Kindergarten graduation

Cassidy and Mrs. Jensen

Cassidy with Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Jensen

I just have so much gratitude in my heart for Mrs. Adams Cassidy's teacher and Mrs. Jensen her aide. They are so amazing and have gone out of their way to give Cassidy the best experience possible in Kindergarten. She has learned so much. More than we thought possible. Sometimes I have wondered why we felt like we should have bought our fixer upper house here and been where we are. I know that we're supposed to be here so that Cassidy could go to school where the teachers would care about her and her quality of schooling. They have fought so hard for her rights for the best possible education.

This week has been quite emotional. We got all the paper work in to the district weeks ago to request an aide full time for next school year. The 504 committee won't make their decision until Aug. But this week was so frustrating! A physical therapist came in to the class to observe Cassidy. She said that Cassidy was just fine and that she was relying on Mrs. Jensen too much. Mrs. Jensen explained that Cassidy needs someone there to make sure she doesn't fall and that she does need help to keep up with the class accademically. Well the therapist was so rude and said that Cassidy didn't fall once while she was there. And as far as accademics go she said that maybe she should be in resource.

Resource takes her out of the classroom away from her peers plus she is too smart to qualify for that. We want her to stay main stream as much as possible. That is what she needs.

The therapist said that maybe she should use a walker and have a student help her in class and the lunch room. Like that is going to work.

We do not want her to use a walker but she brought one in anyway for Cassidy to try out. Mrs. Adams told her that Cassidy didn't need a walker, that her parents don't want her to use a walker. The therapist basically said that if the 504 commitee felt she should use one then we didn't have a choice. Excuse me. We have come too far and made so much progress with Cassidy why would we want to go backwards. We do not want her relying on a walker.

Cassidy's P.E. teacher also told the therapist that she wanted Cassidy to have an aide for next year and that a walker would just take away the progress that has been made. Apparently they want her to rely on a walker instead of having the individual help that she needs. I just wanted to cry when I saw Cassidy walking with the walker but we played the game and had Cassidy use the walker the past two days so we could log how stupid it was. Cassidy would lean forward while she walked with the walker and be back up on her toes. She wore herself out pulling it and going too fast etc. Mrs. Jensen has been so great to keep a log of everything that goes on with Cassidy each day. The therapist was supposed to come back on Thurs. to watch her use the walker. She never did.

We pray that they will approve an aide for next year. But apparently it will be a fight for Cassidy's right's every year. We will see what Aug. brings.