Re: Question about IEP status?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/12/2007 12:57:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

mthurz@... writes:

is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

I don't know where you are from but we have several " labels " listed on

Trisha's IEP. She has listed Down syndrome, autism and visual and audible

impairment. I was told at first by the school if your child has Autism then

they

lose the benefits of the MR waiver. That just isn't true, (at least not here)

we lost no benefits by adding the Autism to the group. I have to say at the

same time we also didn't receive anything different just because of the

Autism label either. Everything she gets I have fought for regardless of any

labeling. I do not allow them to tell me that she can't have this because she

doesn't have that. I remind them that her needs dictate what services she

needs not the label. These professionals are kinda slow on learning that so

you might have to remind them a lot. See MR is not relegated to just those

with DS or but professionals seem to be another popular group that could

benefit from the MR label as well. :-) sorry just couldn't help myself on

that

one. :-) As long as your child qualifies for Special ED services then

the label should not matter regarding what services he gets. Don't let them

bamboozle you on this. There is power in knowledge and I would suggest you do

your research on what your rights and your child's rights are and then make

sure the school understands that you know the law and your rights and will

not tolerate them trying to pull the wool over your eyes. If they tell you he

can only have one label ask them to show you where that is written and then

make sure it doesn't go against the Federal law. Never just accept their

word for it, always ask for written documentation.

Carol

Trishasmom

She isn't typical, She's Trisha!

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/12/2007 12:57:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

mthurz@... writes:

Hi All:

Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

that they will note it in his records - however they can only

officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

Could you tell me :

a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

label or Autism if only one can be listed?

Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

way or the other???

Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

Yea, I'm thinking you're right. Maddie has 3 labels....autism, DS, and

MR. All medical conditions are listed elsewhere.

Donna

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

[Guest guest]

I'm interested to hear what others say. Our school said if they confirm autism

that it will be his label. It's true you have to pick one. He's had MO and now

has OHI (other health impairment), but they said autism always takes precedence

over others. Not sure what that means yet; just heard it.

Beth, mom to , age 7, with DS, autism, and a leukemia survivor; also mom to

, 14, and , 11

Question about IEP status?

Hi All:

Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

that they will note it in his records - however they can only

officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

Could you tell me :

a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

label or Autism if only one can be listed?

Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

way or the other???

Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

[Guest guest]

>

> I am in Connecticut>

>

> I don't know where you are from but we have several " labels " listed

on

> Trisha's IEP. She has listed Down syndrome, autism and visual and

audible

> impairment. I was told at first by the school if your child has

Autism then they

> lose the benefits of the MR waiver. That just isn't true, (at

least not here)

> we lost no benefits by adding the Autism to the group. I have to

say at the

> same time we also didn't receive anything different just because of

the

> Autism label either. Everything she gets I have fought for

regardless of any

> labeling. I do not allow them to tell me that she can't have

this because she

> doesn't have that. I remind them that her needs dictate what

services she

> needs not the label. These professionals are kinda slow on

learning that so

> you might have to remind them a lot. See MR is not relegated to

just those

> with DS or but professionals seem to be another popular group that

could

> benefit from the MR label as well. :-) sorry just couldn't help

myself on that

> one. :-) As long as your child qualifies for Special ED

services then

> the label should not matter regarding what services he gets.

Don't let them

> bamboozle you on this. There is power in knowledge and I would

suggest you do

> your research on what your rights and your child's rights are and

then make

> sure the school understands that you know the law and your

rights and will

> not tolerate them trying to pull the wool over your eyes. If they

tell you he

> can only have one label ask them to show you where that is

written and then

> make sure it doesn't go against the Federal law. Never just

accept their

> word for it, always ask for written documentation.

>

> Carol

>

>

> Trishasmom

> She isn't typical, She's Trisha!

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's new at

http://www.aol.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Are you in N.Y. state? I know in Ny children who have autism are allowed to have

speech 5 times per week. Many schools do not have speech available 5 times a

week so they do everything they can do avoid that diagnosis. Perhaps other

states are the same too? My school has M.R. as the first diagnosis and mentions

autism spectrum next, but since it is not primary they avoid the speech(and

probably other) issues.

Brigid

Question about IEP status?

Hi All:

Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

that they will note it in his records - however they can only

officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

Could you tell me :

a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

label or Autism if only one can be listed?

Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

way or the other???

Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

[Guest guest]

Having just went throught this with my son, I think this is a load of crap.

There is room or 10 conditions if that is what they have. The Autism part of

his diagnosis actually relates more to his learning style than does the MR. As

I told my school....I want school personnel and others to realize that he is not

severely retarded. The reason he does some of the things he does is the autism,

not his inability to learn or understand.

Holly

Question about IEP status?

Hi All:

Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

that they will note it in his records - however they can only

officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

Could you tell me :

a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

label or Autism if only one can be listed?

Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

way or the other???

Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

[Guest guest]

Don't know where you are in the country and maybe that makes a differance,

but for my son we listed Ds for the cognitive dx of MR and ASD for the

behavorial and sensory needs. All needed to be addressed on the IEP. DS

could be primary, but I have never heard of only one dx being allowed. Some

people on this list use the ASD first.

>

> Hi All:

>

> Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

> recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

> that they will note it in his records - however they can only

> officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

> that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

> covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

>

> Could you tell me :

>

> a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

> secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

> Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

> label or Autism if only one can be listed?

>

> Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

> way or the other???

> Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

>

>

>

--

Sara - Life is a journey- we choose the path.

[Guest guest]

It is wonderful to see how many share their input.

Due to my experiences with the school district here is a lesson to learn.

If its not on the IEP, then it never happen.

On my son's IEP, MR, AU, Speech Impairment, and OHI.

In July 2006, Chapter 57 of the Acts of 2006, entitled An Act To

Address The Special Education Needs Of Children With Autism Spectrum

Disorders, took effect. This law, which amends M.G.L. c. 71B, § 3

(http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/71b-3.htm), requires that IEP

Teams consider and address in the IEP discussion certain specific

needs of students with disabilities on the autism spectrum. The full

text of Chapter 57 is as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 71B, Section 3 of the General Laws is hereby

amended by inserting at the end of paragraph six the following sentence:

Whenever an evaluation indicates that a child has a disability on

the autism spectrum, which includes autistic disorder [autism],

Asperger's disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise

specified, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rhett's Syndrome as

defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,

fourth edition (DSM-IV, 2000), the IEP Team shall consider and shall

specifically address the following: the verbal and nonverbal

communication needs of the child; the need to develop social

interaction skills and proficiencies; the needs resulting from the

child's unusual responses to sensory experiences; the needs resulting

from resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines;

the needs resulting from engagement in repetitive activities and

stereotyped movements; the need for any positive behavioral

interventions, strategies, and supports to address any behavioral

difficulties resulting from autism spectrum disorder; and other needs

resulting from the child's disability that impact progress in the

general curriculum, including social and emotional development.

The purpose of this advisory is to provide guidance on the ways that

the Individual Education Program (IEP) Team may effectively frame

complete and thorough discussions of the strengths and needs of a

student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While Chapter 57 does not

increase documentation requirements, it describes specific areas of

review and requires the Team to comprehensively discuss students'

needs that are consistent with best practices for addressing the needs

of students diagnosed with ASD. This advisory is intended to offer

information and guidance to supplement the IEP process.

Both federal and state law define " autism " as a disability inclusive

of each of the diagnoses on the autism spectrum, and these diagnoses

are identified in Chapter 57. The IEP of an eligible student with a

documented disability on the autism spectrum should identify the

disability category of autism to ensure that the IEP Team considers

all areas of development that are affected by ASD. However, it is also

important to note that some students with an autism spectrum disorder

have one or more other disabilities and may have a primary disability

other than autism; these students also have the right to a full

discussion of the impact of their autism spectrum disorder in the

development of their IEP, therefore we recommend that if a student has

an ASD, it is identified on the student's IEP whether or not it is

considered the primary disability.

The IEP Team is responsible for designing intervention, education and

instruction to meet the individual needs of students with ASD. As

described in Chapter 57, the IEP Team must consider and address seven

specific areas of need when developing the IEP for a student with ASD.

Although each focus area described in the law is addressed separately

in this technical assistance advisory, the Department understands that

the Team will consider the student's needs in an interactive,

comprehensive manner across areas. This guidance is intended to inform

the Team's discussion of the student's needs and to facilitate the

creation of an appropriate educational program for the student.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/07_1ta.html

Irma,19,DS/ASD

>

> Hi All:

>

> Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

> recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

> that they will note it in his records - however they can only

> officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

> that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

> covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

>

> Could you tell me :

>

> a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

> secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

> Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

> label or Autism if only one can be listed?

>

> Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

> way or the other???

> Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Maureen,

Your son would not be excluded from DMR services regardless of his educational

label. He would qualify because of the cognitive disability. You can only have

one primary ID listed on the IEP form. Listed on pg 4. under soc and emotional

and or health and dev you could have the other disability noted and listed that

this student has a dual diagnosis. You just have to decide what primary ID you

prefer. I am not certain in your small school district that the services would

change very much regardless of what ID you chose.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 14 DS/OCD/ASD?

cttmom62 wrote: Hi All:

Well -after finally getting my son the dual-diagnosis of DS/ASD- I

recently had a PPT at the school to discuss the diagnosis. I was told

that they will note it in his records - however they can only

officially apply one " label " to him in the school system- and told me

that his current label would be better to keep as he would still be

covered under the Dept. Of Mental Retardation.

Could you tell me :

a) is this true? I can only have one label for him ? Is there a

secondary label that can be listed on the IEP as well?

Am I better off having the intellectual disability as his primary

label or Autism if only one can be listed?

Somehow I am thinking they are trying to get out of some services one

way or the other???

Thank-you all for your input and help as usual!!!

[Guest guest]

I found this interesting so I went to look at my kids' IEPs.

We're in NY, and our school district uses IEP Direct to write the

IEPs (apparently 50% of school districts in NY state do).

For Kayla, under Diability, they have " Preschool Student with a

Disability "

Under " How the Student's Disability Affects Involvement and Progress

Participation in Age Appropriate Activities " they finally put " Kayla

has received a diagnosis of Down syndrom and Autism. "

For Laurie, under Disability, they have " Other Health Imapirment "

Under " Special Alerts " , they have " Laurie has been diagnoses with

Pervasive Developmental Disorder. "

I guess as long as the disabilities are documented somewhere in the

IEP it's OK?

Ecki

Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01)