Hello again all, again I hope you can help. My son's IEP is Thursday, I'm going to insist that he recieves OT which needs to start immediately, he's already missed 4 weeks of no OT since his last IEP and I will let them I know I understand they have 10 days, but do you thing I should not wait that long should I give them 5 days? Also I was wondering, should I request a therapist whom works just with Autistic children to come in and assist Brady's needs? Since, he's last IEP his grades has dropped tremendousy because they've taken away his sped assistant which was with him part to full time, because they said he doing well just with the reg. teacher and aide, well DUGH, look at his grades since then dropped, but just with the looking at other discussions, I'm wondering should I really try and push for someone to comein whom only deals with autism to help with his behavior and such....My son is high functioning-mild-PDD-NOS-ADHD-ODD any replies would greatly be appreciated. THANKS AGAIN
Is it his behavior you wish to have someone come in and assist with that has knowledge of Autism? As far as OT goes, did they say at his last IEP meeting that he would be getting OT and added it to the IEP? If so, you can give them however many days to get it started becasue they are out of compliance if they said 4 weeks ago he would get it and put it in his IEP and then haven't provided. Make sure they know in no uncertain terms that you expect this to happen in at least ten days, perferably no more than 5 days as time has already been wasted. If they can't comply they will be stuck providing paying someone else that you take him to since that aren't providing. I think that it is possible for you request someone who specializes in ASD to come in and assist with behaviors, but OT's and PT's and speech teachers in schools usually work with all disabilities so it may be hard to prove a case that he needs someone in those areas who only work with ASD kids. ( I think I am a little inclear on what exactly it is you are wanting, sorry.)
The fact that his grades have fallen and maybe behavior is worse is evidence that the aide should not have been pulled. Why would they take away something that is working? This kind of reminds me of someone who has to take meds for biopolar or something. The meds start to make them feel wonderful, so they stop the meds and then their world falls apart. Same difference here, everything was working the way the services were set up. The school pulled his supports and his world is falling apart.
Request in writing that the team re-evaluate the need for the support from the sped assistant. Document in your letter of request what his grades were with the assist. and what progress reports and report cards started to show after the assist. was pulled.
Once more thing, if your son is ODD, maybe the behaviors are not coming for ASD but from ODD and that should be taken into consideration. I don't know, just playing devil's advocate.