IEP for aggression

[Dsmith05]

Does anyone have anything written into their IEPs for ADHD/ODD related aggression? Any preventive measures, strategies, and/or de-escalation techniques? Thanks in advance!

[Onthemove1971]

Thanks for posting to the group. I am not sure how your district handles things, but you could request a behavior Specialist help you guys. It is important to analysis what is happening and then write up a plan. When this happens ( sometimes it during times of transisiton time, sometimes it's with peers, etc) he reacts like this, then they will write a plan/goal to change this behavior.

Hope this makes sense..

Take care!

[Cjkchamp]

My son does. Says he will ask for breaks. He will be rewarded with breaks. He can use different devices like a weighted blanket and play doh. Best thing we did was place him on broad spectrum micronutrients. He hasn’t had any aggressive episodes since the spring. I recommend researching them!

[Dsmith05 in reply to Cjkchamp]

I have looked at them and am curious but not sure. Are they that much better than other supplements? He is currently on Smart Pants multivitamin and Calm magnesium powder (along with Krill oil and probiotics).

[Cjkchamp in reply to Dsmith05]

100%!!! We had our son on multiple supplements including iron, zinc, multivitamins, fish oil, vitamin d...we didn’t see improvement after almost a year, then we started the broad spectrum micronutrients. We saw improvement as soon as he reached a half dose. I highly recommend everyone look into them!!!!

[dog13 in reply to Cjkchamp]

Is the broad spectrum micronutrients a brand? Or do you have to buy different supplements?

[Cjkchamp in reply to dog13]

Not a brand, just what they are...a specific combination of vitamins and minerals that have been proven to help with mental health....there are two companies, True Hope and Hardy Nutritionals. Our psychiatrist did not recommend one brand over the other. We did select Hardy Nutritionals, but my friend’s son is in True Hope Hammond has also found success.

[Dsmith05 in reply to Cjkchamp]

When you say half dose do you mean he only takes 6 capsules a day? How old is he?

[Cjkchamp in reply to Dsmith05]

He is 7. We started seeing positive changes when he was taking one pill twice per day, but saw the most dramatic improvement at two pills three times per day (so half dose of six pills). He currently takes four pills in the morning, four in the afternoon, and three at night. He is no longer on any medication.

[BlakeyLa36 in reply to Cjkchamp]

What exactly is the Broad Spectrum Micronutrients?

[Cjkchamp in reply to BlakeyLa36]

A combination of vitamins and minerals proven to help with mental health. There are a number of studies you can research in addition to a TEdX by Julia Rucklidge. There are two companies, True Hope and Hardy Nutritionals. If someone is on medications they should use the micronutrients under the supervision of a doctor because if they are effective it can lead to a reduction in medication dosage or the elimination of the need for medication.

[MunchkinMommy537]

Yes, but it’s hit or miss if anything works. My son also has mild autism, and since his main function for his behavior is attention, his therapists recommend ignoring the undesirable behavior and rewarding when he is calm. Unfortunately the school can’t do that (they can’t ignore him screaming or hitting the teachers, and blocking only does so much) so we still have the aggression. I also don’t think he likes his teacher and just being around her makes him aggressive.

[Aspen797]

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires the school to conduct a functional behavioral analysis (FBA) and develop a behavior intervention plan to address the root causes of problem behavior that interferes with learning. The FBA should use several means of determining the cause of the behavior (brainstorming, questionnaire, sleep habits review). A very important one is the Antecedent- Behavior-Consequence planned observations where a third party inconspicuously observes your son on multiple occasions to determine if a common event is provoking the behavior, what behavior he demonstrates and afterward, does something happen that reinforces the behavior (something unpleasant goes away or something desirable happens).

This process is important because simply blaming the child or his use/nonuse of medications does nothing to identify areas of skill weakness that need to be addressed on the IEP or seek to replace the unwanted behavior (for example, hitting) with a desirable behavior (using conflict resolution strategies, emotional regulation strategies, etc) that achieves the same function (stopping other kid from being mean). Sometimes there are environmental causes like lack of sleep (tenex/guanfacine above 1mg interferes with REM sleep as does snoring/enlarged tonsils) or sensory issues if your son is on the spectrum or otherwise sensitive to noise and sound. If those are identified through this process, modifications can be added to the IEP to address them.

So, yes, school can address aggression by identifying root causes, teaching son emotional regulation skills, conflict resolution skills in IEP, assessing causes of behavior and developing appropriate behavior intervention plan.

Consider contacting your local federally sponsored parent training and information center (parentcenterhub.org/find-yo... to get a no-cost education advocate to accompany you to your son's IEP. Our kids behavioral challenges can make us feel isolated and on the defense when we need to go on the offense to get them help. Having an advocate can really help.

[MollyBell13 in reply to Aspen797]

Thanks for the link to a no cost advocate. I didn’t know there was a service like that. Always thought you paid out of pocket for one.

[Aspen797 in reply to MollyBell13]

Funding for services varies by organization (some parent centers may do more parent training than direct advocacy) but it's a good place to check first

[Dsmith05 in reply to Aspen797]

Thanks so much for the info! I have requested an FBA from the school and asked why one has not been done before as he suspended or picked up from school a few times a year for aggressive behavior. I am worried they will deny the request. I will check out the local part center if to the very least it would great to feel some support!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Dsmith05]

I would also suggest, if you can talk with the person doing the behavior plan. It would be great if it was a " behavior specialist", but sometimes they are written by a school psychologist.

It would be great to give your insight, so you are not "blindly" given the plan.

Also, sorry if I missed this but does your child have an IEP or 504 plan?

If they say they don't do an assessment then you can ask for them to pay for an outside ( private) assessment.

Have you been dealing with Special Education staff? It often doesn't help to ask people like principals or VP's, or front desk staff. It needs to be someone who is trained to assist your child.

Also one last recommendation, put it in writing as soon as you can becuase there is a timeline when you as a parent submit something in writing (

(not an e-mail) .

Hope you get assistance as soon.

We are always here for you!

Big hugs for your struggles.

[Dsmith05 in reply to Onthemove1971]

He has an IEP but it doesn't look like the Special Ed staff is empowered at his school. It looks like the principal and guidance counselor make the decisions on evaluations and resources.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Dsmith05]

I would recommend research on children with IEP's and suspensions.. I don't think that is legal. If it states that his disability is causing the behavior, I don't think they can suspend him? Your child has the right to a free and appropriate education( there should be minutes limited of the time he is in the general education classroom) ... it would be be great if special education staff help you. Can you call the special education dept.? These are all people trained to help children with needs.

Good luck!

[Aspen797 in reply to Dsmith05]

Onthemove made a great and important point about putting your request in writing. A sample letter requesting an FBA can be found here: dredf.org/wp-content/upload.... This organization (Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund is a Parent Training Center in California. They have great resources on their website about special education as well as many sample letters. I hope the parent center in your state is a helpful one as well.

That your child has been suspended and/or that you've had to pick them up from school for behavior issues yet there is no behavior intervention plan is really concerning. There are a lot of rules in the law governing changes of placement, suspensions and expulsions, and requirements for ongoing education during those periods. I hope you reach out to your parent training center regarding this issue as well. Another option is to check with your states's Protection and Advocacy office. They are also federally funded to provide no cost legal advice and/or legal representation to enforce federal laws that effect those with disabilities including IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act (504). Find yours here:acl.gov/programs/aging-and-....

A couple of websites with good special education advocacy information are Wrightslaw and A Day in Our Shoes. You might want to check those sites for info on how to use Prior Written Notice to get schools to explain in writing their choices not to evaluate/provide services. Sometimes that is enough to prompt them to follow the law.

Great advice from many parents in this string!

[Dsmith05 in reply to Aspen797]

Thank you so much for this info! I had no idea about the Protection and Advocacy office. I will work on the letter and will send certified mail.

[MollyBell13]

We have had a FBA done on our 5 year old multiple times (one thru the public school district and one private) after having issues with day cares and them not knowing how to handle our daughters aggression. I suggest you ask your school district for one. They may resist but push them because not all school districts understand the law or are willing to do the extra work. If after pushing them they still won’t do it I would call an IEP meeting and get an advocate to help them understand what they are supposed to do by law. Or you can always have an outside child psychologist assist with conducting one and providing that feedback to the schools during an IEP meeting.

Depends on the school district and what they are willing to do. And from what I have found some teachers are trained to handle aggression and others not so much. All depends on the teacher and the school district.

Good luck!

[Dsmith05 in reply to MollyBell13]

Thanks! I will definitely pursue the FBA but I am worried they will refuse the request. They have refused the evaluate for dysgraphia and dysgraphia simply by stating that they don't do that. I already have an appt set up with a psychologist so I am hoping he can help.

[MollyBell13 in reply to Dsmith05]

I know how hard it is getting the support you need for you and your child. Hang in there and hopefully the psychologist you have engaged will guide you. Keep us posted as to how things go.

[BlakeyLa36 in reply to Dsmith05]

Ask for a private evaluation at their expense (IEE) Did you ask for a full educational evaluation? Consists of IQ test, also maybe Differential Test of Conduct and Emotional Problems possibly, Woodcock Johnson or Kauffman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA) etc.

Basically all areas of suspected disability. Most schools won't call Dyslexia just that, they will say a specific disability in Reading and Written Expression......

[anirush]

MY grandson had years of aggression. This has been the first year, 8th grade, with no problems, so many med trials but finally found the right combo.

He has a social skills class where they work on scenarios and how to handle themselves. He can leave the room for a cool down, has a school liaison who used to work with him in class. He just hasn't needed it this year.

But if they are violent the schools will not tolerate that. My grandson was missing a day once a week for awhile. It was awful.

[BlakeyLa36]

For my son who is now in 7th grade, he has a BIP and one of his classes is Social Skills/Coping Skills. He also was seeing a behavioral therapist at school, which really helped. I had this written into his IEP and of course he had yearly goals for behavior. He was on medication for a year and a half just until he was able to control himself better. He also had a therapist/counselor that seen him also at school. That helped cause my son's anger started when they wouldn't test him for a learning disability, he already had an IEP just for Speech and Language. I suspected he was dyslexic like his dad, they kept saying his grades were good but his reading level was below grade level and he just seemed like he was getting further behind, getting suspended non stop cause he was so frustrated and they wouldn't listen. This was in 2nd/3rd grade and finally they tested him and sure enough he has dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. I had them move him to a smaller class setting so he could learn easier and he gets more one on one. It's helped tremendously. I also think for myself it's gotten easier for myself because he can advocate for himself (I'm still right beside him) teachers actually ask him what helps him and so forth.

[Dsmith05 in reply to BlakeyLa36]

Thanks for your response. I am glad your son is doing better. I am having issues with my school being willing to do anything. They claim the have tried "everything" but he does not even have a BIP nor have they mentioned one. I have asked repeatedly about dyslexia and dysgraphia but they just ignore me and say they don't test for that. He has in his IEP access to an aide as needed but they say they don't have the resources or budget. I have sent a request for a FBA but i feel certain they are going to ignore it. I have no idea how to get them to do more to help my son and I am really becoming so worn down and depressed that it getting harder to advocate for him.

[BlakeyLa36 in reply to Dsmith05]

I went through the same thing with my son's school, if you read and learn the law and use those big words, may even have to threaten with a Denial of FAPE or Due Process Hearing...... They must notify you in writing why they disagree with your requests. Can you talk to the Process Coordinator or Special Education Department? Work your way up the chain and don't stop until your satisfied and your child is getting what they need to be successful in school. Mind you I will admit it's a long and rough road but the best thing to do is learn the law and learn as much as you can about your child and how the disability or weaknesses effect him or her in school and at home.

What state are you in? What does your child have an IEP/504 plan? What condition is being used for qualifications under IDEA?