Hi! I'm new here and soo glad I found you!! My son is 8 and was diagnosed with PDD NOS in November. His neurologist and psychiatrist both say my son has Asperger's Syndrome but had to diagnose him with PDD NOS because his speech has improved dramatically since he's been in speech therapy for 6 years. The first diagnoses we got was Apraxia when Eddie was 2. Then at 5 he was diagnosed with ADHD. Now the PDD NOS. He has most of the traits of Asperger's although his case is mild. He is integrated in a regular class since starting kindergarten and is now in 2nd grade. His grades have always been straight A's but now we are starting to see his grades slip as the work gets harder. He is starting to have trouble with critical thinking questions and plots of stories. He doesn't grasp fact and opinion questions etc. We've watched the grades on his papers go from all A's to B's and C's. His mobile therapist and behavior specialist and I decided that it's time for an IEP. We want to get him help now before his grades slip even farther and he has to play catch up. Unfortunately, the school thinks otherwise. WE cant' seem to get them to understand that the problems he's having now are going to get worse as the work gets harder! When I called to request a meeting to discuss an IEP, the school guidance couselor said they'd "investigate" his grades and speak to his teacher. His teacher is oblivious! She thinks eveything is "wonderful". When my son's behavior specialist told her we were adjusting his Ritalin because it wasn't as effective as before she just couldn't believe we had any problems with him at all and now he's going to be "more subdued". Although he had been making errors in his work because he copied everything off the board incorrectly and was now getting C's in English, she said they were only "minor" errors. Errors he never made before! Now they are "practicing" for the state assesment tests they will take next year, and he's getting C's on these papers because they involve critical thinking and fact and opinion questions. He doesn't understand and he's getting low scores on projects because he's not organized. All classic signs of Asperger's! When I spoke to the school psychologist she said the same thing - we'll investigate and have the teacher fill out an Asperger's survey. Like she's going to know what she's looking at! Then she told me we can't get an IEP just because we want one and they don't give special education to everyone!! She also told me the psychiatrist and neurologist were wrong! This woman has never even met my son!!!!!! They don't seem to want to do anything until he's failing!!! She asked me if I explained fact and opinion to my son. YES!!!! Twelve times!!! He still doesn't get it. His behavior specialist said he knows Eddie will "get it", but it's going to take time and help. I don't know how to get through to these people!! It's just sooooooooo frustrating!!!!!
Thanks for letting me vent!!!!
Brenda
Thanks! We do have an advocate and are putting our request in writing and sending it the school by certified mail. If this fails, we'll just keep appealing it and I'm going to the school board. We know two members so hopefully that will help.
It seems they're only concerned when a child is failing. I'd like to prevent that from happening. Maybe if I tell them he'll fail their "precious" state assesment tests next year, they'll do something!
What any advocate you use should know is that a child MUST make "educational progress" each year. That includes in areas such as social skills. Getting testing and expert opinions really count. The school board, frankly, won't give a rat's patootie unless it costs them money. Any negative press re spec. is usually met with glee by the public because they see saving on spec. ed. as a benefit. Parents have DUE PROCESS RIGHTS. Follow them. But make SURE you have lots of your OWN testing (whether paid for by the school district or YOU) in place before you go that route. Hearing officers also could care less about the "poor kid." What they want is written evidence to support your contentions.
Don't just vent. Get an advocte involved. They are gypping your son.
Since his disability is interfering with his education, he should get an IEP, IMHO. At this point, you need to formally request in writing that he be considered for an IEP, if you haven't already. Go to www.wrightslaw.com if ypu need information to get the wording of the letter right. There are others here who can advise you on that much better than me. But I think you have to be straight business with them, because they're playing games.
Brenda, totally understand, the same thing happened to my son. In fact, the school counselor had us take him off the IEP in 3rd grade. MAJOR MISTAKE!!! The following years were awful, a teacher that didn't understand him, enumorous substitute teachers, and a jerk, make it or break it teacher in 5th, it was AWFUL! As long as he has his prognosis of Aspergers, or High-Functioning Autism, they need to be on an IEP. We resorted to getting a professional opinion, a barage of tests done by UCLA, to bring his disability back to their attention and make them put him back on an IEP. You are doing great, by not listening to them. You know your child! Do seek a county, regional center mental health advocate. The services are free and you'll go a long way with their help. Best of Luck, You Go Girl!