For those of you who are unaware special education requires labeling a name to the reason why the individual needs special education. Much like receiving a prescription from a medical doctor a student requires a label to receive the prescribed education. As parents we don't think much about this because it is required and we want the best education for our children. The label will provide the answers? Right?
Wrong. All a label does is start you in the door, from there you will be required to write an individualized education plan (IEP) and behavioral plan (which should be part of the IEP). This plan will outline the goals that your child will attempt to complete. The behavioral plan is what to do if...your child bites, etc. This labeling while necesarry to enter the door, does not help you individualize the plan.
Another reason labels are so desired is to help us understand medically what we can do for treatment. I remember when we received Jeremiah's first label Tuberous Sclerosis - we had no idea what that meant, and the information available at that time was horrific. The geneticist gave us the worse scenario - death at a young age. What does that mean exactly?
Then the label epileptic came as his seizures started, which led to autism, which led to delayed development, which led to mentally retarded. Each label open necessary doors for Jeremiah to receive the education and medical attention he needed. But each label left a gooey residue that was smelly, sticky, and painful.
It wasn't until the Faith & Sharing retreat this weekend at St. Mary's University that one of the participants gave me the words for what this labeling felt like. Tim doesn't speak much and when he wanted to share these words with me, I listened very carefully. Here are his words shared with his permission:
Tim shares many of the labels with Jeremiah and I would also label Tim as a theologian.
Jeremiah and I are working on taking off the labels and replacing them with more more accurate words: beautiful, funny, musical, creative, hanger aficionado, coffee drinker, veggie tale lover etc. For each parent out there entering the labeling process my heart is with you as you strive for the best decision for your child, but be sure to also look for the real person in there and include those in their IEP goals.
Peace my friends.
Wrong. All a label does is start you in the door, from there you will be required to write an individualized education plan (IEP) and behavioral plan (which should be part of the IEP). This plan will outline the goals that your child will attempt to complete. The behavioral plan is what to do if...your child bites, etc. This labeling while necesarry to enter the door, does not help you individualize the plan.
Another reason labels are so desired is to help us understand medically what we can do for treatment. I remember when we received Jeremiah's first label Tuberous Sclerosis - we had no idea what that meant, and the information available at that time was horrific. The geneticist gave us the worse scenario - death at a young age. What does that mean exactly?
Then the label epileptic came as his seizures started, which led to autism, which led to delayed development, which led to mentally retarded. Each label open necessary doors for Jeremiah to receive the education and medical attention he needed. But each label left a gooey residue that was smelly, sticky, and painful.
It wasn't until the Faith & Sharing retreat this weekend at St. Mary's University that one of the participants gave me the words for what this labeling felt like. Tim doesn't speak much and when he wanted to share these words with me, I listened very carefully. Here are his words shared with his permission:
"Don't put the label before the person. Labeling separates the humanity from the person." Tim Novak
Tim shares many of the labels with Jeremiah and I would also label Tim as a theologian.
Jeremiah and I are working on taking off the labels and replacing them with more more accurate words: beautiful, funny, musical, creative, hanger aficionado, coffee drinker, veggie tale lover etc. For each parent out there entering the labeling process my heart is with you as you strive for the best decision for your child, but be sure to also look for the real person in there and include those in their IEP goals.
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| A favorite label for Jeremiah & Me |
Peace my friends.
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