WEll it's been a couple of days since we opened Shadowe's blog. I am happy to say that it has been a success. Shadowe was a little hesitant at first. She really didn't get the concept. Well I had her sit and do the first entry , when the responses came back she became so excited. "daddy daddy I have internet friends". Thanks for helping my little girl in this latest endeavor. Give her a little time and the entries will become more involved.

I would like to request that any of my subscribers who are interested in participating on Shadowe's own blog, please register your e-mail address on here new blog (addy below). I want her to get excited when she has new subscribers and new comments. I think she will enjoy this. She loves to read so don't be shy comment often. Ask questions and just enjoy communicating with an itelligent, special girl.
http://shadoweblog.blog.co.uk/

Showered,shaved, dressed and armed with a list of demands and compromises I headed for the meeting. Upon arrival we were met by a lovely lady named Terry Cook. Terry has been wonderful all through this communication nightmare. We were shown to Marilyn's office and the meeting began.
Joining us was an Autism Specialist employed by the board. It was quickly established that Shadowe's most recent month of school has been uneventful as far as behaviors are concerned. We discussed all the aspects of Shadowe's sensory challenges and the importance of addressing them as the number one issue.The autism expert agreed with me 100%. She went on further to explain fully how the sensory diet will work with the integration back into regular school.
The E.A. issue was discussed but I had to give some ground on this. However I was guaranteed that she will have nothing to do with any discipline actions concerning my daughter.Not the desired action I wanted but a satisfactory compromise nonetheless.
Throughout the meeting the inappropriate conduct of Ed was brought up at suitable times. I didn't' think that making this a single issue was a good idea considering the emotions involved. So I took clever swipes throughout the course of the meeting. By it's own momentum it resolved itself with a formal apology by Ed.
As far as the home school issue, we are moving in the summer. There will be a home school established in September. Acceptable outcome.
Now to the dreaded padded closet. I went in there ready to go after the board policy on this. I explained what it was. The director didn't have a clue that this room existed. It was not an approved treatment room. It was a supply closet that was converted into this torture chamber by staff. I feel by the look and reaction on Mailyn's face that this room existence is danger. I don't expect another child to spend one more minute in that hell hole.
In conclusion the meeting went well. It was productive and we now have a progressive plan forward. We will meet again in Nov for a full progress report. It was a stressful fight, at times dreadful, but in the end it was worth the battle.

There's my plan in a nutshell. I hope I keep my cool while presenting a strong argument on these issues. With determination I will persuade them to look out for Shadowe's best interest. After tomorrow we will have a progressive plan forward instead of this passive, detrimental approach.

1) ISSUE - No home school For Shadowe and no effort to provide one.
DESIRED RESULT- A new home school in Niagara Falls, in a short matter of time. I want a tour & meeting with staff that will work with Shadowe.
COMPROMISE - None
2) ISSUE - Threats of not providing Shadowe with an Education, attempts to challenge me to take her out of school on my own.
DESIRED RESULT - Make clear that I won't be intimidated, I want a detailed written account of the program that Shadowe will be placed in or a written reason why all programs offered in the Niagara Region are not acceptable.
COMPROMISE - None
3) ISSUE - Unreliable transportation
DESIRED RESULT - Nothing just need to address it and bring it to Marilyn's attention
4) ISSUE - E.A. Amanda unacceptable
DESIRED RESULT - Miss Houtby be sent back to Grapeview,
COMPROMISE - a guarantee that Amanda will not be responsible for Shadowe's discipline in the school setting
5) ISSUE - insinuations that I'm not looking out for Shadowe's best interest.
DESIRED RESULT - Make clear that I'm the one person that knows Shadowe best. Also make it clear that a lengthy period in Sinnicks will cement routine and when integration is attempted it will not be in Shadowe's best interest. Want Shadowe's integrated back into a program in Sept at the new school.
COMPROMISE - Willing to take next year to allow the process to be completed. Will not accept the process to begin after the year, want it to be completed by the end of next year.
6a) ISSUE - Ed's disregard for Shadowe's psychiatrist and insisting that Shadowe has a psychiatric problem.
DESIRED RESULTS - Make clear that Shadowe's psychiatrist trumps Ed. Also inform them and make Ed understand why Shadowe does not have a mental illness. Also make clear that it's not Ed's place to diagnose anyone.
COMPROMISE - None
6b) ISSUE - Ed exploiting Shadowe's social challenges
DESIRED RESULT - Make clear that this is not acceptable
6c) ISSUE - Downplaying the sensory issues related to Shadowe's behaviors
DESIRED RESULT - Fully explain the sensory issue and turn the focus towards accommodating the sensory issues as the number one issue. Consult if possible with Shadowe's OT from Grapeview about helpful tactics to help Shadowe overcome or deal with these sensory challenges. There has to be accommodation for her challenges in place before integration is attempted.
COMPROMISE - None.

1)From the first day she went there she has had no behaviors. She told me that the noise of Grapeview made her want to scream. It has come to my attention that there is no placement for Shadowe outside Sinnicks, not now or in Sept. It was explained to me that the program's purpose was to work on Shadowe's behaviors in order to get her back into her home school. As of now she has no home school. I was also told that Sinnicks worked hand in hand with Shadowe's home school. That can't be true.
2) I was originally told that I had the right to pull the plug at anytime. Now I'm being told that if I do, the board will refuse her an education. They will not provide programming for Shadowe, Their words. I was encouraged by ED that if I didn't like it I could pull her myself at anytime, I take that as a threat. Ed wants to dump her in there as long as he can and feels that he has me in a position now of compliance or else.
3) One of my main concerns when offered Sinnicks was reliable transportation. Well twice this month the bus showed up 45 minutes late ( regular time 8:20am time Shadowe starts school 9am) a different bus, a guy that reminded you off Santa on crack, his helper looked and acted like he was in the same crack house as the driver. Needless to say Shadowe was long gone by this time & this pushed her over the edge. They did manage to get the other kids on the bus that go to another school on time. When I asked why, I was told it was important to get the kids that go to regular school on time first. The boss of the bus company told me that operationally they do not provide the service that is required for Shadowe. He treated me like I should be thankful that they drive my retard to the institution everyday.
4) There's the matter of an E.A. that has accompanied Shadowe on the transition. This is an E.A. that was one of three responsible at Grapeview for locking up Shadowe in the padded closet in order to punish Shadowe. I have requested that she be removed from my daughter 4 different times and once in writing. To no avail
5) I also have been accused that I'm not looking out for Shadowe's best interest. Ed if he could have his way would leave Shadowe in this place for as long as possible. He never gives any consideration what cementing a daily routine for lengthy period of times do to Shadowe when they have to change. I've seen my daughter regress back to no eye contact, hand flapping, no communication skills at the slightest change. Leaving her her for a considerable amount of time is not in the best interest of my daughter.
6)The school board has become convinced that Shadowe has a Psychiatric problem. Ed will not leave it alone, he dismisses my expert that says that she does not. (Dr. Usaio)I feel that this is arrogant for them to have the gull to trump her expertise. A person that has a mental illness is treated by medication. Once a person with a mental illness discontinues their medication the symptoms of the illness return. Shadowe has been medication free 2 weeks now. Her behaviors have not returned in the slightest. My daughter's problems are sensory related. Ed refuses to give this any weight at all. He'll put stock into Shadowe saying that she likes the E.A. which is kind of taking advantage of Shadowe's lack of social skills. Shadowe is incapable of disliking anyone. Ask her if she likes Osama Bin Laden and she'll answer yes. That's sleazy. However he will give no stock to Shadowe saying that the difference between Grapeview and Sinnicks was that the noise at Grapeview made her want to scream. The noise level in that school is exceptionally loud maybe even to excess of safety standards.
7) I feel that I have been lied to, misled, an attempt to intimidate me has been made, threats have been made against my daughter's best interest, her right to an education. In light of this inappropriate conduct , I'm demanding a detailed plan outlining the program and how long until Shadowe will be integrated back into regular school. The name and a tour of her new home school with in a timely fashion.( 2 weeks). After all Sinnicks needs to work with the home school. I'm convinced that the plan was just to dump Shadowe in this "program" and worry about the details later. There was no convincing effort to create a game plan. This was a plan to deceive her into a place where they could forget someone that they are convinced can't be educated.