And Lo! the testing has begun!
Mia went to the Mesa Public Schools Test Center this morning for her vision and hearing screening. She will probably be eligible to enter the Mesa Schools' Program this fall, so she needs to go through a battery of tests. It was pretty easy - we got there, I had to fill out a short form (paperwork RULES!), we waited for a few minutes until we were called (we were number 2 on the list but went first because we got there before Raymond - take that, Raymond!), and then the testing began!
She aced 'em both. The hearing test was in a small room, where a doctor (I assume he was a doctor - he could have been a random guy off the street for all I know) showed her little toys while another doctor (or his assistant, or even another random person off the street) piped noises in through big ol' speakers. On top of the speakers were small boxes that lit up to reveal small animals (not real, although how cool would that have been?) playing bells and such. Mia was supposed to look in the direction of the noises even though she was theoretically distracted by the toys. Since we have known for a while that she has the hearing of a bat, we knew she'd ace it, and she did. The vision test was even sillier. They pointed a weird contraption that looked a little like a camera at her eyes and it made all kinds of futuristic clicking and whirring noises, and she was done! They said there's nothing wrong with her eyes except that she might have some astigmatism. Krys has it, so it's not surprising. Then there was more paperwork, and we were out of there! The whole process took 45 minutes.
She has another round of tests on 15 June, when the special education people will take a look at her and determine where she fits into the program, and the schools' PTs and OTs check her out for, I assume, her physical liabilities. That will be the fun day, because we want her to be in a place where she can learn how to communicate better, and we don't want her held back because she can't talk. She's very bright, but a lot of placement in classes is determined by how well you can talk. So we'll be advocating heavily on that. We hope we won't have to fight too hard, but you never know with bureaucracies.
She aced 'em both. The hearing test was in a small room, where a doctor (I assume he was a doctor - he could have been a random guy off the street for all I know) showed her little toys while another doctor (or his assistant, or even another random person off the street) piped noises in through big ol' speakers. On top of the speakers were small boxes that lit up to reveal small animals (not real, although how cool would that have been?) playing bells and such. Mia was supposed to look in the direction of the noises even though she was theoretically distracted by the toys. Since we have known for a while that she has the hearing of a bat, we knew she'd ace it, and she did. The vision test was even sillier. They pointed a weird contraption that looked a little like a camera at her eyes and it made all kinds of futuristic clicking and whirring noises, and she was done! They said there's nothing wrong with her eyes except that she might have some astigmatism. Krys has it, so it's not surprising. Then there was more paperwork, and we were out of there! The whole process took 45 minutes.
She has another round of tests on 15 June, when the special education people will take a look at her and determine where she fits into the program, and the schools' PTs and OTs check her out for, I assume, her physical liabilities. That will be the fun day, because we want her to be in a place where she can learn how to communicate better, and we don't want her held back because she can't talk. She's very bright, but a lot of placement in classes is determined by how well you can talk. So we'll be advocating heavily on that. We hope we won't have to fight too hard, but you never know with bureaucracies.
posted by Greg at
1:25 PM
2 Comments:
two things:
Just as an FYI (although I am sure you already know), when testing is done and you get ready to set down her IEP, the staff will sit you down and list all of your daughter's liabilities and issues. I knew this intellectually before we went for our IEP but was emotionally and physically drained by the time we finished our first one, because it is just so hard to listen to someone telling you all about what is "wrong" with your perfect child for a half hour or so.
Also, there are wonderful adovcates out there if you need help. Some are paid for, many aren't. If you have any problems or issues, please be sure to post about them, and I can help you find one if you don't already have one.
Good Luck! Glad the hearing and vision test went AOK.
By
Anonymous, at 31/5/05 3:36 PM
oh, and by "paid for" I mean by you not the school district.
GO CLARITY
By
Anonymous, at 31/5/05 3:37 PM
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