Leaping Through Life With Landon: Our Evaluation Experience with Early Stages

Heading out for My Evaluation...
Today is going to be GREAT!

Monday, July 7th had finally arrived--Landon's Evaluation Day.

This is the first step to switch from Strong Start Early Inventions to Early Stages within DCPS (District of Columbia Public School). I have been dreading this day since being notified this would be the next phase since Landon will be turning 3 years old in October. It's been much of a struggle trying to finally gather some understanding of the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan), so the thought of switching is far more taunting that I can explain--or maybe I'm giving this too much thought.

The evaluation consisted of a team of 6 for multiple assessments, which included:
Vision & Hearing Screen, Educational Evaluation, Psychological Evaluation, Speech-Language, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

Each evaluator had a series of questions pertaining to his strengths, weaknesses, his current ability to be independent, how he interacts with other kids, how he interacts with his sisters, self-feeding, gait-trainer usage, potty training status, how he sleeps during the night {which isn't always good due to sleep interruptions and is another post itself}, etc. And each evaluator also did different assessment activities with him to see how well he comprehended, such as; independent walking, acknowledging his name when being called, walking up the stairs and attempts to walk down, putting balls into the ball shoot, independent play and fine finger grasping just to name a few.

I will admit while the evaluation was long and intense it wasn't quite as overwhelming as I had assumed, other than the feeling of being so closely monitored and analyzed as his parents. I told them I kind of felt like we were being evaluated by CPS (no disrespect), especially how Dad & I were sitting in separate areas. I was sitting inside the room with the evaluators and Landon, while Dad sat outside the room to finish answering more questions from our Family Care Coordinator, which had actually happened by coincidence.

One of the evaluators inquired if we used respite care, which I had informed her I had no previous knowledge of it but recently it had been brought to my attention and I was currently researching information. I did in turn inform her that I was also currently awaiting feedback from my Dedicated Service Worker about my Assistive Technology request, which was something else that was brought to my attention.

Unfortunately, in my opinion I've noticed the experience of raising a special needs child is best taught by trail & error and networking. Luckily enough I have been provided lots of information from the playgroup staff alone and for that I'm grateful. This is one of my reasons I'm eager to seek out my vision and brand my own support group, to become a vessel and advocate assistance for other parents and families going through this journey.

As we began to wrap up the last of the questions & concerns and which the evaluators had completed all the assessments they needed; I was given necessary paperwork and our review date. The evaluation ended up lasting about 3.5 hours, by this time Landon was whinny, hungry and tired.

Now that we're done with that phase, I'm anxious for the review date to arrive which has been scheduled for September 4th; to see exactly what Landon will qualify for. Meanwhile I'll be trying to decide if I will choose to take this option OR the newly appointed "Extended Option" that Strong Starts Early Invention has implemented. And sad to say, I'm still awaiting complete verbiage information on that {{shrugs shoulders}}!

Below are photos and a video I was able to capture during the evaluation.
#Enjoy