To the attending members of the IEP meeting:


I have visited the two county classes sugested by Mrs. Doris Lee, at the Rancho Middle School campus and I do not believe either class is appropriate for Michael's one of a kind needs.

Just because the program at Rancho Middle School, is working well for other children, does not mean that it is appropriate for my child. As stated in Educating Children with Autism, a book by the National Research Council that was sponsored by the US Department of Education, regarding specific intervention approaches or strategies, "No one approach is effective for all children, and not all children in outcome studies have benefited to the same degree."Teaching methods that work well for one child will many times have zero results with another. This is precisely what has happened in Michael's case. The National Research Council also recommends that data be kept on each individual child to determine whether the child is benefiting from the educational program. In order to improve the outcome he must be placed in the appropriate program.

Michael is entitled to an appropriate education - one that is tailored to his special needs. He has a legal right to an appropriate placement - one that will allow him to make educational progress. He exibits behaviors that interfere with his education; poor eye contact, self stimulatory behaviors, tics , he will grab others to get their attention, a very limited attention given to tasks, and he has no safety awareness, and a history of wondering away, all behavior problems, that make him a perfect candidate for the ABA Therapy.

ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis), is a system of autism treatment based on behaviorist theories which, simply put, state that behaviors can be taught through a system of rewards and consequences.

* Applied - principles applied to socially significant behavior

* Behavioral - based on scientific principles of behavior

* Analysis - progress is measured and interventions modified

Acording to researchers at the Lovaas Institute: ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) can be used with older children or even adults. Therapy utilizing applied behavior analysis is primarily meant to improve the quality of life of an individual with autism. This can be accomplished in early childhood, adolescence, and even later in life.

I often see him and hear about how he does puzzles-the same puzzles, he has been doing since he was two. Where is the challenge? I have high expectations for my son and a more restrictive environment is most appropriate. He will be getting more one on one attention. Someone will be working with him very closely throughout the day and more demands will be placed on him.

He has not made progress since entering the Alta Loma School District, and being entrusted to the San Bernardico County program, four years ago.

He is now able to use three sign language signs, which he learned, at home, not at school. Where it is true that the dangerous behavior of banging his head and pulling school personel's hair has all, but stopped, the school can not take credit for this improvement. The self injurous behavior and aggressiveness exibited by Michael was an attept to escape extraordinary abdominal pain. The improvement in this area, do to appropriate medical care, had nothing to do with Michael's current educational placement.

The program offered by the school system provides little or no chance of self-sufficiency for a child with the unique needs Michael has while, with the ABA therapy at the ABC Program, self-sufficency is a real possibility. The difference between the two methods are clear, and provision of the lesser program amounts to a denial of a free appropriate public education.

Sincerely


Zurama L. Johnston
Mother to Michael A. Martinez