She lives here in Eureka, with her husband, two boys, and two dogs she rarely has time to pet.She is extraordinary because she holds down a very grown up job (honestly…..she wears nice clothes and sits behind a desk in a fancy office……), she runs an amazing organization called FAAN– Families Advocating Autism Now that has sensory friendly movie events, gifts iPads to classrooms, and so much more.Oh yeah. And she’s a special needs mom.
Heck. I’m tired just reading her credentials.
I’ve been bugging her for a year or so to guest write for me.
The other day she posted about her son’s IEP and I thought: THIS is the one. THIS is the story that needs to be told.
Why?
Because in all the autism / TSC groups I belong to– there are three letters that strike fear, terror, anger, and frustration into the hearts of special needs parents: IEP. Individual Education Plan.
THIS IEP had a happy ending.
THIS is a story of hope.
THIS is a story keeping you eye on the prize
AND?
It’s got pictures of her son, who I fell in love with when I work in the PALs program.
A little cutie patatootie sitting on the rug, flipping through pages of a book with his effervescent smile and indomitable spirit.
May I introduce to you,
the lovely Fatima…..
My amazing son, Caden was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome at the age of one and Autism at the age of two. He has a wonderful little brother, Tate that was diagnosed with Fragile X at the super young age of 3 months. The road has been windy, long, scary and has had so many twists and turns that I have wanted to get off it many times.
THE WORLD.
This kids is destined for greatness…..
Easy? Not so much!
Three hours later, my husband and I walked out of there dumbfounded. What the heck had just happened? Yes, Caden had received the services that we requested, but there was so much red tape, so many unsmiling faces, just so much.. SHIT. It was a sad day, and I remember crying for a long time that night dreaming of what our future was going to look like.
Fight after fight. Could we handle this? Were we equipped to handle it? Did I really even want to handle this?My, how things have changed…..In this IEP meeting we discussed Caden’s growth and also the challenges that he will face. But, as a TEAM (yes, a real team) we decided that mainstreaming him is in his very best interest. By the end of the meeting, most of us all were in tears.
you don't know Jack 
Love it!
Encouraging!
Love this! We had our own IEP meeting last week. It’s tough, to be sure!!
Fatima I love you this was An amazing post!!!!!…
Hello CADEN and TATE and Family!!!!! BEAUTIFUL story!!! Thank you for sharing, Fatima!!!! Keep on keepin’ on!!!!!
I loved reading your story Fatima, because I know that IEP experience so well!! I wish there were a way to better prepare parents for what they will hear and why, and prepare the “experts” for how to provide their information in a positive manner so that they don’t overwhelm the parents or cause them to shut down. I know there were times I left and IEP and couldn’t remember what was said because it was too painful. I think what hurt the most was that they spent more time and energy telling us what our daughter couldn’t do and not enough on what she was able to do and be able to celebrate that. The “unsmiling faces” is a VERY accurate description. I do not believe it has to be that way. This is how our IEPs were up until Lisa was mainstreamed in our neighborhood school at the age of 6. The IEPs took a whole new feel…much more positive even though we were well aware of the negatives, we didn’t feel like we were having it thrown at us as if we had failed or our child had failed. I knew I was doing my best and my child was doing her best and they seemed to recognize that fact. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the IEPs don’t stay in that negative zone…they will get better and better! I hope that we get to meet you at some point…I am Elyse Raggio’s aunt. My daughter, Lisa, is 23 now so we’ve been through the whole gambit!! I know your sister Alicia too…she is such a sweetheart!!
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