Re: autism vs adhd vs speech impaire

[Guest guest]

Missy,

I would like to take it a step further. I want it legislated that

TEA provide services ... no more playing the " label " game by TEA

Education Inc.

This is from the Missouri Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism December

2007

http://www.senate.mo.gov/autism/autism2007.pdf

See Recommendations 29 and 30

Page 34 of 49

Clipped for easy reading in this post:

RECOMMENDATION #29

The Blue Ribbon Panel recommends that the General Assembly and the

Governor urge the Missouri congressional delegation to change the

existing IDEA law to allow automatic eligibility for children who

have received a medical diagnosis of ASD.

RECOMMENDATION #30

The Blue Ribbon Panel recommends that the term " educational

diagnosis " be eliminated in addition to any distinction made between

a medical diagnosis and an " educational diagnosis. " A medical

diagnosis, if one has been completed, should be allowed to establish

eligibility for services. A school-level evaluation

should only be completed to help define the program or if no medical

diagnosis has been done. It is recommended that schools establish the

requirement to include traditionally medical or therapeutic

interventions for students with ASD because such treatments are

normally precursors to reasonable educational activities.

Mark

>

> Hi all,

> I have seen countless school districts label children with anything

BUT autism. I personally think they do this in order to avoid having

to provide the autism supplement. I filed a complaint to TEA but

because I didn't have enough data, they didn't find it compelling

enough to investigate.

>

> It would behoove us to organize, make a list of families whose

children have autism but whose school district tried to avoid the

autism label and then submit the information to TEA as a large

complaint. It would also be helpful if we could show patterns within

particular school districts.

>

> I have also heard ARD teams try to tell families that there is the

medical autism diagnosis and the educational autism diagnosis. The

key phrase that you should attend to from the IDEA is that the autism

must " adversely affects a child's educational performance " . If you

focus on the fact that your child's autism prevents him/her from

benefiting from education, then you will be fine.

>

> Missy

>

> ______________________________

> L. Olive, Ph.D., BCBA

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Missy,

I would like to take it a step further. I want it legislated that

TEA provide services ... no more playing the " label " game by TEA

Education Inc.

This is from the Missouri Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism December

2007

http://www.senate.mo.gov/autism/autism2007.pdf

See Recommendations 29 and 30

Page 34 of 49

Clipped for easy reading in this post:

RECOMMENDATION #29

The Blue Ribbon Panel recommends that the General Assembly and the

Governor urge the Missouri congressional delegation to change the

existing IDEA law to allow automatic eligibility for children who

have received a medical diagnosis of ASD.

RECOMMENDATION #30

The Blue Ribbon Panel recommends that the term " educational

diagnosis " be eliminated in addition to any distinction made between

a medical diagnosis and an " educational diagnosis. " A medical

diagnosis, if one has been completed, should be allowed to establish

eligibility for services. A school-level evaluation

should only be completed to help define the program or if no medical

diagnosis has been done. It is recommended that schools establish the

requirement to include traditionally medical or therapeutic

interventions for students with ASD because such treatments are

normally precursors to reasonable educational activities.

Mark

>

> Hi all,

> I have seen countless school districts label children with anything

BUT autism. I personally think they do this in order to avoid having

to provide the autism supplement. I filed a complaint to TEA but

because I didn't have enough data, they didn't find it compelling

enough to investigate.

>

> It would behoove us to organize, make a list of families whose

children have autism but whose school district tried to avoid the

autism label and then submit the information to TEA as a large

complaint. It would also be helpful if we could show patterns within

particular school districts.

>

> I have also heard ARD teams try to tell families that there is the

medical autism diagnosis and the educational autism diagnosis. The

key phrase that you should attend to from the IDEA is that the autism

must " adversely affects a child's educational performance " . If you

focus on the fact that your child's autism prevents him/her from

benefiting from education, then you will be fine.

>

> Missy

>

> ______________________________

> L. Olive, Ph.D., BCBA

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

you can put Spring ISD and Cy Fair ISD on the list. spring actually told me

that he wouldn't be getting anymore than they submitted on his ieps if they gave

him the label of autism.

Subject: autism vs adhd vs speech impaire

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008, 6:47 AM

Hi all,

I have seen countless school districts label children with anything BUT autism.

I personally think they do this in order to avoid having to provide the autism

supplement. I filed a complaint to TEA but because I didn't have enough data,

they didn't find it compelling enough to investigate.

It would behoove us to organize, make a list of families whose children have

autism but whose school district tried to avoid the autism label and then submit

the information to TEA as a large complaint. It would also be helpful if we

could show patterns within particular school districts.

I have also heard ARD teams try to tell families that there is the medical

autism diagnosis and the educational autism diagnosis. The key phrase that you

should attend to from the IDEA is that the autism must " adversely affects a

child's educational performance " . If you focus on the fact that your child's

autism prevents him/her from benefiting from education, then you will be fine.

Missy

____________ _________ _________

L. Olive, Ph.D., BCBA

[Guest guest]

you can put Spring ISD and Cy Fair ISD on the list. spring actually told me

that he wouldn't be getting anymore than they submitted on his ieps if they gave

him the label of autism.

Subject: autism vs adhd vs speech impaire

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008, 6:47 AM

Hi all,

I have seen countless school districts label children with anything BUT autism.

I personally think they do this in order to avoid having to provide the autism

supplement. I filed a complaint to TEA but because I didn't have enough data,

they didn't find it compelling enough to investigate.

It would behoove us to organize, make a list of families whose children have

autism but whose school district tried to avoid the autism label and then submit

the information to TEA as a large complaint. It would also be helpful if we

could show patterns within particular school districts.

I have also heard ARD teams try to tell families that there is the medical

autism diagnosis and the educational autism diagnosis. The key phrase that you

should attend to from the IDEA is that the autism must " adversely affects a

child's educational performance " . If you focus on the fact that your child's

autism prevents him/her from benefiting from education, then you will be fine.

Missy

____________ _________ _________

L. Olive, Ph.D., BCBA

[Guest guest]

I agree with, we have sevral doctors stating that my daughter is on the AU

spectrum but the school says she is normal. We submitted doctors notes and even

on her OHI paper the Nuro says she is on the spectrum yet the school says no. I

would love to band with you and go to the TEA.

Stacie in Magnolia

>

> Subject: autism vs adhd vs speech impaire

> To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

> Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008, 6:47 AM

> Hi all,

> I have seen countless school districts label children with

> anything BUT autism. I personally think they do this in

> order to avoid having to provide the autism supplement. I

> filed a complaint to TEA but because I didn't have

> enough data, they didn't find it compelling enough to

> investigate.

>

> It would behoove us to organize, make a list of families

> whose children have autism but whose school district tried

> to avoid the autism label and then submit the information

> to TEA as a large complaint. It would also be helpful if we

> could show patterns within particular school districts.

>

> I have also heard ARD teams try to tell families that there

> is the medical autism diagnosis and the educational autism

> diagnosis. The key phrase that you should attend to from

> the IDEA is that the autism must " adversely affects a

> child's educational performance " . If you focus on

> the fact that your child's autism prevents him/her from

> benefiting from education, then you will be fine.

>

> Missy

>

> ______________________________

> L. Olive, Ph.D., BCBA

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Im with you 100%

dm

autism vs adhd vs speech impaire

> To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

> Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008, 6:47 AM

> Hi all,

> I have seen countless school districts label children with

> anything BUT autism. I personally think they do this in

> order to avoid having to provide the autism supplement. I

> filed a complaint to TEA but because I didn't have

> enough data, they didn't find it compelling enough to

> investigate.

>

> It would behoove us to organize, make a list of families

> whose children have autism but whose school district tried

> to avoid the autism label and then submit the information

> to TEA as a large complaint. It would also be helpful if we

> could show patterns within particular school districts.

>

> I have also heard ARD teams try to tell families that there

> is the medical autism diagnosis and the educational autism

> diagnosis. The key phrase that you should attend to from

> the IDEA is that the autism must " adversely affects a

> child's educational performance " . If you focus on

> the fact that your child's autism prevents him/her from

> benefiting from education, then you will be fine.

>

> Missy

>

> ______________________________

> L. Olive, Ph.D., BCBA

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, you are correct in your assumption that self-funded insurance

plans are not bound by any of the new Texas laws such as HB1919

(the " ABA bill " ), they are governed by ERISA. Most large companies

such as Hewlett Packard are self funded. However, and this is a big

HOWEVER, if the insurance plan you are looking into is self-funded

your really need to talk to your human resource officer regarding

which therapies for Autism are covered. Most insurance plans we know

of for instance will only cover speech therapy to restore speech or

if you have Apraxia etc. but Hewlett Packard is actually one of the

very few companies who covers speech for Autism! Most of the

specialists we see are out-of-network so our co pay for an office

visit is $50 vs. $40 but we are free to choose. However, the upfront

cost is higher because you usually have a deductible that your are

responsible for before your insurance will cover the rest. For

instance, we have an $800 deductible for each kid for emergency

visits/hospital stay/ surgery etc. Also, there is usually some time

involved on your part to file the paperwork for reimbursement, and to

make follow up calls. So if you are comfortable with paying a higher

deductible and have time and energy to file the claims and call them

then I would suggest you switch. But again: CHECK WITH HUMAN

RESOURCES!

[Guest guest]

Yes, you are correct in your assumption that self-funded insurance

plans are not bound by any of the new Texas laws such as HB1919

(the " ABA bill " ), they are governed by ERISA. Most large companies

such as Hewlett Packard are self funded. However, and this is a big

HOWEVER, if the insurance plan you are looking into is self-funded

your really need to talk to your human resource officer regarding

which therapies for Autism are covered. Most insurance plans we know

of for instance will only cover speech therapy to restore speech or

if you have Apraxia etc. but Hewlett Packard is actually one of the

very few companies who covers speech for Autism! Most of the

specialists we see are out-of-network so our co pay for an office

visit is $50 vs. $40 but we are free to choose. However, the upfront

cost is higher because you usually have a deductible that your are

responsible for before your insurance will cover the rest. For

instance, we have an $800 deductible for each kid for emergency

visits/hospital stay/ surgery etc. Also, there is usually some time

involved on your part to file the paperwork for reimbursement, and to

make follow up calls. So if you are comfortable with paying a higher

deductible and have time and energy to file the claims and call them

then I would suggest you switch. But again: CHECK WITH HUMAN

RESOURCES!

[Guest guest]

>

> I agree with, we have sevral doctors stating that my daughter is on

the AU spectrum but the school says she is normal. We submitted

doctors notes and even on her OHI paper the Nuro says she is on the

spectrum yet the school says no. I would love to band with you and go

to the TEA.

I understand what you all are saying, but the diagnosis in itself is

not necessarily the issue. It's the way the symptoms are judged. Our

school district accepted the fact that our son was AU from an outside

source without hesitation, but we still aren't getting services (just

a 504) because they claim he is not severe enough. They aren't

considering functioning problems like they should be, rather they are

just looking at the bottom line of whether he is passing or not. They

aren't thinking about whether he is getting what he needs to function

as an adult. In other words, they are just looking at grades. For

those of us with kids on the upper end of the spectrum, I think this

is what we need to be pushing. IDEA, I think, is pretty clear that

schools are responsible for kids being functional as well as simply

educated and they aren't supposed to be using arbitrary yardsticks for

success like whether the child is passing grade-level. Texas hasn't

gotten up to speed on these issues.

Don't worry--we're still pushing (will be next fall anyway).

Ruth

[Guest guest]

>

> I agree with, we have sevral doctors stating that my daughter is on

the AU spectrum but the school says she is normal. We submitted

doctors notes and even on her OHI paper the Nuro says she is on the

spectrum yet the school says no. I would love to band with you and go

to the TEA.

I understand what you all are saying, but the diagnosis in itself is

not necessarily the issue. It's the way the symptoms are judged. Our

school district accepted the fact that our son was AU from an outside

source without hesitation, but we still aren't getting services (just

a 504) because they claim he is not severe enough. They aren't

considering functioning problems like they should be, rather they are

just looking at the bottom line of whether he is passing or not. They

aren't thinking about whether he is getting what he needs to function

as an adult. In other words, they are just looking at grades. For

those of us with kids on the upper end of the spectrum, I think this

is what we need to be pushing. IDEA, I think, is pretty clear that

schools are responsible for kids being functional as well as simply

educated and they aren't supposed to be using arbitrary yardsticks for

success like whether the child is passing grade-level. Texas hasn't

gotten up to speed on these issues.

Don't worry--we're still pushing (will be next fall anyway).

Ruth