Update on my son

Post Reply New Topic

We had an IEP meeting a month or so ago, wherein the district psychologist dismissed our psychologist's dx, and the initial findings of Far Northern Regional Services, Far Northern referred us to a specialist, who was trained by the Mind Institute in Davis, as well as UCSD and a couple other respected facilities, his findings werew as follows:
Asperger Syndrome
ADHD
Dysthymia
ODD

Now I have to convince the district that my 2 respected, highly trained, psychologists are right, and theirs is wrong, I really don't look forward to it, but I'll do whatever it takes.

ouch! I wouldn't know how to convince them or what protocol is needed. I am in a similar situation. I have regional center dx and 2 dx's from the MIND institute but dd's autism preschool teacher is POSITIVE they are wrong. I dont know why I find that so frustrating but I DO!! !! !

There are a couple of issues here at play:

1) Money - It costs so much for a school district to deal with a student with an ASD (and the federal government is not footing as much as people think) that the district is under pressure to keep those populations as low as possible. This means not classifying cases that may be borderline (in fact, at times, the court case posture can be cheaper than the lets give up and educate this kid posture).

2) Educational Definition - This was the crux of the case in Maine that was posted in the news section a couple of months ago. I hear this complaint in MN too. The issue is that the state defines what ASDs are and when help should be issued without regard to the DSM-IV or doctors. Schools are therefore allowed to make their own diagnosis independent of what any outside doctors say. Most parents give up (unless they are from areas such as Pill Hill here in Rochester in which they get a high priced lawyer and the district gives up because they do not want their rules thrown out). In fact, MN Dept. of Ed has a 72 page book on ASDs, including when and what educational issues they cause.

do you have an advocate ?

you know what really ticks me off is that the school will never accept the fidinings of the medical drs who gave my son the AS diagnosis. Money Money Money.. What I have notices is that there are more kids with this than there ever was. when i went to this years meetings for his schooling next year the head of the special education team did not know that Ryan has AS. when I brougt this up the head said "is this in his profile" YES! then I was really upset that the head of the dept who is the person who makes the choices on my sons educational welfare did not know that Ryan has aspergers. this past year his school teacher did not know that one of her children in her class has Aspergers. When I asked her why she did not know she informed me that she did not want any pre concieved notion of a child by another teacher. WAKE UP! Get off your fat keesters and know when a child in your classroom has Aspergers. she told me that she does not read their profiles. how can she be a teacher if she does not know. I want to tell you all that go after the schools.. I personally feel that I have been duped by the school. because I have so little knowledge of the leagal aspects when it comes to special ed they feel that they can take advantage of you. GO After them. Moms and dads keep up the good work and make them spend the money!

Woahhhh Nelly ! !! !! !! !
As a teacher in a special ed setting, i agree with the teacher about not looking at your son's profile~to a point.........files are filled with other people's opinions of you and your performance. these opinions are often just that~opinions. i've taught many students who were labelled problem kids by their previous teacher~and not had the problems that the other teacher had. when you expect to get a "problem kid", that's exactly what you'll get.
Sure, it's important to know your students diagnosis and pertinent information~and a teacher should definitely get this information....but the whole file ? never!

back to the subject at hand, though....our district insisted that they retest my son ( the district psych doesn't believe in aspergers )
we had an advocate with us, and she helped tremendously~ we ended up getting son the services he needed even with the districts alternate diagnosis....

Honestly I think it's a dollars and cents issue with the school, and if they can come up with another explanation for his behavior, one that won't look like they have neglected their end of things, then they will. I am not the type to seek a lawyer, but if it comes down to it, I will, I do not mess around when it comes to my son.

My advice is to talk to the teacher. As soon as my son was diagnosed I went to the school and told his teacher. I wasnt sure what it meant or how it would help. Also my 504 plan (we dont qualify for an IEP) has in it that the principal must have a meeting with all 7 teachers before the school year starts and tell them what he has and how to help him. Good luck.

lbouchard you hit the nail on the head. dd is dx hfa she is DEFINATELY on th spectrum but she is borderline autistic disorder. the borderline cases are s.o.l. the thing about autism is a little goes along way

What is funny is that I have heard of one parent who was able to get services for her son without an official DX (the school actually got him on an IEP). But then, this is the same person who has driven severly EBD students without issues. I am sure she does not take any male bovine manure from the district either.

I think Rochester district usually reliquishes the fact once parents bring in a legal professional but I think that one day, I see the Rochester district and the state in federal court over their definition of autism. Sad though because I hear of many children in Rochester who are not getting the help they need.

Sad