Question about the MR classification | Autism PDD

I am in California and trying to deal with ALTA now to try to get any services for my DD I might be able to. Anyway, it was mentioned by one of the intake people that if she was considered "MR" then she might get services versus just going with the PDD diagnosis. I have no clue what it would really mean in the end, for my daughter, if she was classified as MR. I know I absolutely hate the word and the diagnosis seems harsh.

Thanks in advance. I see many get here often, I wish I could find the time. I always appreciate knowing there is an abundance of knowledge here :)

disneyluvnmama39280.7668171296MR does get MORE services, I know that - it is a tough dx to swallow, but it is worth having her tested to see if she does have a level of MRi had that term until from 3 to age 16, and age 16 mine changed to TBI, i also have autistic tendencies just not enough to classify me under autism, i'm 17 and happy and sometimes unhappy with my new disability TBI because i feel like i'm high functioning autistic but everyonbe else thinks i have Traumatic brain Injury,i guess i'll have to wait until my 18th birthday to find someone that'll belive me, MR was the worst disability category, being under TBI instead of MR is a relief for me,my parents hated that term also

I hate the term and Autumn you took the words from my mouth. I said to the intake gentleman today that it is hard to swallow. She does score low enough to be classified even on her IEP as MR but I HATE the word. It is making me cry even now typing this. She has potential and I recognize that, it just seems like it s such an ugly word and carries such a stigma.

I am going to have to really weigh it out. Just switching her last IEP to "Autistic Like" was a big decision.

Thanks for the replies both of you.

Powaygrl, I am only wondering what TBI might have happen with you? I ask only because DD (Tayler) had a concussion when she was about 3 and we have often wondered if it had anything to do with this. We are always asked about it as she was taken by ambulance to the ER but nothing ever came from that because she started climbing on furniture while we were waiting for the Dr.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read and reply I SO appreciate it!

You should! I have videoed my son here at home with his teenaged therapists doing ABA, and said, HERE DO THIS!

HAH! EXCELLENT!

T talks physics with her dad ... in a pretty concrete way but still. AND he explained combustion engines to her ... she was enthralled.

foxl39281.4106712963Thanx, foxl. If we don't believe in our kids, who will? Some service providers need to check their own opinions at the door sometimes and just listen! MiMom339281.4013425926

I want to take TAPE RECORDINGS of this kid conversing with her Dad, to her teachers!!!

Very interesting points. My daughter is 9 (someone asked I think) and I can see what you mean about lowering expectations. This past IEP was the first time something was mentioned to me about what I wanted for he future. I was asked what I hoped for her as far as after high school. I can't even answer that about my NT kids let alone my daughter. I want what every parent wants for any child. I want her to learn ALL she is capable of and be the best person she can be, whatever that will be.

I said PDD but they are just calling her ASD through our doctors office. And the IEP is definitely labeled Autistic like Characteristics and her second area was speech. I am just trying to figure out how to work the system in a sense. For example, ALTA said there would be a case worker that would want to meet with Tayler and I and evaluate her. I am not going to prep her for it. I already cringe thinking about it but if I do prep her (which I would need to start about now) they won't see what I am faced with on a day to day basis when I can't prep her.

I am hearing ALTA will help with more of her social deficients like learning to pick up on social cues etc. And they will help us with behavioral issues that we have going on here at home. So far there are no issues at school except an occasional shut down.

So if I agree with the MR diagnosis they will repeat testing? I was not aware of that. I even asked at the IEP and they said basically if she is testing in that level now they didn't feel she would improve. That seems hard for me to except as she is always improving in ways.

Thank you so much ALL OF YOU!!!

My son would get put in a room full of therapists he never met and many other stangers to evaluate him. What do you think he did? He laid there and was overloaded. This resulted in getting good services with the most time they offer, but be careful. I think this made them lower their expectations. It was easy for him to get out of things and manipulate situations because they thought just getting him to attend for a minute was a miracle.

I say follow your gut and keep on top of things no matter what. Let them think what they want, but make sure your child gets what they need.

[QUOTE=MiMom3]

"You should have seen the look on the teachers' faces, in the IEP meeting when I told them, It is okay to PUSH HER a bit."

I mean, it was funny at the time, but ... it IS concerning!

Mimom3- my ds does the same thing and has the same situation whenever he gets evaluated! It is frustrating! Sometimes I swear he is thonking"so you peopole think your gonna see what I can do?HA!! I give you nothing!" I know he can do much better in a different situation, but than when you say that ,they look at you like you are the poor deluded mom in denial about your childs abilities.

I know. They act like I want him to be able to play piano when I ask for drills to improve his fine motor skills. It's as if I am that poor optimistic mom with the worst child they have ever seen. Hang in there, and don't let them treat your child like a zombie!

Be sure to be exact as possible on your IEP. Don't let them slack off on your child no matter if they think you're crazy! Save notes from school, and document what they are doing. It helped me get my son into a private school where the motto is ..Beyond potential...

[QUOTE=MiMom3]

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AYYYYY-MEN to your entire posting!!!

Also, note the time it takes your child to start working with someone or some place new. When my son was young, it took him a good two months to get use to things. Now that he is older it is more like a month. That is a good thing for teachers and therapists to know.Disney, the thing about 'MR' is thye have to be 'retested' every three years because the MR 'can' go away or lessen - so try not to accept it as permanant. It is hard, but YOU know how intelligent your angel is, and that is what really matters!

My concern with that would be the school sees a diagnosis of MR and then they lower the bar and basically give up on her. Those intellegence tests aren't very good for our kids. Andrew scores a 35 and I don't believe for a second he's MR. Can you get the PDD diagnosis switched to ASD? Would that get her more services? I would ask that question first. And how old is she? I have refused any more intellegence testing until at least age 6. I would also ask exactly what services she would get with the MR she can't get with the autism diagnosis too so you can better weigh the pros and cons.