In this case there are significant physical disabilities, and educational criteria for ASD is also met, but the social needs are secondary to the physical. I agree about the multiple impairment classification, but the one parents prefer is the Other Health Disability. I am wondering if we can do OHD primary and ASD secondary.
I will let you know what adminstrators say.
As far as I know, only one disability category is necessary or even desirable for each child. If a child has two disabilities that are different enough that they warrant different sorts of attention (for example, autism and deaf), then that child should be classified under Multiply Disabled. Both disabilities can have documentation in the file and on the IEP, but Multiply Disabled is the one category that flags two or more very different disabilities. If the disabilities can both be addressed in the same sort of classroom (let's say, autism and learning disability) then autism trumps learning disability since it's the disability that affects the child the most and needs the most specialized attention. If a child has autism, it's redundant to say he is developmentally delayed. In NY, we don't have a classification for developmental delay, but if we did, autism would be the preferred category leaving DD only to kids with delays but no autism. Whenever putting something on an IEP, think about The Martian. If a Martian came down and looked at the IEP, would he understand what's going on with that child and also what the educational program entailed? DD doesn't flag autism, but Autism flags a DD.Hi,
I have a question about determining a primary disability label for an evaluation summary. If you have two primary categories (such as DCD and ASD) Can you identify one of those as a secondary disability? Mainly I am wondering if ASD can be secondary. I see no reason why not, but some seem to think it can only be primary?
Just hoping you will share what you know. I have calls out to administration to find out, but it no one has returned the call.
I thought I would share what I found out.
Secondary disability is like "Who's Line..." doesn't matter much what is identified. Some school districts identify a secondary disability and some don't. It DOES matter that the criteria is met in the eval report and the needs are identified ALL needs, even in different disability categories. After that, if the team reaches an agreement on which disability is the primary need, they can identify that and then others as secondary OR they can use Severe Multiple Impairment if the specific disabilities are on the SMI list.
Keep in mind, this is MN stuff which means that this process can vary from state to state, but this falls within the federal guidelines.
Also (with a sigh about school systems) I got my information directly from our ASD guru at the state department. Administration in my district never called me back to answer the question.
Karolysgirl, Good for you for going on with the good fight even if your administration never called you back. Typical, huh?
I don't think that we have mulitple disabilities in my state, pretty sure we don't. We used to, but I don't think we do. Pleas correct me if I am wrong. So there for, we couldn't use that label. I don't know you would be able to qualify ASD as Other Health Impairment if ASD is the dx since there is a specific category for ASD. ASD label describes ASD, Other health Impairment does not flag ASD, to put it like Tzoya did. But hey, somethimes the name of the game is what can we legally put and keep the parents happy at the same time. So if it's a parent pushing for a different label other than ASD, I guess you look at what can be legal and what is not legal.
We also don't do secondary disabilities. But if I every receive a report from a psy. who did a total eval, they will have every disorder listed as something. If a child has ASD, ODD, ADHD, and OCD, then they would have one primary, one secondary, and then the rest are something like axis I axis II
I would be careful of the OHI (other health impaired) label. It can block services for your child. Where I live anyway. The schools try their best to label children OHI regardless of the disability. There are fewer state requirements for OHI labels. Check your state laws to see. Sounds like your best bet is the Multihandicapped label. But I dont know what DCD stands for. Have not heard that one used here. If DCD stand for Develpmentaly Congnitively Delayed then there really isnt two seperate disablities so you would not quailfy for MH label. If your child is ASD then I would just label him as Autism. That way if some strange teacher had to take over the class, When she looked at the IEP she would know exactly what she is dealing with, instead of thinking Oh, OHI it must be some kind of medical problem.
I agree with tzoya on The Martian thing.
Venus