Re: Process for evaluating my son

August 23, 2007

Not all schools district evaluations are bad. While we had a

terrible evaluation with DISD when my son was 3 yrs old, we have had

several great evaluations at PISD the latest being a year and half

ago. It was very accuratte, gave a good representation of my son's

functioning level and intellectual abilties.

It's good to be informed, do your own research, talk to other

parents, and watch the evaluation while it is taking place, make

comments to the evaluator prior to or after the evaluation session.

Make sure they do it over several days and for short periods of time

(kids get tired and lose concentration easily). Also make sure to

have an input in the evaluation. Comment on what you feel was not

representative of your child's ability and have them add it to the

evaluation.

Being an active participant in the school evaluation makes school

personnel more responsive (of course it also helps if they are decent

folks).

I don't believe all school district personnel are out to 'get'

parents. Many of them are parents and have kids with disabilties (I

personally know several).

From attending many ARD's with parents over the years, I find that

being emotional and feeling hostile towards the school personnel has

a negative effect on the outcome for the student. Just like being too

compliant and doing what the school suggests when you know it is not

working for your child can have a negative effect on the outcome.

There has to be a happy medium somewhere.

Just my .00002cents worth of opnion!

Nagla

> > >

> > > Hi

> > >

> > > I'm new to this group. I have a 2 1/2 year old son with speech

> and

> > social development delays. I would like to get him formally

> evaluated

> > before he is eligible for the servives provided by the Public

> School

> > System.

> > >

> > > I live in Plano, TX. Could any of you help me with names of

> > specialists that I can go to?What kind of specialists should I be

> > looking at?

> > >

> > > Regards

> > >

> > > rnsj

> > >

> >

>

_____________________________________________________________________

> _

> > ______________

> > > Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's

> > > Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

> > > http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222

> > >

> >

> > Texas Autism Advocacy

> > www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

> >

> > Texas Disability Network

> > Calendar of Events

> > www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

> >

August 23, 2007

ECI is NOT allowed to diagnos. Also, they are supposed to give the parent

what they

ask for, --but most people don't find that out until after they've aged out.

I know parents

who've gotten 20+ hours of ABA through ECI because they knew how to ask for

it

correctly.

I've heard some pretty scary things about most of the ECI services. I would

suggest that

if you have a bad exerience or have a complaint write to the DIRECTOR of

your ECI agency

and CC: the letter to Fran Dayal who is at the state level with ECI. I have

heard her go on

ad nauseum about what a great job ECI does in providing services for kiddos

and families,

and I've met very few families with that opinion. Unless they get letters,

they won't ever know.

You can find Fran Dayal through the Texas Autism Council website.

S.

Re: Process for evaluating my son

I wasn't too impressed with ECI either. I found the therapists inadequate

at best. At one point they told me he was ready for hard candy and raw

carrots because he was grinding his teeth - he was about 2-1/2 and was just

learning to handle semi-solid consistancy foods. He certainly can handle raw

carrots now but he still grinds his teeth - hello! Autism?

It wouldn't hurt to contact ECI though at least you'll get a taste of

what's to come.

marilyna@... wrote:

I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my son for a year and

never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the services we

received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

Marilyn

Re: Process for evaluating my son

You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can help you to

do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston but I'm

sure ECI is nation wide.

Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

(Neurologist,

Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o. or 3rd

opinion.

Good Luck and God Bless

rosie

August 23, 2007

ECI is NOT allowed to diagnos. Also, they are supposed to give the parent

what they

ask for, --but most people don't find that out until after they've aged out.

I know parents

who've gotten 20+ hours of ABA through ECI because they knew how to ask for

it

correctly.

I've heard some pretty scary things about most of the ECI services. I would

suggest that

if you have a bad exerience or have a complaint write to the DIRECTOR of

your ECI agency

and CC: the letter to Fran Dayal who is at the state level with ECI. I have

heard her go on

ad nauseum about what a great job ECI does in providing services for kiddos

and families,

and I've met very few families with that opinion. Unless they get letters,

they won't ever know.

You can find Fran Dayal through the Texas Autism Council website.

S.

Re: Process for evaluating my son

I wasn't too impressed with ECI either. I found the therapists inadequate

at best. At one point they told me he was ready for hard candy and raw

carrots because he was grinding his teeth - he was about 2-1/2 and was just

learning to handle semi-solid consistancy foods. He certainly can handle raw

carrots now but he still grinds his teeth - hello! Autism?

It wouldn't hurt to contact ECI though at least you'll get a taste of

what's to come.

marilyna@... wrote:

I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my son for a year and

never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the services we

received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

Marilyn

Re: Process for evaluating my son

You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can help you to

do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston but I'm

sure ECI is nation wide.

Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

(Neurologist,

Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o. or 3rd

opinion.

Good Luck and God Bless

rosie

August 23, 2007

Well, that's where it's very much up to the school and the diagnosing

professional.

I've heard it both ways--schools absolutely not accepting a doc's diagnosis

because

it's their job to assign the educational label, or schools not accepting the

doc's Dx

because that particular doctor has a reputation for giving EVERYONE who

comes

to see them a PDD Dx regardless of whether they see the child for only 15

minutes and don't even talk to the parents.

Then there are schools that are happy to have someone else pay for the costs

of

Dxing and accept it.

It's so subjective to the district, the special ed director, etc.

S.

Re: Process for evaluating my son

my experience has been that every single entity (therapist, school

district) does their own evaluation testing, so i've never

had " formal " testing done by a medical dr. (except for dr. amy

yasko's nutrigenomic testing). my son just turned 3 and finished

testing to enter the public school system's early program this fall

semester (we're in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD). i'm glad i never had

the medical testing done because it would have been a waste of money.

i'm even going thru a divorce right now and my lawyer said that the

school district's eval will be sufficient in court, so i still don't

need to fork over the money for that testing.

warmly,

sommer

>

> Hi

>

> I'm new to this group. I have a 2 1/2 year old son with speech and

social development delays. I would like to get him formally evaluated

before he is eligible for the servives provided by the Public School

System.

>

> I live in Plano, TX. Could any of you help me with names of

specialists that I can go to?What kind of specialists should I be

looking at?

>

> Regards

>

> rnsj

>

__________________________________________________________

______________

> Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's

> Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

> http://tv.yahoo. <http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222>

com/collections/222

>

Texas Autism Advocacy

www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

Texas Disability Network

Calendar of Events

www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

August 23, 2007

Well, that's where it's very much up to the school and the diagnosing

professional.

I've heard it both ways--schools absolutely not accepting a doc's diagnosis

because

it's their job to assign the educational label, or schools not accepting the

doc's Dx

because that particular doctor has a reputation for giving EVERYONE who

comes

to see them a PDD Dx regardless of whether they see the child for only 15

minutes and don't even talk to the parents.

Then there are schools that are happy to have someone else pay for the costs

of

Dxing and accept it.

It's so subjective to the district, the special ed director, etc.

S.

Re: Process for evaluating my son

my experience has been that every single entity (therapist, school

district) does their own evaluation testing, so i've never

had " formal " testing done by a medical dr. (except for dr. amy

yasko's nutrigenomic testing). my son just turned 3 and finished

testing to enter the public school system's early program this fall

semester (we're in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD). i'm glad i never had

the medical testing done because it would have been a waste of money.

i'm even going thru a divorce right now and my lawyer said that the

school district's eval will be sufficient in court, so i still don't

need to fork over the money for that testing.

warmly,

sommer

>

> Hi

>

> I'm new to this group. I have a 2 1/2 year old son with speech and

social development delays. I would like to get him formally evaluated

before he is eligible for the servives provided by the Public School

System.

>

> I live in Plano, TX. Could any of you help me with names of

specialists that I can go to?What kind of specialists should I be

looking at?

>

> Regards

>

> rnsj

>

__________________________________________________________

______________

> Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's

> Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

> http://tv.yahoo. <http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222>

com/collections/222

>

Texas Autism Advocacy

www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

Texas Disability Network

Calendar of Events

www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

August 23, 2007

well, in our case, they happily and hurredly performed the required evaluations

after i hired an advocate. amazingly enough, they found that my non-verbal,

pdd, etc. son is indeed under the spectrum.

Hill wrote: The school district will

need to do their own evaluations for

determining eligibility and services, but they are absolutely

required to consider any outside evaluations during the ARD process.

That doesn't mean they will implement their recommendations (they

ignored all eight of ours including the IEE) but they still must

consider them and have sound reasons for not implementing their

recommendations by law. The question is, do they comply with the law

or force you to file a complaint/request for a hearing.

> In order to get your son evaluated for school you will

need to contact

> the diagnostician at your local elementary school. This will start

the

> process to get him into the PPCD (Pre-school Program for Children

with

> Disabilities). If you want him evaluated for autism by the school

> district which is a different evaluation than the evaluation

necessary

> to qualify for PPCD services you will need to request that

seperately.

> The school distric will not accept evaluations other than their

own.

> However, I would encourage you to get him evaluated by either a

> developmental pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or a

> developmental neurologist just for your own records. Such an

evaluation

> will also be necessary if you want to file any claims with your

> insurance company regarding speech therapy and/or ocupational

therapy

> or any other therapies that you may want to try. You could ask

your

> family doctor and/or his pediatrician for referrals to

specialists. You

> mention that he had speech and social development delays. Ask the

> professional who gave you this diagnosis for referrals.

> Hope this will get you started!

>

August 23, 2007

well, in our case, they happily and hurredly performed the required evaluations

after i hired an advocate. amazingly enough, they found that my non-verbal,

pdd, etc. son is indeed under the spectrum.

Hill wrote: The school district will

need to do their own evaluations for

determining eligibility and services, but they are absolutely

required to consider any outside evaluations during the ARD process.

That doesn't mean they will implement their recommendations (they

ignored all eight of ours including the IEE) but they still must

consider them and have sound reasons for not implementing their

recommendations by law. The question is, do they comply with the law

or force you to file a complaint/request for a hearing.

> In order to get your son evaluated for school you will

need to contact

> the diagnostician at your local elementary school. This will start

the

> process to get him into the PPCD (Pre-school Program for Children

with

> Disabilities). If you want him evaluated for autism by the school

> district which is a different evaluation than the evaluation

necessary

> to qualify for PPCD services you will need to request that

seperately.

> The school distric will not accept evaluations other than their

own.

> However, I would encourage you to get him evaluated by either a

> developmental pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or a

> developmental neurologist just for your own records. Such an

evaluation

> will also be necessary if you want to file any claims with your

> insurance company regarding speech therapy and/or ocupational

therapy

> or any other therapies that you may want to try. You could ask

your

> family doctor and/or his pediatrician for referrals to

specialists. You

> mention that he had speech and social development delays. Ask the

> professional who gave you this diagnosis for referrals.

> Hope this will get you started!

>

August 23, 2007

i notice it mostly when he's stressed - new situation or when he doesn't get his

way with something.

nicolewallaceouaf wrote: Teeth-grinding -

have you checked his zinc levels?

> I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my

son for a year and

> never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the

services we

> received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

>

> Marilyn

>

> Re: Process for evaluating my son

>

> You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can

help you to

> do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston

but I'm

> sure ECI is nation wide.

> Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

(Neurologist,

> Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o.

or 3rd

> opinion.

> Good Luck and God Bless

> rosie

>

August 23, 2007

i notice it mostly when he's stressed - new situation or when he doesn't get his

way with something.

nicolewallaceouaf wrote: Teeth-grinding -

have you checked his zinc levels?

> I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my

son for a year and

> never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the

services we

> received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

>

> Marilyn

>

> Re: Process for evaluating my son

>

> You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can

help you to

> do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston

but I'm

> sure ECI is nation wide.

> Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

(Neurologist,

> Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o.

or 3rd

> opinion.

> Good Luck and God Bless

> rosie

>

August 23, 2007

ironically, the lady who used to be in charge of the Klein ECI group happened to

have parents who were best friends with my grandparents in West Texas back in

the day.

i never made that known to her though... i like to see people for who they

really are and i saw her for who she really was.

the concept of ECI is really a great one - it just doesn't work in real life.

Singleton wrote:

ECI is NOT allowed to diagnos. Also, they are supposed to give the

parent

what they

ask for, --but most people don't find that out until after they've aged out.

I know parents

who've gotten 20+ hours of ABA through ECI because they knew how to ask for

it

correctly.

I've heard some pretty scary things about most of the ECI services. I would

suggest that

if you have a bad exerience or have a complaint write to the DIRECTOR of

your ECI agency

and CC: the letter to Fran Dayal who is at the state level with ECI. I have

heard her go on

ad nauseum about what a great job ECI does in providing services for kiddos

and families,

and I've met very few families with that opinion. Unless they get letters,

they won't ever know.

You can find Fran Dayal through the Texas Autism Council website.

S.

Re: Process for evaluating my son

I wasn't too impressed with ECI either. I found the therapists inadequate

at best. At one point they told me he was ready for hard candy and raw

carrots because he was grinding his teeth - he was about 2-1/2 and was just

learning to handle semi-solid consistancy foods. He certainly can handle raw

carrots now but he still grinds his teeth - hello! Autism?

It wouldn't hurt to contact ECI though at least you'll get a taste of

what's to come.

marilyna@... wrote:

I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my son for a year and

never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the services we

received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

Marilyn

Re: Process for evaluating my son

You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can help you to

do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston but I'm

sure ECI is nation wide.

Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

(Neurologist,

Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o. or 3rd

opinion.

Good Luck and God Bless

rosie

August 23, 2007

ironically, the lady who used to be in charge of the Klein ECI group happened to

have parents who were best friends with my grandparents in West Texas back in

the day.

i never made that known to her though... i like to see people for who they

really are and i saw her for who she really was.

the concept of ECI is really a great one - it just doesn't work in real life.

Singleton wrote:

ECI is NOT allowed to diagnos. Also, they are supposed to give the

parent

what they

ask for, --but most people don't find that out until after they've aged out.

I know parents

who've gotten 20+ hours of ABA through ECI because they knew how to ask for

it

correctly.

I've heard some pretty scary things about most of the ECI services. I would

suggest that

if you have a bad exerience or have a complaint write to the DIRECTOR of

your ECI agency

and CC: the letter to Fran Dayal who is at the state level with ECI. I have

heard her go on

ad nauseum about what a great job ECI does in providing services for kiddos

and families,

and I've met very few families with that opinion. Unless they get letters,

they won't ever know.

You can find Fran Dayal through the Texas Autism Council website.

S.

Re: Process for evaluating my son

I wasn't too impressed with ECI either. I found the therapists inadequate

at best. At one point they told me he was ready for hard candy and raw

carrots because he was grinding his teeth - he was about 2-1/2 and was just

learning to handle semi-solid consistancy foods. He certainly can handle raw

carrots now but he still grinds his teeth - hello! Autism?

It wouldn't hurt to contact ECI though at least you'll get a taste of

what's to come.

marilyna@... wrote:

I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my son for a year and

never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the services we

received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

Marilyn

Re: Process for evaluating my son

You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can help you to

do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston but I'm

sure ECI is nation wide.

Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

(Neurologist,

Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o. or 3rd

opinion.

Good Luck and God Bless

rosie

August 24, 2007

Same was true for us. A complete waste of time, it was laughable how

they played little records of animal sounds trying to get him to imitate

as he ran in the opposite direction all over the house. I joke now how

the school would send out a OT in summer and they would run from the

house never to return. He was a maniac kind of like the Tasmanian

devil, thank God those days are done. ABA if you can get it from ECI

would be a much better method of engagement. Trina

>

> I found ECI to be a waste of time. They worked with my son for a year and

> never suspected Autism. I had to find out on my own. Also, the

> services we

> received were wayyy too little. 30 minutes 4 x a month.

>

> Marilyn

>

> Re: Process for evaluating my son

>

> You can contact ECI -Early Childhood Intervention and they can help

> you to

> do the right steps. Well, they did it with my son. I'm in Houston but I'm

> sure ECI is nation wide.

> Now, don't go only by one evaluation , also find a private Doc

> (Neurologist,

> Psycologist and specialist) to Test your son. Always, keep a 2o. or 3rd

> opinion.

> Good Luck and God Bless

> rosie

>

August 26, 2007

There is something to be cautious of when you discuss services with your ECI

provider - ECI can limit services or deny them outright in certain areas IF

they know that you are doing the same service privately. It is called

" duplication of services. " Now, whether this is proper or not is not really the

issue at hand, they are doing it and you do not have time for that argument, it

is what ECI here does to limit the services. My recommendation would be to not

discuss with them what you do privately - it is not their business. Get the

recommendations from the National Academies of Science, First Signs and other

National Organizations that recommend 40 hours of intensive, extensive

intervention for children on the spectrum. (Twice a month for 45 minutes is not

nearly enough at all!!)

Tell them what outlined below - that your child is making progress, but

it is not fast enough. Get your pediatrician or neurologist to write a letter

stating that your child needs more extensive services in a variety of areas -

OT, PT, feeding, family counseling, etc...whatever you want and think your child

needs. Several ECI providers in Collin County were also giving 10 hours of ABA

a week - BUT - they are not going to offer it, you must ask for it and be

persistent...

Hill wrote:

1) Ask ECI to increase your speech and developmental services to one

time per week each, based on your concerns that you believe he is

making some progress but too slowly. It will be time for your six

month re-eval soon, so this is the perfect time.

2) They do NOT stop if you supplement with private therapy. Ask them

to provide whatever you believe the child needs. If you need sensory

integration help, they can assign an OT. Many people prefer their own

therapists b/c they don't find ECI to be as helpful, but you should

see what they can provide first. Nothing precludes you from

supplementing their services, but they are responsible for addressing

the total developmental needs of your child.

There are great sensory integration therapists in Plano: Integrative

Pediatric Therapy on Communications Psrkway and Dynamic Therapy

Services are two good ones to try. At Dynamic Therapy, speak to the

owner, Schmukler. She is fantastic!

>

> Hi all

>

> Thank you so much for the responses you sent to my post. I realised

> that I should have been more lucid in expressing what I wanted to.

>

> My son was evaluated by ECI when he was 25months. The ECI therapists

> said that he showed a lot of " red flags " (I realise that they are

> not equipped to make an eval), and have started speech and

> develpment therapy 2 times a month each for 45 minutes. It's been 5

> months and I feel that while there is some progress, he still needs

> more therapy.

>

> Are we allowed to ask ECI for more sessions? Additionally, do they

> stop providing therapy (even if our insrance company pays them), if

> we opt for private therapy?

> I'm additionally looking for private speech therapists and

> development therapists (somebody who can address sensory-integration

> issues). Would any of you know of people in Collin county or even

> /Dallas?

>

> Thanks a ton

> rnsj

>

> >

> > Hi

> >

> > I'm new to this group. I have a 2 1/2 year old son with speech and

> social development delays. I would like to get him formally

> evaluated before he is eligible for the servives provided by the

> Public School System.

> >

> > I live in Plano, TX. Could any of you help me with names of

> specialists that I can go to?What kind of specialists should I be

> looking at?

> >

> > Regards

> >

> > rnsj

> >

> __________________________________________________________

> _______________

> > Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's

> > Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

> > http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222

> >

>

August 26, 2007