Kauchana & Derric (pt. 2)

Or....

One Step Forward, Who Knows How Many Back.......

Yesterday morning I kept both Kauchana and Derric back from school since we had the EFMP Medical Clearance Interview. I loaded up my bag with the kids' binders, my notes, and questions. Kevin made it home in time for me to go. He had wanted to go with, but due to work being busy, he came home and crashed.

But only because we thought this would be a big production. Common Sense says that since this meeting was to determine if the next base would be able to meet the needs of Special Ed kids, it would go in depth on just what was needed.....

No.

I walked in, and first, one person was missing.... I didn't get there toooo early, only 10 minutes. Appointment was at 10am. They told me to be a bit early, and I didn't really like the fact that it was that late. (We had made it to the main base 30 minutes early, so stopped off to get drinks for everyone, but long lines caused us to get out of the shoppette kinda later then planned......) We didn't even get called back until 10:10. Whatever.

Next, there was no forms of introductions. No, this is what we will be doing. No this is what is expected. It was a line of chairs against a wall while three people sat at a desk. Just motioned for us to sit, and then we were ignored until one guy started asking Kauchana questions. No prep, no nothing to get a child that obviously needs a little extra attention (due to being in this system) and understanding... Just flat out starts asking medical related questions.

Poor Kauchana was lost. She was confused. She was scared. She wasn't expected to be put on the spot like that, and truthfully, neither was I or I would have prepared her for it... She looks to me for all the answers, and because of how it was done, I just answered. She didn't know these people, she didn't know what was going on.

Get Kauchana's medical covered and I have to sign her packet. They pretty much ignored us again while going threw Derric's. It was uncomfortable. Not knowing what to expect was even more unsettling. I hated the idea of even having my kids in that situation. I wouldn't want any child in that situation, with or without special needs....

They move on to Derric's packet, again with the medical questions, but this time they had the brains to ask me instead of him. Maybe it helped get them to understand, when they looked at him, he started randomly talking about his Med Alerts. (He hates to wear them, but loves to show them off now and then...... ) Questions about going to EDIS, how often, what for, and I am like, I could have gone to them for more?! I thought it was an in and out thing... I didn't realize I could go to them for more! I got nothing but the run around when I would try to get things for Derric done.... And now you tell me I shouldn't have.  Wow... Just Wow....

Anyway... Once they were done with their questions, again, they ignored us while they made their notes, arranged the papers (20 different times......) stappled them, un-stappled them, clipped them, un-clipped them, shuffled them, reshuffled them.... It was rather annoying.. It was unsettling... It was, "when is it my turn to ask questions?".

Finally, I got informed that they would be sending the packet to the next base, once they opened it on their side, they had 14 days to get back with us, so expect a response in no later then 2 weeks. And that was the end of it.

WHAT?!

No. I don't think so. So while I was signing that Derric's packet was correct, I asked about what would happen if the schools are unable to follow the IEPs or wouldn't. I got told "Call STOMP" every question I asked, was answered with "Call STOMP, that is what they are for". Uhm. If it wasn't for the small chance that I found out about them, I wouldn't have a clue to what they were talking about. If it wasn't for the small chance that I did research STOMP and attend one of the two days of the workshop, I would have been totally lost.

But still annoyed that the ONLY answer I could have been given was "Call STOMP".

So, here we are. We took one step forward in getting set up to go to the next base, but we probably took who knows how many, on getting what we need done, done, back....