sample iep for selective mutism

In my work that has been the most successful for the student. IEP FAQs: Can More than one Disability Be Listed in an IEP? They can also be taught to use progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing techniques by telling them to squeeze lemons in their hands and release to make lemonade (make fists and relax them), turn their body from Jello to ice (tense and relax muscles), and to fill their tummies with air and slowly release it as if it were a big balloon (breathe slowly and deeply). Thanks for all your support! The Advocates Store!>. And unless SLPs have sought (and paid for with their own money) additional professional development, SLPs DO NOT have the training to help manage mental health, anxiety-based, and emotional-based issues. I also do not think retention is okay for SM. Special Offer! 25 Oct 2021 In this post, learn about: how to choose best selective mutism IEP goals, how to make selective mutism IEP accommodations actionable (turning them into goals), why the choice of therapy for selective mutism was never our priority, what made the difference for my child with selective mutism, how not to lose hope. SMA advocates for evidence-based treatment strategies that are consistent with current understanding that SM should be treated as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety makes it very difficult for children with SM to initiate or join in play and other interactions with peers. Not against them. Hope this helps. SPED services are granted on the basis of the existence of disability that has been identified though a comprehensive and robost psycholgical evaluation. Selective Mutism Home-School Parent Toolkit - ALWAYS THINGS TO DO I believe OHI is the best category that captures the disorder, imo. We were doing great until last year and we had a teacher who was a drill seargent. Antidepressant medications such as Prozac and Paxil have been used in the treatment of SM but are not sufficient to treat SM when used alone. The EBD label can have lasting impact on the child as an adult. Many children with selective mutism benefit from a 504 plan at school, but it can be tricky to get the right plan. For example, I once knew of a student with SM at school but not at home. The Role of the SLP in Selective Mutism - Creative Speech Lab COOL TOOLS from Wrightslaw. by Joleen R. Fernald, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL. The doctor may refer your child to a psychologist or psychiatrist to see if they have anxiety. Be sure to Apply Coupon when placing your order. The IEP describes the goals the team sets for a child during the school year, as well as any special support needed to achieve them. Both 504 Plans and IEPs are rooted in federal legislation and thus have governmental oversight. laughter, cars and trucks, babies crying, animal sounds). To thank you, well link you to Selective mutism is a social anxiety disorder. The advisor never sought her out knowing that my daughter will not initiate a conversation. However, if you are like me, you had limited exposure to assessing and treating SM in graduate school. I completely agree with you! Selective Mutism Classroom Accommodations: What You Need To Know About If your child can play soccer in the backyard, can kick, score goals etc. Save $10 on New Wrightslaw Special Education Law Book. looking directly at the child. I recommend a couple of articles about selective mutism from the American Speech and Language Hearing Association. In this guide we explain what selective mutism looks like in the classroom, and advise teachers on how to approach parents if you are concerned a student might have the disorder. These students are often diagnosed as they enter their first school experiences. Here are some organizations that I suggest you connect with: #1 your local parent center (http://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/) for help understanding your special education rights, including independent evaluations, #2 your local parent to parent program (http://www.p2pusa.org/p2pusa/SitePages/p2p-support.aspx) for help finding selective mutism support, #3 your local P2P health info center (http://www.fv-ncfpp.org/f) for help understanding how to access medical and therapeutic options for your daughter. Children need to learn to communicate. The child progresses at his or her own pace, and may need to revert back to a more intermediate step before progressing to the next goal which may be difficult. Examples of SM | selective-mutism-wa These children are not like others. Selective Mutism is defined as being the appropriate use of language in specific environments that the child deems as "safe", with consistent lack of speech in all other environments. Shyness vs. A diagnosis of SM should be confirmed by assessment by a treating professional. A treatment plan should include approaches that gradually desensitize and allow for decreased anxiety in social settings where speaking does not occur, and a progression from nonverbal to verbal communication. Specialized instruction is targeted instruction in a specific skill domain in which the student experiences difficulties. While not all children with SM will qualify for special education services and an IEP, most children diagnosed with SM will qualify for 504 plan accommodations since selective mutism affects the major life activity of speaking. Learn how to help a child with selective mutism engage and grow in the classroom with these 9 basic best practices. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Anxiety doesnt just go away. First, an understanding of the disorder is necessary to assess and treat it. Developed by R. Lindsey Bergman and colleagues, the School Speech Questionnaire (SSQ) is an eight-item teacher-report measure. taking the child off guard without any preparation for communication. . Families are able to pay for an outside evaluation themselves though school is not required to use this evaluation for making educational decisions. What disability category best describes a student with SM? PDF TREATING SELECTIVE MUTISM as a SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST Or there could be a speech sound disorder and the child is very aware of it. Unfortunately, when SM children become teenagers, teachers perceive them not speaking as defiant behavior. I think his/her/their ideas about the changes we may need to make will be valuable.I can arrange to meet with you and the other members of the IEP team on (days) between (give a range of time, such as between 2:00 and 4:00). People with selective mutism often benefit from a warm-up period where they arent expected to speak. Remember, children with selective mutism can and do make a lot of progress, but it usually occurs in small steps and takes time and patience. In one study, roughly half of children with SM also had a phonological disorder so it isnt surprising that SLPs are called upon to evaluate, train teachers, and function as a consultant to the IEP team. There is no requirement to monitor your childs progress. Id use it for SM if there were any behaviors in addition to SM, but its a very heavy label. and is negatively impacting learning. My daughter does NOT even talk to my own father who she sees at least 2 times a week. How to Help a Child with Selective Mutism Treatment of SM should focus on reduction of anxiety through multimodal treatment strategies. Keep copies of all report cards, progress reports, evaluations,medical records, IEP records, and recommendations from outside providers. For more information, contact the Mental Health Interventions & Technology (MINT) Program: Phone: (305) 348-7836 . I have had to advocate for every one of my 5 children in 1 way or another ADD ADHD ODD and now my only baby girl. Selective mutism is not oppositional or defiant behavior. Accept nonverbal responses. This website was made possible by a generous grant from the Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Foundation. To increase public awareness of selective mutism and related childhood anxiety SMG Mission SpeechPathology.com Rid the silence. Selective mutism is a rare and multidimensional childhood disorder that typically affects children entering school age. PDF Downloadable Free PDFs Sample Iep Goals For Selective Mutism This means that children from birth through the age of 21 who qualify are entitled to receive special education services to meet their needs. Most students with SM are bright and capable. That 2004 article is very out of date and does not take into account the skyrocketing rates of social anxiety in children these days. I would keep the IEP for her. Selective Mutism Shyness This will be temporary, with the expectation that eventually the child will be able to give verbal responses and participate in the conversation. . There seems to be a lot of confusion about what a speech language pathologist is responsible for, especially in the school setting. Save your spot and register today! School-Based therapists ONLY should be treating SLI disorders NOT selective mutism. When they are at home, their symptoms are often minimal or non-existent. For example, if you ask, Did you ride with your mom today? add Or with someone else? to the end. Most cases of SM are not referred for treatment due to the lack of understanding of SM, thus, many children and adolescents can go years without speaking and, because their mutism is ingrained, it becomes much harder to overcome. Im not sure why people dont understand this. Check out our resources and find support for you or your family. "Parents expand class-action suit, claim state worked to deny rights of disabled students" (top of fold headline, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jan 25, 2023). The SMA provides parents of children with selective mutism a template letter to request a review for their child's IEP, as well as guidance on how to write it. PDF Understanding & Treating Selective Mutism (SM) in Teens SM has a hierarchy/spectrum like most disorders. He was found to be no longer be eligible for special education during 1st grade so I know what you are going through. Shes just not able to. FEDC 2 is when kids with SM may gesture or nod their heads to communicate. Part of our job is to minimize the negative consequences of our decisions on the childs life, now and in the future. As the child gets more comfortable in the classroom, dont let the child simply point or shake their head yes or no, and dont assume you understand what they are trying to communicate by projecting a response for them. They do not want to talk to me and want to keep pushing her to advocated for herself. If you get therapy for the child they can make progress in less than a year with a truly gifted and appropriate therapist. 2015-2019 SLP Toolkit. the schools can try to tell you that your child does not fit the bill for an IEP or 504 and they are on task with all testing and grade level, blah blah blah. Due to the nature of SM, treatment should include interventions and goals within the school and community settings, not just the treating professionals office. 14 Sep 2021 In this post, you will learn about: Why you need an IEP or 504 plan to give your child the best selective mutism classroom accommodations. Therapy is not bad, Im not sure why people are so quick to try to pretend its a speech issue when it is not. By addressing the situation in a developmentally appropriate and factual way, youll be able to dispel any mistaken ideas the other students may have formed and foster a classroom culture that encourages the child with SM to feel more comfortable and begin using their voice sooner. Bright and Capable has nothing to do with special instruction. It was much worse than any of us had expected, said lead plaintiff Trevor Chaplick, who alleges decades of systemic violations in Virginia. Specialized instruction is often provided by a specialist, such as a speech language pathologist, school social worker, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and/or special education teacher. The school she is in says she doesnt qualify for IEP but my granddaughter has meltdowns through SM. How to make selective mutism classroom accommodations actionable. This toolkit, developed by members of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA), is meant to serve as a helpful guide for caregivers of youth with selective mutism (SM). Its common to assign a keyworker in the school setting, and thats often the SLP. Side effects should also be closely monitored when a child is using medication. If children become stuck, the Systematic Sound Sequencing Strategy may be of benefit on the way to FEDC 4. The trick is understanding that a child will not go from being non-verbal to verbal without going stepwise through the hierarchy. . EBD can limit the future options. Which plan (504 or IEP) is best for selective mutism classroom accommodations. Thus, the childs inability to speak effectively in one setting despite the ability to do so in a setting that is comfortable to the child should not be mistaken for a deliberate refusal to speak. Were going to have a great day today. This takes the pressure off of the student having to form a response. Children who qualify for special education services receive a written Individualized Education Program (IEP). Most children with SM can perform academic work with minimal or no accommodations in the regular classroom. This can look like: Great job walking to your seat this morning! SLI is for disfluency disorders, physical voice disorders (atenoids, harsh vocal quality all with doctor input), articulation (an inability to correctly pronounce a sound, not an inability to speak), language (receptive, expressive or pragnatic). VDI Sequence Examples . A licensed SLP is usually the point of origin in helping a student. These articles describe SM, screening, a comprehensive assessment, speech and language assessment, educational eligibility, treatment options, and techniques. We parted company when you made this assertion: Lets not forget that SM is not listed in IDEA as a qualifying disability for SPED, not even under OHI.. https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/23.02.tx.htm, The St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, TX presents the Special Education Advocacy Summit, a two and one-half day legal advocacy training program on February 2 - February 5, 2023, https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/2022.perez.sturgis.scotus.htm. Ive had doctors pit the school against the parents because the doctor says the school is not doing enough. (Other diagnoses came after 1st grade.) At the core of SM is an underlying regulatory challenge that physiologically paralyzes kids with SM. Wrightslaw Training Just Outside of Dallas, TX! Children with SM manifest their anxiety by displaying an inability to speak in one or more select social settings. These may include, but are not limited to, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, play therapy, and school-based and community-based behavioral interventions. 504/iep | Selective Mutism OKC | United States Requires an impartial hearing by a neutral hearing officer appointed by the state if parents disagree with the identification, evaluation or placement of the student. Whether selective mutism is or is not listed as a qualifying disability in IDEA is irrelevant. Question is, can they give my child IEP again? Now youre sitting down on the green circle. A parent or caregiver is required to provide consent before an evaluation for 504 services can begin. According to the team, she's performing on grade level although she's not talking or just whispers. I would suggest that to your team. The child, their family, their teacher, and other significant persons involved in the childs life should be involved in the treatment plan. IEP Review Request | Selective Mutism Association Don't miss any Q & A Discussion on the They need time to get in their comfort zone . This toolkit, developed by members of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA), is meant to serve as a helpful guide for caregivers of youth with selective mutism (SM). Thank you. Registration Deadline Extended to January 15, 2023! While these may be helpful in some cases, they should only be used under the supervision of a highly trained professional due to the potential harmful side effects associated with these treatments, equal to or greater than those associated with prescription medication. Your password must be at least 8 characters, it must contain one letter and one number. These services and supports are provided by the school at no cost to the parents. Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a child or adolescent fails to speak in specific social situations or to specific people (e.g., school, birthday parties, or to familiar adults), despite being able to speak in other situations and to other people (e.g., home, parents, or to peers). All children suspected of having SM or diagnosed with SM should receive an evaluation to rule-out other symptoms and behaviors that may be experienced in addition to SM. Learn about your childs challenges, but also explore your childs strengths so you can work with the school to find ways to best support your childs learning and communication needs. Contact the non-public schools you are considering for your child and ask what the process is for students with disabilities and what supports and services are available. To be blunt, it is not even remotely within our scope of practice. I agree children need to learn to communicate and many behavioral issues are due to weaknesses in communication. Selective mutism (SM) should be viewed and treated as an anxiety disorder. You need to seek out a specialist outside of the school a psychologist or social worker. Even if it seems that a child with SM is refusing to answer questions or speak, they are simply anxious and unable to speakeven if they want to. What is selective mutism? A team approach between a SM expert, the school and parents is recommended. PDF Toolkit for Educators - Selective Mutism Check it out! I have one case right now that the student study team and I are working through, heading toward an evaluation. You figure out what is going on with them socially and mentally and you fix and address that problem. If you look at ed code it very clearly lists what areas of language qualify (morphology, semantics, syntax) 2 areas must be found below the 7th percentile. Coming Soon! The district does not have to agree. How can I get this help for my granddaughter who goes to secondary school next year. Selective mutism is relatively rare, so people, even pediatricians or other specialists, might not immediately recognize it, or might mistake it for autism or a communication disorder. If struggles with communication continue, consider having your student record a video of something theyre interested in, such as their pet, room, or what they did on the weekend, at home. A 504 can help provide much needed accomodations to address the needs of a SM student. Imagine how long the list of qualifying disabilities would be if Congress listed all of them. Medication may or may not be needed. This is false! Why does the case matter? SMA encourages parents of children who appear to have SM to seek diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. It is a social communication disorder. Youre right; imagine how long the list would be. I have found that i just politly tell the School what she will have and they accomidate. So while an SLP may be able to facilitate communication in the schools for these students, please seek more support outside of school. SM is not strictly an anxiety disorder. Totally agree with all comments made by the school-based SLP. Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Atlanta, GA. Wrightslaw Training in Sturbridge, MA Just Outside of Worcester! specificity as well as the normative sample to ensure that the student being evaluated matches the . Speech-language therapy is an effective source of treatment for selective mutism. They kind of have to now. 504 Plan Suggestions - Selective Mutism Association A thorough assessment of selective mutism should also rule-out other disorders that may better account for the mutism such as autism-spectrum disorders, communication disorders, and psychotic disorders. What is Selective Mutism? A speech-language pathologist, or SLP, can test your child's speech and language. Being in a smaller group setting can help lessen anxiety and the social demands of speaking. Few months in kindergarten, I was referred by the guidance counselor to contact UNLV school re: selective mutism. Yes, Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder. Thus a therapetic approach is needed with much more urgency than any educational goals on an IEP. If you want an IEP aim for OHI, youre not going to help your child with an SLI label. Look at the legal definition of child with a disability two questions must be answered to determine if the child is eligible: Does the child by reason thereof need special education and related services? Unless the entire class never requires any students to speak, this factor alone would necessitate special instruction for this child. One key difference between a 504 Accommodation Plan and an IEP, is that students who qualify for special education services require specialized instruction in addition to accommodations. A lot of people recommend a speech and language evaluation because there may be an underlying speech or language impairment that contributes to SM. For example, she never talked to her advisor about the classes for next year and now shes in the waiting list to take a classs that she wanted to take. Even if you begin making a yes/no question, you can always add an option at the end to make it a forced choice. The presentation can vary from child to child. Eligibility: SELECTIVE MUTISM BUT EXITED FROM IEP BECAUSE ON GRADE Selective mutism is a rare childhood anxiety disorder in which a child experiences a trigger response and is unable to speak in certain situations or to certain people. So, determine where the child falls on the chart and move systematically through the sections from left to right. Within the school setting, students with Selective Mutism may qualify for a wide range of supports organized under either a Section 504 accommodations plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). B) The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication. If you would like more information on Selective Mutism and the work of the Selective Mutism Association, please visit selectivemutism.org. When the time is right and the child has warmed up to nonverbal forms of communication, start asking questions that force them to choose between two options, such as Do you like the pink or purple crayon better? or Does your house have stairs or no stairs? or Did you ride in a car or on the bus today? This way, they have to answer beyond yes or no, but they dont have to formulate a long response either. . Help set your child up for success in the classroom by following these tips for explaining selective mutism to their teachers SMA believes it should be categorized as OHI. I am concerned about (state your reasons, but dont go into detail about the specific changes you want to makesave those for the meeting). Stay calm and collected, and consider bringing a relative or friend for support if needed. Please check out the following websites for more information on how to help students with SM: From ASHA: Collaboration between the speech-language pathologist (SLP) and behavioral health professionals (such as a school or clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or school social worker), as well as the classroom teacher and the childs family, is particularly important for appropriate assessment and treatment planning as well as implementation because selective mutism is categorized as an anxiety-based disorder. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal (national) law that requires public schools to provide Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. What parents need to know about IEP and 504. Merry, thanks for the breath of good news. My son has Selective Mutism as well as many other diagnoses. However, in GA, the regs specifically state that a language impairment does not include: D) Children who have anxiety disorders (e.g. a diagnosis of selective mutism and also have a SLI in one of the identified areas. Learn more about how SMA advocates for evidence-based treatment strategies that are consistent with current understanding that SM. Children are often unable to ask to use the restroom, may appear to have autism or other learning difficulties, and can even go hours before letting a grown-up know that they are physically hurt. ALL Wrightslaw Products are 25% OFF. This is outdated information. You know your childs strengths andcan help identify challenges and advocate for the resources your child needs to succeed. Communicate regularly with all of your childs providers. I see youre building a tall tower with your legosI love tall towers!. What is SM? | Selective Mutism Association It is characterized by the persistent failure to speak in select social settings despite possessing the ability to speak and speak comfortably in more familiar settings. Wrightslaw Special Education Law is available today! If you or someone you know lives with selective mutism, SMA is here to help. They may say things like, [Name] doesnt talk. Correct them gently by saying, [Name] does talk, but [they] are working on building their brave muscles and talking at school.. My daughter exited her IEP (Developmental Delay) as soon as she entered kindergarten. The DSM V categorizes SM within the Anxiety Disorders family. She will not advocate for herself and the school staff (because of lack of knowledge) does not understand that its not by choice. What i can say is that you as a parent have all the rights. Prevalence and description of selective mutism in a school-based sample. You are part of this team. But cant try out for the soccer team because they fear the other kids or pressure of it on a real field. . Anxiety can definitely cause difficulties in strength, vitality, or alertness. My daughter is going to Kindergarten this September and she has select mutism. For example, a student may receive specialized instruction in reading, math, communication, social skills, or emotional regulation skills. I suggest you contact the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. You may have to watch the video without them initially and then talk about it with them the next time you see them. The two primary purposes of Section 504 are to remove barriers for students in school, thus allowing them to access their educational environment, and to prevent discrimination against children and adults with disabilities in programs or activities that receive federal funding. Some students with disabilities are served under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Children and adolescents with SM are likely to have changes in their anxiety level and level of functioning from one setting to another. I am a teacher and have seen this in the past. Ive had the honor of being a keynote speaker for multiple ASHA conventions as well as publishing webinars for companies like SpeechPathology.com and OT Advantage. According to the Selective Mutism Association (SMA) it could fall under one of these categories: Other Health Impairment (OHI), Emotional Disturbance or Speech or Language Impairment. What is this case about? Use of nonverbal communication to express needs (e.g., nodding head, pointing) Shyness, fear of people, and reluctance to speak between 2 and 4 years of age. Learn more about this condition, which affects children as well as adults, and how to spot signs and symptoms. If you think speech is going to fix it, youre in for a rude surprise when theyre on their caseload 8 years later with zero progress. However, if you are like me, you had limited exposure to assessing and treating SM in graduate school. Books, PDFs, E-Pubs, Kindles, Training Downloads and Advocacy Supplies included. Dont be afraid to request further evaluations, respectfully express your disagreement, or ask for detailed clarification. The fact that the child is not speaking says it alone they are not accessing their full curriculum and therefore should have an IEP to address this deficit. Since this anxiety disorder commonly presents in childhood, teachers have the potential to make a big impact on an individuals progress and development with SM. What is Selective Mutism?