Changing disability category from AU to OHI

[Guest guest]

My sons SD wants to change his disability category from AU to OHI and speech impairment. They did a 3 year FIE and did several autism test/evaluations and say he no longer meets the criteria for qualifying for services under AU and he shows no autism symptoms anymore. They say his problems are ADHD related thus the reason for OHI category. They also want to add speech impairment as another disability category. SO I know aobut the autism supplement and that I would no longer receive services from that. He does have a formal diagnosis of ADHD and PDDNOS when he was 3. He is 6 now. Has anyone ever had the Autism diagnosis go away and be left with just ADHD? Should I ask for an IEE? I know they wont budge out of it. He really does have ADHD problems with the hyperactivity, inattentiveness, poor attention. I know ADHD and autism symptoms overlap with social problems, sensory issues, language problems, etc. Im not even sure anymore of the autism anymore so I am torn. Any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

You can reject their evaluation and request in writing an outside evaluation at district expense.  If they deny this, make sure they do so in writing and they are required to explain why they reject it.  Then you can challenge it, but I wouldn't let them do this without further evaluation by an independent diagnostician or similar person qualified to determine.

Just because it is mild autism isn't a reason to call it ADHD.  It sounds like he has enough issues to still be protected under the supplement.  More testing is needed.  They can balk all they want, you just have to stand your ground.  You have a right to reject their assessment and ask for an outside independent one, and they have to take those findings into consideration

[Guest guest]

IMPORTANT!!!! You also have the right to choose any evaluator you want. Do not

let the school say you have to use theirs - that is not true. If they say so,

then ask them to show you where in the law it says so. Check out wrightslaw.com

for more info. You have a right to choose ANY provider for the IEE you want.

>

> You can reject their evaluation and request in writing an outside evaluation

> at district expense. If they deny this, make sure they do so in writing and

> they are required to explain why they reject it. Then you can challenge it,

> but I wouldn't let them do this without further evaluation by an independent

> diagnostician or similar person qualified to determine.

>

> Just because it is mild autism isn't a reason to call it ADHD. It sounds

> like he has enough issues to still be protected under the supplement. More

> testing is needed. They can balk all they want, you just have to stand your

> ground. You have a right to reject their assessment and ask for an outside

> independent one, and they have to take those findings into consideration

>

[Guest guest]

Since autism is a disorder that affects language, social and adaptive skills,

the testing should cover all these areas. Did the school do any standardized

testing on these areas? As to the classification of autism, did the school do an

ADOS/ADIR? Taken together, those are considered proper standard for testing for

the presence of autism.

If an FIE did not cover all areas of suspected disability, it will not be able

to provide the IEP team members with sufficient information to develop a

properly tailored IEP. You can request an independent evaluation if you believe

that the school's evaluation is insufficiently complete, incorrect, or lacks

specific elements necessary to a proper evaluation.

HTH -

>

> My sons SD wants to change his disability category from AU to OHI and speech

impairment. They did a 3 year FIE and did several autism test/evaluations and

say he no longer meets the criteria for qualifying for services under AU and he

shows no autism symptoms anymore. They say his problems are ADHD related thus

the reason for OHI category. They also want to add speech impairment as another

disability category. SO I know aobut the autism supplement and that I would no

longer receive services from that. He does have a formal diagnosis of ADHD and

PDDNOS when he was 3. He is 6 now. Has anyone ever had the Autism diagnosis go

away and be left with just ADHD? Should I ask for an IEE? I know they wont

budge out of it. He really does have ADHD problems with the hyperactivity,

inattentiveness, poor attention. I know ADHD and autism symptoms overlap with

social problems, sensory issues, language problems, etc. Im not even sure

anymore of the autism anymore so I am torn. Any suggestions?

>

[Guest guest]

Wow! I've never heard of a SD that could reduce autism to ADHD. (I couldn't

resist a little sarcasm here!!) From your post, it did not sound like they were

saying the previous diagnosis was incorrect, but rather it no longer applied. Is

that correct? I would be extremely cautious in removing a diagnosis on the

autism spectrum at age 6 and so should they. Since ASD diagnosis in the schools

was my profession for several years, I think I can give you an unbiased

professional opinion here.

You should absolutely get an IEE. If for no other reason than you truly need a

second opinion before making such a major change. Be prepared for them to say

something like " But this is good news. Why would you WANT your child to have

autism? " Don't take the bait...just proceed with the IEE request.

Jacquelyn Mulkey

Executive Director

Focus Initiative

Teamwork makes the dream work.

>

> My sons SD wants to change his disability category from AU to OHI and speech

impairment. They did a 3 year FIE and did several autism test/evaluations and

say he no longer meets the criteria for qualifying for services under AU and he

shows no autism symptoms anymore. They say his problems are ADHD related thus

the reason for OHI category. They also want to add speech impairment as another

disability category. SO I know aobut the autism supplement and that I would no

longer receive services from that. He does have a formal diagnosis of ADHD and

PDDNOS when he was 3. He is 6 now. Has anyone ever had the Autism diagnosis go

away and be left with just ADHD? Should I ask for an IEE? I know they wont

budge out of it. He really does have ADHD problems with the hyperactivity,

inattentiveness, poor attention. I know ADHD and autism symptoms overlap with

social problems, sensory issues, language problems, etc. Im not even sure

anymore of the autism anymore so I am torn. Any suggestions?

>

[Guest guest]

I would agree that an IEE is warranted. Remember, that a school system has the

obligation to assess in " All areas of suspected disability " . This would include

functional social skills, pragmatic speech, behavior, independent living skills,

adaptive physical education, in home training as well as academics.

Having said that, hearing officers are not going to listen to an argument over

what diagnostic label that a student has. They are interested solely if the

student is receiving the appropriate programming based on their needs and that

they are covered under the special ed umbrella. I have had students identified

as OHI, and their district has agreed to use AU supplement.

Finally, if you think that an evaluator such as an LSSP is recommending the

change of eligibility due to pressure from their superiors which would

potentially negatively impact the student, you might want to remind them of

their professional ethics requirments from their licensing board.

Louis H. Geigerman

http://narda.org

>

> You can reject their evaluation and request in writing an outside evaluation

> at district expense. If they deny this, make sure they do so in writing and

> they are required to explain why they reject it. Then you can challenge it,

> but I wouldn't let them do this without further evaluation by an independent

> diagnostician or similar person qualified to determine.

>

> Just because it is mild autism isn't a reason to call it ADHD. It sounds

> like he has enough issues to still be protected under the supplement. More

> testing is needed. They can balk all they want, you just have to stand your

> ground. You have a right to reject their assessment and ask for an outside

> independent one, and they have to take those findings into consideration

>