Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Lee Ann: Go with you gut and get the diagnosis. Mom's know best. Liz What to do What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a dx? Lee Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Yep, go outside and get a medical diagnosis. If push comes to shove, a judge is going to take the evaluation of a medical professional over that of a school psychologist. Are you looking for additional services to address issues affected by autism? Because technically, an autism diagnosis does not automatically mean more services, since an IEP is based on an " individual " child's needs. So if the school feels it is appropriately addressing your child's needs, you may not get more services. A school's not supposed to say you must have an autism diagnosis to be an a particular program, for example. The individual child is supposed to drive services and programs, not the diagnosis. Ecki Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01) http://oppositekids.blogspot.com/ > > What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school > phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your > child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? > > I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a > dx? > > Lee Ann > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Where do I start in order to get a dx for my son? The questioners I filled out and his teacher filled out put him in the highly likely level for Autism. His teacher contradicted himself in his verbal report today. The speech therapist who has extensive training in Autism but can not diagnosed feels he is autistic. The new school psychologist felt my son probably has autism but she is still in training and has to yield to intern psychologist who decided my son did not autism. She based her decision on the teacher who scored my son one way on the questions he filled out and said something else in his presentation to the group at the IEP. I was so irritated! My sons doctor feels he is autistic but will not dx him. So I need to take my son to someone who can figure this out for us. I was told today that I could go out and get a " medical " dx of autism if I'd like but he was not going to get an " educational " dx right now. Would I take him to a psychologist? Lee Ann > > Lee Ann: Go with you gut and get the diagnosis. > Mom's know best. > > Liz > What to do > > > What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school > psychologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your > child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? > > I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a > dx? > > Lee Ann > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Where are you located? Maybe someone could recommend somone in your area. Kayla was diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician. Ecki Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01) http://oppositekids.blogspot.com/ > > Where do I start in order to get a dx for my son? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 We are in Northern Indiana. Lee Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 I think he may need additional therapy for his SI issues. The school OT said he did not need OT. No one in the meeting agreed with that assessment. The OT was not there for the meeting. The main reason I really want good evaluation for him is so we can add the autism dx on the waiver, if appropriate, and maybe it would be helpful to an an actual dx as he gets older. The school is actually doing a good job of making sure his needs are met. I am not upset with the school. Just kind of frustrated with what I felt was a quick decision today. They did tell me we will look at the autism issue again at the end of this year. They want to give him time to mature more. So, ok. I think we need an outside opinion just to satisfy our concerns and the opinions of a couple of his other therapists. It is very odd that on paper he does fit into the autism dx but yet his teacher's report says the opposite. We need someone who is truly trained in diagnosis Autism. Lee Ann > > > > What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school > > phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your > > child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? > > > > I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get > a > > dx? > > > > Lee Ann > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Hi, Leilani here, I have a 7 year old son with DS/ASD. I first suspected that noah had autism when i began working for the school district and I worked with an autistic student who behaved almost exactly like my son.  I requested that he be evaluated and they complied. The problem with these tests, however, is that they are so subjective. It is based on mostly observation and everyones perceptions are different. The psychologist wasnt even teh one who did teh eval, he sent an associate who happened to let me know his mother was dying!!!! Of course I felt terrible, but this was teh person evaluating my son and I didnt believe he was in any condition to do so. I received a phone call from him later that evening where he left a really long message about his mother passing away adn a brief mention about turning in his paperwork to the psychologist. I waited an ENTIRE YEAR to get their results. They were not even ready by the time we held teh next ard meeting!!!! During that time, I took him to a psychologist at a local childrens hospital who observed him along with an associate. I was told at that appt, that she felt he was on teh spectrum. She was familiar with the school's psychologist and she was offended that the school district would take teh word of an associate over her 30 years of experience. the problem is the school districts contract out psychologist and at least where i am at, try to use scare tactics that make teh parent believe they can only use their Dr. which is BS.  Trust your instinct and do what you gotta do. It is not just about getting services, it is about learning as much as you can about what is going on with your child so you can better help and advocate for him. When you know what is wrong then you can better make decisions that will help your child.  Dont let the school bully you, you are entitled to a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th opinion.  At least thats how I look at it. :-) Take care and good luck, Leilani What to do What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a dx? Lee Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Hi Leilani, You have a very pretty name. I am going to find out where I should take my son here in my state for an evaluation. The school did agree that he was on the spectrum but there were a couple of things the psychologist thought he was too good at to meet the state education standards for autism. Like you say, it is a matter of opinion. I do need to get him thoroughly checked out just so we know and can get him the serivces he needs. Thanks for the support! Lee Ann > > Hi, Leilani here, I have a 7 year old son with DS/ASD. I first suspected that noah had autism when i began working for the school district and I worked with an autistic student who behaved almost exactly like my son.  I requested that he be evaluated and they complied. The problem with these tests, however, is that they are so subjective. It is based on mostly observation and everyones perceptions are different. The psychologist wasnt even teh one who did teh eval, he sent an associate who happened to let me know his mother was dying!!!! Of course I felt terrible, but this was teh person evaluating my son and I didnt believe he was in any condition to do so. I received a phone call from him later that evening where he left a really long message about his mother passing away adn a brief mention about turning in his paperwork to the psychologist. I waited an ENTIRE YEAR to get their results. They were not even ready by the time we held > teh next ard meeting!!!! During that time, I took him to a psychologist at a local childrens hospital who observed him along with an associate. I was told at that appt, that she felt he was on teh spectrum. She was familiar with the school's psychologist and she was offended that the school district would take teh word of an associate over her 30 years of experience. the problem is the school districts contract out psychologist and at least where i am at, try to use scare tactics that make teh parent believe they can only use their Dr. which is BS.  Trust your instinct and do what you gotta do. It is not just about getting services, it is about learning as much as you can about what is going on with your child so you can better help and advocate for him. When you know what is wrong then you can better make decisions that will help your child.  Dont let the school bully you, you are entitled to a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th opinion.  At > least thats how I look at it. :-) Take care and good luck, Leilani > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Hi LeeAnn, Did the school psychologist do an evaluation? You have a right to disagree and request an outside independent evaluation. Autism is a medical diagnose and you should not have requested the school to diagnose your child. A school psychologist does not have a medical degree nor do they have the expertise to ID your child. Charlyne Subject: What to do To: Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7:49 PM What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a dx? Lee Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Absolutely go to a doctor - we got the first diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician and then a second (confirming) diagnosis from a child psychiatrist. I asked each for their notes from the diagnosis vist to share with the school. When I gave them both things, the school psychologist said they were very thorough reports and she just did her eval to confirm, but it wasn't hard at that point. Good luck! Beth What to do What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a dx? Lee Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 If you are in Indiana, it may be worth a trip to Cincinnati Children's. Bonnie is well known to the DS/ASD community, and a wonderful resource. Kim Subject: What to do To: Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7:49 PM What do you do if you feel your child is autistic but the school phycologist doesn't based on what a teacher who has only known your child for 5 weeks has said to counter what you have said? I am so frustrated! Should I go outside of the school system to get a dx? Lee Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hi Beth, Indy or Ft Wayne would be great. I am just a few minutes south of South Bend and know there are very limited docs up here. Lee Ann > > Hi, Lee Ann. I'm in Indy and grew up in northern Indiana. If you don't mind a trip to Indy, I can tell you the developmental ped and psychiatry groups that are very knowledgable about our dual diagnosis. I also could ask our Down Syndrome Indiana email listserve if they know of any in the Fort Wayne or South Bend areas. > > Let me know if you'd like any of that! > > Beth > > > Re: What to do > > > We are in Northern Indiana. > > Lee Ann > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 I do not know what to do I don't post often ,but boy do I need your opinion. Today? I went to my sons J.P. functional? kindergarten?class to drop off his hearing aids that I forgot to put in his book bag. I have been trying to get a chance to observe his reading instruction,because I was unclear of how they were teaching reading and no work or correspondence? has come home . I am a former reading teacher and was planning to work with him at home . What I saw today made me close to tears .I saw the 4 children go to the kidney shaped table with the teacher and work on making the first letter of their name with small pieces of wood. one student was at his desk working on writing sentences.with mild teacher assistance supervision and my son J.P. was at his table with his one on one? sitting directly behind him and his communication book as well as his device slightly off to the side. on the table were a touch and feel book about farm animals and picture symbols of farm animals.? the 1 on signed different anaminals from the book to and tried to get him to sign the animals. My areas of concern are : why was his not getting letter instruction as the other children since the sign for his name is a J to the stomach which he can do I see it possible to teach him the letter?J why is the one on one behind him how can he have dace to face communication ? when does he get instruction from a certified teacher (teachers are the best qualified to give instruction)? I am feeling that if this child is ever going to read in some form which is my goal then I need to teach him to do so my self. i?at home after school on top of every thing else. This is not to mention that?? the device? is not being used regularly as needed I have been trying to get them to up date the device as per our IEP. I am thinking of of? doing the device work myself then giving it to them to down load on the device just so my son will have it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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