Renee in NC Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 Two of my boys are receiving speech/language therapy for some pretty severe language deficiencies (both tested in the 60s-70s where 100 is average.) The speech therapist is obviously not familiar with how homeschooling works. She has made several comments about, "Well, if he was in school, then xyz." She was shocked when I said that we didn't follow the state standards/curriculum. She started talking about all the testing the schools have to do and did we have to test? I said we did and tried to explain. She didn't seem to understand and I finally said, "Well, he isn't 7 yet, so he doesn't have to be tested yet." Somehow the conversation was reported this way: "L is a 6yo boy who will be homeschooled. He has not received any formal instruction yet because he hasn't reached the age of compulsory education." Ummm, no. That isn't what I said. When I tried to clarify, it made it worse. I can't seem to get across to her that if my K ds doesn't learn to read by summer he isn't going to be ruined for life. Yes, I understand that they have special needs - this is why she is here! Her opinion is clearly that they would be better off in school. Whatever. They aren't her sons, are they?:glare: Besides, school would be a nightmare for them, especially my severely LD 8yo. Anyway, while she irritates the daylights out of me, at this point I would like to have some sort of a workable relationship, KWIM? I'd like to give her some time to work with the boys and see if they can make progress. What would you recommend I give her as an introduction of sorts to homeschooling? How should I respond to anti-homeschooling comments? At what point to I get a little more forceful and tell her to knock it off? FWIW, we don't live in an approval state, so there isn't much she can do as long as we follow the law (which we do.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 IMHO, get another therapist if you can. They are a mixed bag, like anything else, and having a supportive one makes all the difference. If you absolutely can't switch, make a point of keeping the conversation focused on the therapy, not on your other educational decisions. Ask for speech homework and keep the conversation on how those exercises are going and what you should do next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 (edited) If you have the option to change therapists, I would. We've worked with 2 SLP's and 1 OT, and have gotten no negative comments about homeschooling. Our audiologist told us that our 12 yo is doing so well because we homeschool, and the psychologist who tested our kids told us that our 12 yo is not ready to go back to school and we should continue to homeschool her. There are plenty of professionals in this area who know that homeschooling is a good option, so I don't think you have to put up with one who thinks it's weird or detrimental to your kids' education. Edited April 20, 2009 by LizzyBee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinmom Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 I'd get another therapist, pronto. You never can tell what a person who thinks like that is going to do when your child actually reaches the age of "compulsory education!" If she feels he is behind, would she recommend ps and contact DHS if she decided you weren't meeting his educational needs as she sees them? Really, I'm not a paranoid type person when it comes to attitudes about homeschooling, but I could see this as a worst case scenario. When you are dealing with a professional who just doesn't get it and can't get behind what you are doing, you do run the risk that they'll see you as holding the child back or neglecting the child in some way if you aren't putting them in ps. There are plenty of good speech therapists out there...if I were in your shoes, I'd find another one. You don't need the additional stress of dealing with someone who doesn't support you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Yes, I'd switch as well. We've had both a private SLP and a public school SLP. Neither have said anything negative about homeschooling. Ever. Have they asked questions? Sure. But only out of curiosity or for clarification. In fact, every professional who have ever worked with my children have said something along the lines of, "Oh, you're homeschooled? Well that's great. You'll grow up to be very smart." I can understand asking lots of questions, but pressuring you to put your ds in school or negatively wording your responses would have me calling other SLPs in short order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 I would also switch. Ask around in homeschooling groups for recommendations of homeschool friendly therapists. That is how I found mine. My dds doesn't necessarily approve of homeschooling, but she at least keeps her comments to herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Switch ASAP!! People who do not understand homeschooling or who are against it are more likely to be negative about it, look for deficiencies, and maybe even report you to DHS. You certainly don't want that drama going on! She will never understand, no matter how much your try to educate her. Her opinion is already formed. I have a 5yo Aspie daughter who says the CRAZIEST stuff sometimes so I have to be very careful. If I detect that someone isn't in agreement with our education choices, then I switch. No sense in taking chances. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 If you can switch, do it. If not, then address the issue head on, rather than as it comes up. "I feel like you don't approve of our lifestyle choice of homeschooling and that that is interfering in us having the kind of working relationship needed for my son to benefit the most. I need to know that you will be open-minded and not biased. I am willing to provide you information if you think that would help. " This should not be discussed as part of a session you pay for. It is on the professional to overcome their biases to provide the best for their client. If they can't, that is their failure and at the least, they have to refer. Whether you stay or switch: Write a formal letter to your son's file, stating the correction, so that it isn't in there as she wrote it, whether you switch or not. Anything in writing is taken as fact later on. So dispute that you said it and provide an accurate statement. She interpreted "don't follow the state curriculum/guidelines as "no formal instruction." If you provide direct instruction, state that you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 If you can switch, do it. Whether you stay or switch: Write a formal letter to your son's file, stating the correction, so that it isn't in there as she wrote it, whether you switch or not. Anything in writing is taken as fact later on. So dispute that you said it and provide an accurate statement. She interpreted "don't follow the state curriculum/guidelines as "no formal instruction." If you provide direct instruction, state that you do. Good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 If you can't get another therapist you need to write a formal letter to be added to the file, clarifying the therapists misunderstandings. Then you need to let the therapist know in no uncertain terms that the topic of schooling is not her job. Tell her that you would like a good working relationship with her, and to that end, the topic of education is not up for discussion or comment. If she would be interested in learning how homeschooling really works, instead of working from her pre-conceived notions, there are plenty of books on the topic at her local library. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 She came again today and actually made some positive comments, both to me and to my sons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 She came again today and actually made some positive comments, both to me and to my sons. Great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajjkt Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 :iagree:with all the advice to find another speech therapist. My childrens' speech therapist is one of our greatest resources. She is always providing me with resources to use in all aspects of their language development, not just the articulation that she is employed to help with. They should be a support and an asset. If they don't provide that, then they aren't going to be able to adequately address your needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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