define the medical terms in "plain English" for us:

1. "The children's developmental challenges are met with an Individualized Education Plan." (What does this mean? Would they be behind academically, or is it physical/developmental?)

2. They "...have difficulty focusing on one activity at a time" and "take medication and receive therapeutic services." (For what? Adhd? Something else?)

3. They also "receive weekly physical, speech, and occupational therapies to help them with coordination, muscle tone, and speech impediments."

4. The profile also says that they are "high energy" and will "keep parents on their toes." (What pre-school-aged child doesn't?!)

These conditions all seem to be treatable with ongoing therapy and a little patience. Are we wrong?

Thanks for your help,
Rebecca

[oreomutt]

An IEP is a plan developed by the Educational Team. This team consists of School Psychologist, teachers, any therapists (physical/occupational - speech, motor skills...etc.), parents and is developed after extensive testing of the child. It is a plan that is developed which will spell out EXACTLY what is going to happen in school to help the student.

For example: If the child had a speech problem. The IEP would state all the testing that was done and the goal. It would state how many days/hours per week the child is pulled from class to have speech therapy. It would state the times of week they are pulled. How long the therapy may take...etc.

If the child is in a Special Education class, the IEP would focus on goals to be made for the school year/years. Some IEP's are done yearly, others are done on a 3 year basis. If Johnny is functioning on a 1st grade level, but is in 4th grade - the IEP will state that Johnny will be taught 1st grade skills progressing to a 2nd grade level.

2. I'm guessing that they are diagnosed ADD
3. Sounds like they have some special needs that may need to be met in and out of school.

You can start children in Public School services at 3 years old. If they any services provided within the public schools, they can start those services at 3 years old.

[HappyMomAnna]

Most of the time the profiles require a skill of reading between the lines... Usually, if your are being considered you will be able to get more info...talk with the Foster Family--Doctors and others involved with the children before you have to committ:


1. "The children's developmental challenges are met with an Individualized Education Plan." (What does this mean? Would they be behind academically, or is it physical/developmental?)

This is the Public School system and the title of the program for making sure no child is left behind... Parent with children in this progam often qualify for additional tax credits and other resuorces. The IEP program is part of every public school and offered to any child headstart to 12th grade, who is at RISK for just about any reason. This could be a speach, hearing, mobility, social, emotional, and you name it program. The IEP specialist helps to determine if and what services the school needs to provide in order for the children to be educated. Almost every child from Foster Care will be in an IEP program. This is actually a positive thing because the info from one IEP program can easily be transfered to another....the language and terms are uniform and therefore any person working in the program will have a better idea what the real issues are.

2. They "...have difficulty focusing on one activity at a time" and "take medication and receive therapeutic services." (For what? Adhd? Something else?)

Reading between the lines: ADHD could be a possible issue however there are a number of issues that might cause a child have these problems... Medication would lead one to think it is more likely ADHD or one of the forms of it... Therapeutic services can be anything from Play therapy to intensive mental health therapy.


3. They also "receive weekly physical, speech, and occupational therapies to help them with coordination, muscle tone, and speech impediments."

These children may suffer from a birth defect or neglect. They may have been strapped into a car seat for days and not stimulated when they were developing...they may have complication from prenatal exposure to drug or liquior... Weekly would indicate to me that this could be a profound issue... It indicates they have problems from physical which could include things as minor as small motor coordination to delayed large motor skills like walking. They may have a slight speech delay or they may have problems talking at all... These issues can be the result of many things or several different things...


4. The profile also says that they are "high energy" and will "keep parents on their toes." (What pre-school-aged child doesn't?!)

Usually, when this is in the basic listing it implies HIGH ENERGY! Above and beyond the average child... They may have ADHD, they may just be into everything.... They may be up late at night and they could be complete tarror...

You would need to ask specific questions and research any new info you get.... There is nothing mentioned about Attachment issues which is a good thing... You would want to ask if there is any indication as to the root cause of these problems... Were the children exposed inutero, were the children neglected, What happened at birth.... When were these problems first addressed and how long have they been in treatment....

I have found it is NOT possible to make a decision on the PUBLICALLY availible information... This info only hints at the real issues. It is a matter of privacy for the children we don't want to display ever detail where the whole world has access. Usually only those families being considered seriously will recieve the more complete details....

As for being able to deal with these things that is a personal thing... Each of us must decide what we can and cannot cope with... Each of us can cope with different things... This is why it is called "Finding a match" Anyone wanting to adopt from the system will be asked to educate themselves in anything that appears to be a possible issue... Some people enjoy the challenge of raising children with ADHD, some find the idea horrifying.. so this is up to you and the only thing I would advise is to get all the info you can and make an informed decision. These children sound like they do have some issues you will be dealing with and they may or may not out grow them... So, keep getting the info you can and read as many profiles as you can stand to read eventually your skills of reading between the lines will become better developed...

[Teresa K]

An IEP is the "Individual Education Plan". It states what grade level a child is at, the goals for the child, the teacher, and the parent. As others said, there is usually a counselor involved in determining if the child needs special classes to acheive set goals.

By law if the IEP changes, all parties are to be notified. BUT, do not count on that. I just had a nightmare with my child who needs a little help with reading. The IEP clearly states if the child is taken out of a mainstream class, I am to be told which class. Seems the school got some new program for kids slightly behind so three boys were the test subjects. Mind you, these kids tested average for their grade, they just wanted to see if it could make them above average. Now the kids have missed two weeks of spelling. I happen to have the IEP guidelines now, after a long conference at the school and the laws that apply to setting goals.

But, an IEP can also be for "gifted children". My second grader tested higher than any child ever in this district. So he has to have a plan to accomodate him to prevent boredom yet not discourage him. With that child I continually stress I do not want him treated different, I want him to learn social skills for a child his age and left in a mainstream classroom.

As Happy Momma said, the schools get extra money for each child that needs special ed of any sort. It would seem if you plan to adopt these children or child, you would be able to see some school records. To me it just seems logical to be upfront rather than get into more than you knew.

This link has more info on what an IEP is, fairly simple language with good links.
http://www.concordspedpac.org/WhatIEP.htm

Good Luck...Teresa

[DianeS]

When I read photolistings, I have a different way of doing it.

First, I look for things that the state admits to paying for. The state doesn't like paying for things unless they're obvious. In the list you've provided they list medication, therapeutic services, speach therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. That adds up to one EXPENSIVE bill. Not that the actual money matters, but it matters that the state has actually recognized these issues and considers them severe enough to warrant paying for therapy. That means whatever the issues are, they aren't mild.

Then I compare the warnings with the child's age. The state is NOT going to list anything that is actually age-appropriate for the child. Like someone else said, that means "high energy" means HIGH ENERGY. The kind that is associated with ADHD or regular hyperactivity or the absence of impulse control, for example. Difficulty focusing on one thing at a time could be age-appropriate, too, which means focusing, for them, would be pretty near impossible in order for it to be listed. That could be ADHD, ADD, or an anxiety disorder for starters. It could also be mental retardation, since they don't say it is improving any.

The medication could be for anything, as could the therapeutic services (therapy). They're in the same sentence, though, so chances are they go together. Medication for bipolar, or depression, or PostTraumatic Stress Syndrome, or anxiety would all fit that bill because even young children can do play therapy along with those. Medication for something physical (like asthma) wouldn't be accompanied by therapy, and therapy for some issues (like sexual abuse) wouldn't be accompanied by medication. So if the two go together you've limited the field of possible diagnosis a bit. If the two don't go together then you're back to it being anything.

The IEP says it's for "developmental challenges" - not educational, mental, or behavioral. That to me says that they perform in that classroom as if they were a year (or more) behind. A normal 3 year old would have "developmental challenges" when compared to 4 year olds, and need an IEP to compete in the same classroom with them. A developmentally disabled or challenged 4 year old needs an IEP to compete in a classroom with normal 4 year olds. See if they are in the right class for their age - if they're behind in addition to needing an IEP for "developmental" issues, then there could be years of needing special assistance in order to keep up with classmates. If it's an IEP alone it could go either way - the child may or may not catch up.

My assumption, looking at the vast list of things and the impossibility of narrowing it down completely is that I would NOT move forward with any preconceived notions of whether the kids could move past all this or not. Stop looking at the photograph if you're in danger of falling in love. By all means submit your homestudy if you're looking for kids like that, but hold your emotional distance until you learn a bit more. This stuff could all be adjustment stuff that a little more therapy would fix, but probably not. There's simply too much going on, it probably all is needed and needed now before the kids get any more behind where they should be. You don't say whether the photolisting says they are making progress with all these interventions or not. So I would assume they're not until told otherwise.

Let us know what you decide!

[reb621]

Thanks to all who replied! Great info!!!

I read the childrens' profile to our social worker today, and she agreed that weekly therapy (physical, occupational, and speech) indicates profound delays (developmental or otherwise).

But she gave me a lot of questions to ask their caseworker if we make it beyond the preliminary review of homestudies, such as:

1. Has their IQ been tested to determine the IEP? (or a similar test)

2. What is their level of developmental functioning (low or average compared to chronological age)?

3. What are their limitations (she said to get specifics)?

And just like you suggested, 4. Are they making any progress in their therapeutic services?

Note: They've been in foster care for just one year (were removed from home at age 4 (they're twins--in kindergarten this year) due to abuse and neglect, so perhaps the state is playing catch up to get these kids on track. Or, perhaps as previously posted, they are not progressing at all.

I'll certainly let you all know what I find out.

Thanks again!
Rebecca

[lucyjoy]

Also, children who have been abused and neglected are often emotionally well below their age level. Often they get misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD because it is measured on their chronilogical age. They could have an attention span of 2 at 5 due to neglect.

[reb621]

Just heard from their social worker today. She confirmed that they have SIGNIFICANT developmental delays and mental health issues, and were most likely drug and alcohol exposed...and that they will need a great deal of care for years to come.

I just hope that the right family comes along who can give these children what they need. That family is not us, I'm afraid.

Thank you everyone for offering your suggestions and clarifying these descriptions. I think it is a learned skill to be able to "read between the lines," and we're learning more and more each day!

;-)

Rebecca

[HappyMomAnna]

Do not feel guilty for this decission...... At All. You are right the right family will come along and you cannot take more then you know you can deal with....... we passed on several children for different reasons ..... just continue looking and you will find your children