Re: Re: Can an Autistic student be legaly denied Speech Therapy?

[Guest guest]

Zurama,

It's ok to get feelings hurt and it does happen to all

of us when someone else puts us down or our kids.

That is what this lady did to you and your son. Your

tears will dry though and you will be able to know

that you have work to do. Start with:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.iee.steedman.htm

I love the wrightslaw.com website - there is alot of

info on there and from March to May I basically did

not read anything else but that site. Literally. We

went through the due process - mediation - complaint

processes. It is not perfect but things are much

better, we are still new at this and its a process.

You can start with a letter to the principal (wasn't

he at the meeting?). I'd do that to put it in

writing. I'd disagree with the speech therapist's

evaluation, her opinion. I'd agree that your son

needs the augmentative communication device, and

training on that for him and for you. But there is

nothing in IDEA to say its one or the other between

speech or assistive technology. The speech person can

use PECS also, but it does not mean he no longer needs

to work on speech. I'd write that you are requesting

an independent educational evaluation under IDEA and

you expect the School's decision in writing within 10

business days. Copy the special ed director, your

child's teacher, and someone at the state education

office.

wrightslaw.com has sample letters. if you can't find

one I'll try to dig one out for you.

We found our specialist by asking everyone, I mean,

everyone for help. We made an appointment at TEACCH,

so we asked them who to see about speech. We asked

the speech therapist who is a good person. We asked

the neurologist, the developmental pediatrician, our

pediatrician... We called speech groups who did not

know us. Finally someone said they could not help us

but thought they knew someone who could. She was

perfect. You can try your parent training center

(here in NC its ECAC) or the local autism society.

There are family advocacy networks too, or FAN,

groups. Post on groups to see if someone knows a good

speech person in your general area (state/nearby city

or cities).

I have seen people recommend that you obtain the

credentials that are required by the school so that

there are no issues. Also, be prepared to have the

specialist observe his program.

There is a group called IEP_Guide - it is pretty

good at getting in shape fast.

Amy O

--- Zurama <autismtookmickie@...> wrote:

> How do I get an independent specialist?

>

> I do have fight in me, but today I fell apart. I

> still haven't

> recuperated.

>

> I thought I would start by writing a letter to the

> principal. Is that

> a good start?

>

> Zurama

>

>

> >

> > > Because he is none-verbal? I had an IEP for

> Mickie

> > > today and asked for

> > > more speech and was denied and the 10 minutes a

> week

> > > he had since

> > > December were taken off too. The speech

> therapist

> > > had been replaced

> > > over the holidays.

> > >

> > > I was told by the speech therapist that since he

> is

> > > ten the window of

> > > opportunity was permanently closed and speech

> was

> > > pointless and that

> > > she was going to implement a pecs program for

> him

> > > instead.

> > >

> > > She repeated that the window was closed several

> time

> > > until I had to

> > > finally tell her to stop and not say another

> word,

> > > because I don't

> > > tolerate that kind of negative talk about

> Mickie. I

> > > wanted to jump

> > > across the table and strangle her, but instead

> tears

> > > ran down my face.

> > >

> > > She put the teacher and me down several times.

> What

> > > an arrogant bi.....

> > >

> > > The county principal suggested that a

> communication

> > > device be ordered

> > > for Mickie so that he can push on the inon of

> the

> > > activity he wanst

> > > and a recorded voice will say what it is, giving

> him

> > > an opportunity to

> > > hear spoken language along with the pecs and the

> > > speech therapist,

> > > said no to that too and proceeded to spew her

> > > negative crap and that's

> > > when I told her to stop. The principal said she

> > > would provide Mickie's

> > > teacher with the device anyway.

> > >

> > > Can they do this? Being none verbal is grounds

> for

> > > denial of speech?

> > >

> > > Zurama

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

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>

>

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[Guest guest]

The speech was only for ten minutes a week. This wasnt much anyway. This

whole thing may have got you down a bit but tomorrow it will be the fire you

need to make changes. I think this whole situation will probably turn out to

have been a good thing. I am glad the principle is helping. Keep him on your

side. Write him a note to thank him for his input and how much it meant to

you and Mickie.

Zurama, I think you are one of the greatest moms. Your drive to help Mickie

keeps me going. You know my boys and I love to see Mickies videos. I sent

links to his youtube videos to my sister in law so she could read the stuff

you did about the mercury in the vaccines. She stopped vaccinating my neice.

She called me and thanked me. I said dont thank me, thank Mickie. He is an

amazing little boy with so much to tell without words. Of course you

already know this.

Mickie will get better. The window is not something that closes. It is

something that opens wider and wider once you find it whenever that will be.

Give Mickie a big hug for us.

and the boys.

[ ] Re: Can an Autistic student be legaly denied

Speech Therapy?

> I'm all for the talking device, but the speech therapist said no,

> because Mickie can not according to her use two types of

> communications. The principal thought it would be a start, since he

> would have to hear the task being spoken.

>

> The device will be ordered for Mickie after all. The speech is off.

>

> Zurama

>

>> > Because he is none-verbal? I had an IEP for Mickie today and

>> > asked for

>> > more speech and was denied and the 10 minutes a week he had since

>> > December were taken off too. The speech therapist had been replaced

>> > over the holidays.

>> >

>> > I was told by the speech therapist that since he is ten the window of

>> > opportunity was permanently closed and speech was pointless and that

>> > she was going to implement a pecs program for him instead.

>> >

>> > She repeated that the window was closed several time until I had to

>> > finally tell her to stop and not say another word, because I don't

>> > tolerate that kind of negative talk about Mickie. I wanted to jump

>> > across the table and strangle her, but instead tears ran down my face.

>> >

>> > She put the teacher and me down several times. What an arrogant

> bi.....

>> >

>> > The county principal suggested that a communication device be ordered

>> > for Mickie so that he can push on the inon of the activity he wanst

>> > and a recorded voice will say what it is, giving him an opportunity to

>> > hear spoken language along with the pecs and the speech therapist,

>> > said no to that too and proceeded to spew her negative crap and that's

>> > when I told her to stop. The principal said she would provide Mickie's

>> > teacher with the device anyway.

>> >

>> > Can they do this? Being none verbal is grounds for denial of speech?

>> >

>> > Zurama

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> > ---------------------------------

>> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

>> > Search.

>> >

>> >

[Guest guest]

I'd say, come at it from any direction you can. Give him both pecs AND a speech

device if you can get it paid for. The key is to reduce frustration from not

being able to communicate. My son tells me now what those first 10 years were

like for him.

Barb

[ ] Can an Autistic student be legaly denied

Speech Therapy?

>

>

> Because he is none-verbal? I had an IEP for Mickie today and asked for

> more speech and was denied and the 10 minutes a week he had since

> December were taken off too. The speech therapist had been replaced

> over the holidays.

>

> I was told by the speech therapist that since he is ten the window of

> opportunity was permanently closed and speech was pointless and that

> she was going to implement a pecs program for him instead.

>

> She repeated that the window was closed several time until I had to

> finally tell her to stop and not say another word, because I don't

> tolerate that kind of negative talk about Mickie. I wanted to jump

> across the table and strangle her, but instead tears ran down my face.

>

> She put the teacher and me down several times. What an arrogant

bi.....

>

> The county principal suggested that a communication device be ordered

> for Mickie so that he can push on the inon of the activity he wanst

> and a recorded voice will say what it is, giving him an opportunity to

> hear spoken language along with the pecs and the speech therapist,

> said no to that too and proceeded to spew her negative crap and that's

> when I told her to stop. The principal said she would provide Mickie's

> teacher with the device anyway.

>

> Can they do this? Being none verbal is grounds for denial of speech?

>

> Zurama

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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>

>

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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.15/1249 - Release Date:

1/29/2008 9:51 AM

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Zurama,

Here are two companies I know of that sell devices. You will have to check for

sure, but I do know one of them will be paid for if your school will order it

for you. I think it was dynovox that told me that. (My speech teacher wouldn't

go for it either) 1. http://www.dynavoxtech.com/ and 2.

http://store.prentrom.com/cgi-bin/store/VT2-AEN.html

I didn't know if you needed this or not but thought it might help.

[ ] Can an Autistic student be legaly denied

Speech Therapy?

>

>

> Because he is none-verbal? I had an IEP for Mickie today and asked for

> more speech and was denied and the 10 minutes a week he had since

> December were taken off too. The speech therapist had been replaced

> over the holidays.

>

> I was told by the speech therapist that since he is ten the window of

> opportunity was permanently closed and speech was pointless and that

> she was going to implement a pecs program for him instead.

>

> She repeated that the window was closed several time until I had to

> finally tell her to stop and not say another word, because I don't

> tolerate that kind of negative talk about Mickie. I wanted to jump

> across the table and strangle her, but instead tears ran down my face.

>

> She put the teacher and me down several times. What an arrogant

bi.....

>

> The county principal suggested that a communication device be ordered

> for Mickie so that he can push on the inon of the activity he wanst

> and a recorded voice will say what it is, giving him an opportunity to

> hear spoken language along with the pecs and the speech therapist,

> said no to that too and proceeded to spew her negative crap and that's

> when I told her to stop. The principal said she would provide Mickie's

> teacher with the device anyway.

>

> Can they do this? Being none verbal is grounds for denial of speech?

>

> Zurama

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.15/1249 - Release Date:

1/29/2008 9:51 AM

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

They need to do a reevaluation every three years

anyway, right? Isn't it 3 years by now since its

2007?

--- Zurama <autismtookmickie@...> wrote:

> Oh my Gosh!!! I just found out from regional center

> that the

> Psychologist that tested Mickie last year is not

> qualified to test

> Autistic students, so when they comeback with the

> reason that his

> report was the reason for no speech for Mickie, now

> I have good piece

> of information to fight back with.

>

> Zurama

>

> > > > I was told by the speech therapist that since

> he is ten the

> window of

> > > > opportunity was permanently closed and speech

> was pointless and that

> > > > she was going to implement a pecs program for

> him instead.

> > >

> > >

> > > My #2 is almost 12. He is gaining new speech

> every day [thanks

> > > primarily to anti-virals]. *If* there is a

> window, it certainly is

> > > not closed at 10.

> > >

> > > And her entire statement is odd for another

> reason also. Speech

> > > therapy includes PECS. So if she does not think

> PECS is part of ST,

> > > then she does not appear to be qualified as a

> speech therapist.

> > >

> > >

> > > > She repeated that the window was closed

> several time

> > >

> > >

> > > Ask where she obtained that information.

> > >

> > >

> > > > The county principal suggested that a

> communication device be

> ordered

> > > > for Mickie so that he can push on the inon of

> the activity he wanst

> > > > and a recorded voice will say what it is,

> giving him an

> opportunity to

> > > > hear spoken language along with the pecs

> > >

> > >

> > > My son never did well with PECS, but many kids

> do.

> > >

> > > One thing that was very helpful, was turning on

> the closed-captioning

> > > on the television when I play videos [we don't

> watch television here,

> > > except videos]. This helped both #2 and #3

> learn to talk, and read.

> > > We went to the mountains yesterday, so the kids

> could play in the snow

> > > with their sleds. #3 hit a bump and said he was

> hurt. I asked where

> > > he was hurt and I thought he said his " leg " [he

> has some articulation

> > > issues]. So I repeated it back to him and asked

> which leg. After

> > > several back-and-forth on this, he said " no

> mommy, I hurt my

> W-A-I-S-T " .

> > >

> > >

> > > > Can they do this? Being none verbal is grounds

> for denial of speech?

> > >

> > >

> > > I agree with the independent assessment. You

> also want to ask for

> > > their research and information on what is

> *appropriate* for him, which

> > > they *should* be using in developing their

> recommendations.

> > >

> > > Dana

> > >

> >

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

The National Association for Child Development

kellymac92 <cs-mom@...> wrote: I wouldn't think they could do

this. Get your doctor to write a

prescription for speech or a letter of medical necessity.

> > >

> > > Because he is none-verbal? I had an IEP for Mickie today and

asked

> > for

> > > more speech and was denied and the 10 minutes a week he had

since

> > > December were taken off too. The speech therapist had been

replaced

> > > over the holidays.

> > >

> > > I was told by the speech therapist that since he is ten the

window

> > of

> > > opportunity was permanently closed and speech was pointless

and that

> > > she was going to implement a pecs program for him instead.

> > >

> > > She repeated that the window was closed several time until I

had to

> > > finally tell her to stop and not say another word, because I

don't

> > > tolerate that kind of negative talk about Mickie. I wanted to

jump

> > > across the table and strangle her, but instead tears ran down

my

> > face.

> > >

> > > She put the teacher and me down several times. What an

arrogant

> > bi.....

> > >

> > > The county principal suggested that a communication device be

> > ordered

> > > for Mickie so that he can push on the icon of the activity he

wants

> > > and a recorded voice will say what it is, giving him an

opportunity

> > to

> > > hear spoken language along with the pecs and the speech

therapist,

> > > said no to that too and proceeded to spew her negative crap

and

> > that's

> > > when I told her to stop. The principal said she would provide

> > Mickie's

> > > teacher with the device anyway.

> > >

> > > Can they do this? Being none verbal and none interested or

short

> > > attention span grounds for denial of speech?

> > > I posted to other support groups and everyone seems to agree

that

> > they

> > > can't.

> > >

> > > Zurama

> > >

> >

>