Not Ready for Independence: the "Super Senior" Program
My son Tim turns 17 this summer, and I’m terrified. 17 means just one more year until the Government says he’s an adult. And I know, if “the Government” knew my kid, they’d know he’s not ready. I know what it’s supposed to look like. My oldest child turns 21 this year, and he’s settled in to being responsible for himself and self-reliant. He moves out in just four short weeks to spend a year in Europe, interning in his chosen profession, and I know he’ll thrive. But Tim’s not quite ready. And we had an IEP meeting last week to discuss just that fact.
Right before Tim turned 16 we had an IEP meeting and decided that Tim’s schoolwork needed to be geared more vocational. It is standard per IDEA law that a child with an IEP, at about age 14, should be evaluated to determine if the child should be on a college prep route or a vocational / life skills route, and then by age 16, have an IEP that not only reflects the path chosen, but also includes plans for transitional services for when the child leaves the public school system. What is not commonly known is that there’s nothing that requires a child to graduate at 18, or after 12 years of education. There’s actually a term for this. That student is referred to as a “Super Senior,” and provisions for this, while slightly different in implementation, are available in all 50 states.
The intent behind the Super Senior program is not to keep the student in academic classes at the high school, but instead to continue vocational, occupational and life skills training that teen may need in order to become a functioning, independent adult. Super Seniors can stay in the program typically until the day before their 22nd birthday, as long as their IEP team feels they have not met the goals stated on the teen’s IEP. Our IEP meeting last week was to set goals for Tim that head him towards the Super Senior program, and to make the school district aware of our intention that he continue his IEP beyond 18. In Tim’s case, it’s warranted, and I’m glad we and his teachers were able to communicate that to the district in terms they understood. I can breathe easier knowing that he will have a few more years of transition between school and adulthood to prepare him for living life independently.
They call it the Access program here. I think that's the name statewide for Kansas, but I'm not sure. Our district just built "Access House" for these students. It's in its own building (one that used to be the admin office but our district has grown wildly the last 10 years) and has kitchen and laundry facilities set up like an apartment for life skills training.
--
Susan - 45 - depression, adhd, ptsd
Married to Charlie for 25 years in May
Tim - 15 - adhd, depression
Alan - 12 - diagnosed age 7 bp, adhd, anxiety
What kind of skills would you see on IEPs to qualify for Super Seniors? My son is almost 18 and has one year of school left. He's on a "special ed/ diploma" track (although everyone keeps talking about junior college for him when we're in IEP meetings, even though it's unrealistic because he could never do that without tons of help - which he can't accept from us due to his attachment disorder).
He is promoted every year, even though as a junior in high school he reads and writes on a 5-6th grade level and has flunked every state standardized testing when it comes to math and often science and English. He has a low IQ, but too high to qualify for MR services. We have been privately told that he should not have passed some classes, but the teacher was told to adjust his grades to passing.
He'll graduate next year, totally unprepared for any job, although we have managed to get him in the DARS program this Summer (Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services) and will probably get in the VAC (Vocational something) through the school.
--
Mary
http://marythemom-mayhem.blogspot.com
Founder: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCT_ParentsofChildrenofTrauma/
Mom to biokids Ponito(12) and his sister Bob(14)
Sibling pair adoptive placement from NE foster care 11/06
Finally finalized on Kitty(16) on 3/08 - 2 weeks before her 13th birthday!
RAD, C-PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, learning disorders, cerebral dysrhythmia
54mg Concerta, 1800mg Trileptal, .2mg Clonidine, 40mg Abilify, 100mg Trazodone, Omega 3, Super B Complex
Finalized on her brother Bear(17) 7/08. He turned 15 the next day.
RAD, C-PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, ADD, ODD?, cerebral dysrhythmia, traits of personality disorders
2400mg Trileptal, 200mg Lamictal, 50mgWellbutrin, 300mg SeroquelXR, .2mg Clonidine, Omega 3, Super B complex
" Saying "no" is not being negative. Negative is saying "yes" to things that are destroying you."
Tim's IEP has goals more centered around independent living. So rather than say that he'll read at a certain level, he has goals like, "be able to read and understand street and directional transit signs with 90% accuracy" and "be able to make complex change for $20 with 80% accuracy and less than 2 staff prompts on 10 attempts."
Super Senior goals should be about being able to be self-sufficient, not about trying to get to college. Does he have an IEP? I assume so, but you didn't say. If he does did they do an assessment at 14 or 16? If not, they could potentially be violating IDEA law and your state's rules around IEPs. I'd suggest you visit our resource center here at bpkids.org, and www.wrightslaw.com and call an IEP meeting, telling them of your desire for him to graduate on goals, vs credits.
--
Chrisa, 43, Chicago Suburbs, Internet eCommerce Professional
Mom to Tim, 16, Developmental Disability / Schizoaffective Disorder, Clozaril, in RTC
Also mom to Di, 16, RAD; Alex, 20, college sophomore
Married to Tom, 43, SAHD and high school pole vault coach
Yes, he has an IEP, and we've had several "transition" meetings over the years. The first ones were focused on HIS goal to be in the military, with a back-up plan of the police. We had been telling the school for years that he would not be eligible for military or police (due to his diagnoses and meds), but we did not want to tell him without him having a valid "back-up plan." We finally decided we had to tell him because we couldn't get him to choose a career for which he was really eligible. He completely lost it and started skipping school and hating life and everyone. It took us 6 months to get him back.
Despite being on the "high school diploma track" the school continued to talk about him going to junior college (this was an improvement though, because in middle school they were talking as though he'd go straight to college - we didn't know this wasn't possible because of his special ed classes until someone mentioned it at one of his sister's IEP meetings).
His new goal of underwater welding (which he's been told pays highly), is also totally unrealistic (the technical school says they won't even consider someone with his learning issues - let alone his behavior/emotional problems), but once again, we're afraid to tell him. His back-up plan is to work/ own a ranch or be a pro bull rider (he's a total klutz who can't tolerate sun and heat, plus he needs to be near psychiatric services not in rural anywhere).
He can do laundry and grocery shop, but we have no evidence that he is emotionally stable enough to work (we'll know more after this Summer).
--
Mary
http://marythemom-mayhem.blogspot.com
Founder: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCT_ParentsofChildrenofTrauma/
Mom to biokids Ponito(12) and his sister Bob(14)
Sibling pair adoptive placement from NE foster care 11/06
Finally finalized on Kitty(16) on 3/08 - 2 weeks before her 13th birthday!
RAD, C-PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, learning disorders, cerebral dysrhythmia
54mg Concerta, 1800mg Trileptal, .2mg Clonidine, 40mg Abilify, 100mg Trazodone, Omega 3, Super B Complex
Finalized on her brother Bear(17) 7/08. He turned 15 the next day.
RAD, C-PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, ADD, ODD?, cerebral dysrhythmia, traits of personality disorders
2400mg Trileptal, 200mg Lamictal, 50mgWellbutrin, 300mg SeroquelXR, .2mg Clonidine, Omega 3, Super B complex
" Saying "no" is not being negative. Negative is saying "yes" to things that are destroying you."
I read your blog and was so saddened. I think it is very important that a distinction be made regarding the side effects of the medication. The difficulties faced by children who take Neuroleptic medications (anti-psychotics) present an entirely different disorder in itself. It is not bipolar, it is neuroleptic "disorder", somewhat like trading one disease for another.
Many of those of us who choose to pursue alternative treatments are brilliant, creative, high energy, of sharp mind have good memory in contrast to the lethargy, depression, poor memory and ignorance by neuroleptics - no one can be expected to learn well under those conditions. Most adolescent bipolars, not on neuroleptic medications using alternative treatment, go onto pursue bright futures of higher education and leed happy, productive and successful lives.
It is of great concern to me that people perceive this "neuroleptic disorder" as bipolar disorder in itself when it most definitely is not, furthering the stigma. The disease "bipolar" is entirely different, although kids and parents who do pursue alternative therapies are faced with another set of challenges, there is a more positive outlook for their future.
I am sorry if this makes many upset and uncomfortable, but it is a sad fact. There is much hope for the future as alternatives to neuroleptic medications become available.
HI Elitasue:
Tim is not Bipolar. He has Schizoaffective Disorder, Biploar Type, so for Tim, antipsychotics are an unfortunate daily necessity. We tried him off all meds - he was med free until age 11, and then had 8 months without meds at 13 - and his IQ deterioration was marked as higher while he was unmedicated due to, according to several doctors, the deteriorating effects of psychosis on his brain. There are several studies that show uncontrolled psychosis is what damages the brain, and meds actually slow the progression of loss of gray matter: http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/001611.html
So, while I understand and appreciate your sentiment, for my son, unfortunately, it does not apply.
--
Chrisa, 43, Chicago Suburbs, Internet eCommerce Professional
Mom to Tim, 16, Developmental Disability / Schizoaffective Disorder, Clozaril, in RTC
Also mom to Di, 15, RAD; Alex, 19, college sophomore
Married to Tom, 42, SAHD and high school pole vault coach