The mental retardation label was used with a non-standardized test ---- it says they could not use standardized testing on him ---
he has had assessments with standardized test before so that does not make sense.
Your child needs just one classification in order to qualify for special education services. Autism trumps MR. And IEP services are NOT DRIVEN by the diagnosis (except in some cases that don't apply if you don't live in NY or have certain disabilities like deafness or blindness that require very specific interventions). That means, the IEP is not changed based on whether your child has a classification of MR or Autism. It changes based on your child's individual needs. If a child attains a score on an IQ test (IQ testing is REQUIRED for classification) of below 60, he has mental retardation. HOWEVER, it's notoriously difficult to get a valid IQ score on a child with autism. Typically, the subtest scores are so scattered, they invalidate the composite score. If your child has significant language issues, using a language-based test to figure out the IQ is illegal -- no testing that plays directly into a child's disability is valid and if your child has language issues, a language-based test won't render valid results. Request that a nonverbal IQ test like the Leiter be administered. The IEP Team will resist this because school districts tend not to own the Letier test and it's expensive to buy. It's the classic completely nonverbal IQ test. If they refuse to give it, allow them to give the test THEY want to give and then IMMEDIATELY disagree with the results and ask for an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense so that you can find our own outside psychologist to give the Leiter and have the District pay. This is very important. You WANT a valid IQ score for your child. Understanding our child's essential cognitive challenges (or strengths) helps us create an appropriate IEP. It's also required by law to have an IQ score as part of the IEP.
In the end, your child only needs one classification. If he is on the autism spectrum, that classification should be AUTISM. If his also has an IQ score that would qualify him for an MR classification, that may be on the IEP, but classifying him as MR is misleading...it doesn't take into account the autism and won't let someone who reads the IEP know that there is MORE going on with him than MR.
Wow! I think Tzoya needs to help out on this one she knows so so much about education issues and stuff. Hang in there sweetie!Andy was diagnosed by a neurologist at 3 and we have followed up every six months with the neuro --