If you live in N.Y., yes. Otherwise, the classification is not as important. Someone once gave me an analogy. Imagine a room full of all kinds of therapies and supports. This room has 13 doors. Each door has a guard. You must approach one of the guards and convince him that your child should enter thru his door. Each door represents one of the 13 special ed. classifications. If you child meets the criteria of a particular door, you show that information to the guard and, if your child truly DOES meet the criteria for that particular classification, he or she can enter the room thru that door. Once in the room, all the therapies and supports are available, no matter what door the child came through. Getting in is key. Once he or she is there, everything is the same.
There are two exceptions. One is BIG. And that is in NY. Here, there are special rights written into State law for kids with Autism. The other exception may or may not ever kick in. It has to do with discipline. If a child is suspended for more than 10 days, there needs to be a Manifestation Determination hearing and it's determined at that meeting if the misbehavior was a result of the disability. Clearly, if the misbehavior WAS a result of Autism, it helps immensely in proving that to have a classification of Autism.
At this point in your child's life, I'd get whatever classification allows her to access Special Education. Except if you live in NY or plan on moving here.
Tzoya,
So what about in reference to private schools. Are there schools who limit access to consideration if my daughter is labeled "autistic" even though she is high functioning and without negative behaviors.
Thanks
My daughter is right now in the process of reclassification. She was preschool disabled and now we are looking at "autism" or "other health impaired". My daughter was diagnosis around 2 1/2 yr old by two developmental peds with PDD-NOS and the school. At 3 1/2 yr old a child psychol. diagnosis her with developmental coordination disorder. They school district has all this on record. Now almost 5 years old and after intensive therapy and biomed. treatment she is so much better and high functioning. My school district wonders what to classify her as since she doesn't really fit so neating in any classification.
Does anyone now if classifying my daughter "autistic" would open or close doors for my daughter's needs. She is presently in district in an inclusion environment. However I suspect next year we may have to send her to private school because the district's seems not appropriate for kindergarden. What is all this classification about and what does it really mean for my daughter's needs???
Thanks,
Natalie
PS I live in NJ BTW thought that might be helpful