you should also look up a local chapter of TASH, center for independent living, and there is a program through legal aid but i foreget the name. Anthony Arnold wrote: > To add to what Beth said (and Beth or somebody correct me if I'm wrong > here), there's some place also called "Protection and Advocacy" which offers > free conciliations to anyone with a disability and/or their family members > to learn about rights and basically to friendly look out for them. I have > worked with mine here before with different issues, and I'm sure if they > were asked to, they would go accompany a parent to their child's IEP. > Speaking of IEP's, that's also one of your parental rights, you can invite > somebody to accompany you to the meeting. But however I would suggest > taking somebody respectable and not a lawyer. > > Thanks, > Anthony > > Visit me at http://www.ara1.net > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Elizabeth H. Thiers > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 2:58 PM > Subject: Re: Living On Own > > Kimberly, Pardon me for butting in. Do you live in America? There is > this > thing called the IDEA and it's not if the therapist's are interested in > self-help skills. Your child needs them to access his school environment > (lunch room, rest room, etc) you bet ya you can get this as an IEP goal. > The goals can be small but, they can be part of the IEP, don't let them > talk > you out of it. > > beth t the OT > > -----Original Message----- > From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kimberlee Ames > Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 1:05 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Living On Own > > Dear Pam, > > I was very interested in your response to Kathy Jo's request, and I hope > you > don't mind me asking, but I would really like to know who helped you with > learning how to do the things that you are able to do. Did a therapist > teach > you, or your parents? I know this sounds like an odd question, but I have > a > 4 year old, and he has severe spastic quad CP/dystonia, and I would like > to > help him be as functional as possible. He cannot currently feed himself, > transfer himself, etc. The school therapists don't seem that interested > in > teaching him self-help skills, and I was wondering if I should try and > locate > an outside therapist who can start working with him on that. He is very > motivated, just limited physically. We are currently working on finding > ways > for him to communicate with assistive technology also. Thanks for your > help. > > Kimberlee, mom to Stefan (4) and Alex (9)