Preemie IEP: What to do?

Pretty Girl Becky!

Becky is truly thriving in Kindergarten but appears to be having a problem with gross motor skills again. Apparently she failed all of the timed tests in Physical Education as I found out the other day in the Parent/Teacher Conference. I was surprised but not totally shocked. Becky has done this a number of times, but this time it might actually be more severe. We’ll see. The IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is up for re-evaluation and while I had pretty much assumed Becky would be dropped from the program, now I am not so sure. They are currently doing a Psychology, Cognitive and Social Work evaluation on her but I am now asking for a more concrete look at the motor skills again. I fully realize that Becky’s motor delay may not qualify her on the IEP front but that we may have to head toward private pediatric occupational therapy and also hippotherapy to help her with sensory and other issues. It still amazes me that her medical and developmental professionals told me early on that she would catch-up by age two. She is now 6 and we’ve been in every county program for special education. I really wish the NICU and pediatric professionals would say “should” catch up by age two and not assume that this will be the case.