private evaluation question

[Guest guest]

I finally got my copies of everything from the ARD meeting 2 weeks

ago. The ARD meeting was strictly for speech, but they noted they

wanted to get Ethan tested by the district psych/autism team within

60 days. Got thirty days left, and if it's anything like last time

it'll be a few days after that. The way they explained it was they

accepted the autism diagnosis *medically* but they need to evaluate

how it will affect him *educationally*.

My husband and I scheduled evaluations at Easter Seals for the end of

February back in November for OT, PT and ST. We weren't sure if the

district's testing would be in depth and/or accurate. But I was

hoping the school's evaluations would be done before we get to Easter

Seals so I could tell them what the school found. Kind of go in with

an idea of what we were looking at.

What have you experienced with regards to this? Is the school testing

very thorough? Do you think we need to go through Easter Seals? We

can afford it through our insurance but it would be tight, which

would be nothing new.

Thank you-

a

[Guest guest]

I think it really depends on the school. Some seem to be bent toward

proving the child does NOT need services; others are thorough & honest &

competent. And everyplace between.

I think I might keep both appts, see if you agree with the school's reports

& have what you need from them, & then you have the option of cancelling the

Easter Seals eval.

If you don't agree with the school's assessment you can usually force them

top pay for a private eval. I'm not sure how that's done exactly. Our

school accepted 's medical evals so this was not something I had to

deal with.

-Sara.

[Guest guest]

a,

I'm sorry I don't have advice but I do have questions. How do you get

evaluations through Easter Seals is this for preschool or kindergarten. I was

thinking of having 's psychological testing done again , the doctors here

don't take insurance and it's $1250. Yea Like I have that. His first one done

when he entered preschool stunk and we are now going out into new territory. I

have a intake with a advocate council here , so maybe they can help

Love

private evaluation question

I finally got my copies of everything from the ARD meeting 2 weeks

ago. The ARD meeting was strictly for speech, but they noted they

wanted to get Ethan tested by the district psych/autism team within

60 days. Got thirty days left, and if it's anything like last time

it'll be a few days after that. The way they explained it was they

accepted the autism diagnosis *medically* but they need to evaluate

how it will affect him *educationally*.

My husband and I scheduled evaluations at Easter Seals for the end of

February back in November for OT, PT and ST. We weren't sure if the

district's testing would be in depth and/or accurate. But I was

hoping the school's evaluations would be done before we get to Easter

Seals so I could tell them what the school found. Kind of go in with

an idea of what we were looking at.

What have you experienced with regards to this? Is the school testing

very thorough? Do you think we need to go through Easter Seals? We

can afford it through our insurance but it would be tight, which

would be nothing new.

Thank you-

a

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

Things we've learned about special education:

1) Never assume that anyone working for the school district has the

best interest of your child or family as their primary concern. This,

sadly, includes teachers and aides as well as administrators.

2) Never assume that any " professional " hired/contracted by the

school district is even reasonably competent. This includes

psychologists, nurses, audiologists, etc.

3) Get as many opinions as you possibly can from everyone with

some " street cred. " People who've written books about the subject are

a good place to start

4) Only share the reports that *you want* to share with the school

district, and think carefully about what you share with them.

Remember number 1 above...and think about the adage, " Measure twice,

cut once, " before showing them anything. We still regret telling them

about our kids having Fragile X syndrome because they've used it

against us to actually try to *deny* us services instead of

appropriately expanding the ones we have.

We eventually paid our own way (with some help from insurance) to go

to the M.I.N.D. institute at UC to consult with Dr. Randi

Hagerman and her team, to put some horsepower behind our agenda...and

it's been an immeasurable boost to be able to drop a report with

recommendations that has her signature on it.

You can't have too much information - I'd do whatever you can to keep

the outside appointment. You can never be too prepared...

Cheers,

> I finally got my copies of everything from the ARD meeting 2 weeks

> ago. The ARD meeting was strictly for speech, but they noted they

> wanted to get Ethan tested by the district psych/autism team within

> 60 days. Got thirty days left, and if it's anything like last time

> it'll be a few days after that. The way they explained it was

they

> accepted the autism diagnosis *medically* but they need to evaluate

> how it will affect him *educationally*.

>

> My husband and I scheduled evaluations at Easter Seals for the end

of

> February back in November for OT, PT and ST. We weren't sure if the

> district's testing would be in depth and/or accurate. But I was

> hoping the school's evaluations would be done before we get to

Easter

> Seals so I could tell them what the school found. Kind of go in

with

> an idea of what we were looking at.

>

> What have you experienced with regards to this? Is the school

testing

> very thorough? Do you think we need to go through Easter Seals? We

> can afford it through our insurance but it would be tight, which

> would be nothing new.

>

> Thank you-

>

> a

[Guest guest]

> Case in point, this little first grade boy with AS needs a signal to

> give the teacher to indicate that he needs help. The teacher thinks

> he is not AS and is just manipulative, and therefore expects him to

> ask " just like everyone else. " She refuses to give him harder

> academics to do when he finishes his work, because " the state

> curriuculum says you have to master addition before you can do

> multiplication. "

Oh, pleeeeeeeease.

Idiots.

The parents were just asking that he have access to

> a computer program where he could practice multiplication and

> division facts (his current obsession) as a reward AFTER he finishes

> the addition work. Nope, can't do it out of order. First graders

> can't multiply and divide.

Bah, humbug.

No one has taken the time to research

> appropriate deducational practices except the parent and when she

> makes suggestions, they call her a pushy mom. I guess by defending

> her in writing I have put myself on the sh%# list, but too bad! I am

> 5 years from a possible retirement date and they will just have to

> listen to me until then (or they could buy out my contract...That

> would be cool!)

Hooray for you, Leggs. Of course you totally understand where that mom is

coming from.

Salli

[Guest guest]

Re: private evaluation question

> Hi a,

>

> Things we've learned about special education:

,

Sounds like you've had some crap happening with the kids and services.

Sorry,

Sue

[Guest guest]

Heya Sue,

Heh, it's non-stop for us. We've got a tri-annual IEP review coming

up for and my chest is already tight whenever I think about it

(like right now). We love his current teacher and classroom

placement, but don't trust even the nicest, most smiling

administrators as far as we could throw their cold corpses...

Our major motiviation for killing our finances by going to the MIND

Institute was for them to put in writing that he's where he's

supposed to be and that NOTHING SHOULD CHANGE.

I would bet my March paychecks that they'll want to change something.

Over their dead bodies.

>

> Re: private evaluation question

>

>

> > Hi a,

> >

> > Things we've learned about special education:

>

> ,

> Sounds like you've had some crap happening with the kids and

services.

> Sorry,

> Sue

[Guest guest]

> (like right now). We love his current teacher and classroom

> placement, but don't trust even the nicest, most smiling

> administrators as far as we could throw their cold corpses...

Apt expression, that, . My feelings are pretty similar.

You didn't grow up in Kansas, did you?

-Sara.

[Guest guest]

but don't trust even the nicest, most smiling

> administrators as far as we could throw their cold corpses...

Hey, , I think you are right to distrust the administrators.

They are kind of like politicians, the higher up they go in status,

the more bullsh#% that comes out of their mouths. I have been

teaching 26 years (I originally wrote 126 years! LOL Feels like it

sometimes!) I can't believe some of the crap they try to pass off as

education.

I am currently in trouble with a teacher at our school and the head

of special ed because I validated a parent's requests for help with

her AS child as being very reasonable in writing and had the gall to

send copies to everyone involved. (They really don't like that!) I

am really sick of the cop-out that this child needs too many

accomodations for a special ed. curriculum! They spend money like

it's water on stuff that is ridiculously expensive and find fault

with making brief, simple, inexpensive, accomodations for a kid that

needs them.

Case in point, this little first grade boy with AS needs a signal to

give the teacher to indicate that he needs help. The teacher thinks

he is not AS and is just manipulative, and therefore expects him to

ask " just like everyone else. " She refuses to give him harder

academics to do when he finishes his work, because " the state

curriuculum says you have to master addition before you can do

multiplication. " The parents were just asking that he have access to

a computer program where he could practice multiplication and

division facts (his current obsession) as a reward AFTER he finishes

the addition work. Nope, can't do it out of order. First graders

can't multiply and divide. No one has taken the time to research

appropriate deducational practices except the parent and when she

makes suggestions, they call her a pushy mom. I guess by defending

her in writing I have put myself on the sh%# list, but too bad! I am

5 years from a possible retirement date and they will just have to

listen to me until then (or they could buy out my contract...That

would be cool!) Leggs

[Guest guest]

hey leggs, that was an awesome post. remember the tenure rule lol.

seriously, i stay on the special ed shitlist for the very same

reason. because OMG i have read the entire 76 page IDEA law (for

sped) and researched it myself with a fine tooth comb, and i don't

just " believe stupidly " what they tell me. i had a mom, her son has

CHARGE syndrome. I had never even heard of it, and she and i went

thru everything written together. she helped me so much with my

teaching, more than anyone ever did. i had her come to class for a

month and work with me with aaron, she showed me everything! she's a

legend in our county. the administration hate her, but she's a

wonderful person. she's a child advocate, and i wish i had more moms

like her. sorry to digress, but you stick up for what's right.

right is right and wrong is wrong. and remember, no one

earned " teacher of the year " by doing the status quo. Kris

> but don't trust even the nicest, most smiling

> > administrators as far as we could throw their cold corpses...

>

> Hey, , I think you are right to distrust the administrators.

> They are kind of like politicians, the higher up they go in status,

> the more bullsh#% that comes out of their mouths. I have been

> teaching 26 years (I originally wrote 126 years! LOL Feels like it

> sometimes!) I can't believe some of the crap they try to pass off

as

> education.

> I am currently in trouble with a teacher at our school and the head

> of special ed because I validated a parent's requests for help with

> her AS child as being very reasonable in writing and had the gall

to

> send copies to everyone involved. (They really don't like that!)

I

> am really sick of the cop-out that this child needs too many

> accomodations for a special ed. curriculum! They spend money like

> it's water on stuff that is ridiculously expensive and find fault

> with making brief, simple, inexpensive, accomodations for a kid

that

> needs them.

> Case in point, this little first grade boy with AS needs a signal

to

> give the teacher to indicate that he needs help. The teacher

thinks

> he is not AS and is just manipulative, and therefore expects him to

> ask " just like everyone else. " She refuses to give him harder

> academics to do when he finishes his work, because " the state

> curriuculum says you have to master addition before you can do

> multiplication. " The parents were just asking that he have access

to

> a computer program where he could practice multiplication and

> division facts (his current obsession) as a reward AFTER he

finishes

> the addition work. Nope, can't do it out of order. First graders

> can't multiply and divide. No one has taken the time to research

> appropriate deducational practices except the parent and when she

> makes suggestions, they call her a pushy mom. I guess by defending

> her in writing I have put myself on the sh%# list, but too bad! I

am

> 5 years from a possible retirement date and they will just have to

> listen to me until then (or they could buy out my contract...That

> would be cool!) Leggs

[Guest guest]

It must be so tough for teachers...because we've noticed that too

many really caring teachers are afraid to speak up when push comes to

shove with the administration. Frustrating for us, because we hear

one thing from them...but they're too scared/intimidated to say it

when we really need them to back us up (i.e. the IEP)!

Awesome that you're sticking up for this little guy!

> but don't trust even the nicest, most smiling

> > administrators as far as we could throw their cold corpses...

>

> Hey, , I think you are right to distrust the administrators.

> They are kind of like politicians, the higher up they go in status,

> the more bullsh#% that comes out of their mouths. I have been

> teaching 26 years (I originally wrote 126 years! LOL Feels like it

> sometimes!) I can't believe some of the crap they try to pass off

as

> education.

> I am currently in trouble with a teacher at our school and the head

> of special ed because I validated a parent's requests for help with

> her AS child as being very reasonable in writing and had the gall

to

> send copies to everyone involved. (They really don't like that!)

I

> am really sick of the cop-out that this child needs too many

> accomodations for a special ed. curriculum! They spend money like

> it's water on stuff that is ridiculously expensive and find fault

> with making brief, simple, inexpensive, accomodations for a kid

that

> needs them.

> Case in point, this little first grade boy with AS needs a signal

to

> give the teacher to indicate that he needs help. The teacher

thinks

> he is not AS and is just manipulative, and therefore expects him to

> ask " just like everyone else. " She refuses to give him harder

> academics to do when he finishes his work, because " the state

> curriuculum says you have to master addition before you can do

> multiplication. " The parents were just asking that he have access

to

> a computer program where he could practice multiplication and

> division facts (his current obsession) as a reward AFTER he

finishes

> the addition work. Nope, can't do it out of order. First graders

> can't multiply and divide. No one has taken the time to research

> appropriate deducational practices except the parent and when she

> makes suggestions, they call her a pushy mom. I guess by defending

> her in writing I have put myself on the sh%# list, but too bad! I

am

> 5 years from a possible retirement date and they will just have to

> listen to me until then (or they could buy out my contract...That

> would be cool!) Leggs