Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Happiness and Quality of Life Assessment

Dear Special Needs Community and all Dignity Revolutionaries,

I am seeking measurable goals and outcomes for an assessment on happiness & quality of life for my daughter with an intellectual difference to give to her new IEP team as she is transitioning from preschool to kindergarten.  I'm completely serious.  I just read Sophie's reevaluation report and it misses so much of who she is.  Please send me your ideas.  I will write this report up for her IEP meeting on May 31st, so be quick!  EDITED, So after a night's sleep I may not actually give this to the team, at least at the first meeting.  I would still like to create the report, so keep the ideas coming.

For those not "in the know," IEPs are Individual Education Plans created by a team including parents, therapists, special education and general education teachers, etc.  They are written after a series of evaluations are done on the student. The IEP is a legally binding document describing how a student with differences/disabilities will be educated including supplementary aides and services.

Many of the evaluations done on our children include language similar to my satirical report that you will see below. 

Examples of what I am looking for are as follows:

REEVALUATION REPORT
Report complied by: Sophie's expert Momologist

HAPPY-IQ, The score can range from 55 - 150.  A score of 100 is considered average at the 50th percentile.
According to the HAPPY-IQ, Sophie's happiness and quality of life falls in the Off the Charts range, which places her in the gazillionth percentile.
______________________________________
Scores for the subtests are represented as standard scores, which have an average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Scores between 85-115 are considered average.
Sophia's scores are as follows:
Subtest------Standard Score------Range
Empathy               110                High
Patience skills      100                 Average
Joy                        150                Very High
Forgiveness skills 150                Very High
Stubbornness        100                Average
Tolerance ability  150                Very High
Beauty                1000                Off the Charts

Measurable Goals and Objectives for Life:
1. When tickled, Sophie will laugh 10 out of 10 times, over three weekly probes. 
2. When observing a person who is upset, Sophie will notice and comfort them 9 out of 10 times, over monthly probes.
3 Sophie will forgive people who upset her 9 out of 10 times, over infinite probes. 
4  Sophie will show pleasure at seeing a friend, loved one, or familiar setting 10 out of 10 times, over weekly probes.
5  When Sophie is excited, she will exclaim with joy 10 out of 10 times, 5,000 times each day.
6  When the bar is set high, Sophie will rise to the challenge to the best of HER ability in HER own time 10 out of 10 times for, for the rest of her life.
7. When Sophie says "No" she will express that she means"No" without any doubt to the person on the receiving end, 12 out of 10 times, daily.
8. Despite limited verbal ability, Sophie will make her needs known 9 out of 10 times, over daily probes.
9. When faced with physical and developmental challenges, Sophie will show courage, perseverance, and strength, beyond what most people would be capable of, every day.
10. Anyone who has the honor of truly getting to know Sophie will be a better person for it, 100% of the time, over her lifetime.

Come on y'all.  You know you have more ideas.  Bring it on!!!

2 comments:

Molly said...

Brilliant. pure brilliance.

JRS said...

Thank you Molly. It's helped me to blow off steam as I prep for this meeting. I appreciate your support.
---Jen