Re: Re: anyone have this concern with the school classification?

[Guest guest]

,

what is the difference between autism & OHI - for services? I was told that with an autism classification our kids would get the right services from teachers that are trained in autism. but the school perfer to have the OHI classification so they don't have to train their teachers at their expence.

However, while my son had the autism classification from start up to 6th grade he still didn't have the correct services nor did he have teachers that were trained in autism. So my son just got past on with out learning any life skills in school.

We lived in NYC our whole life and moved further north hoping the public school system would be better. it is, but for N.T. children.

Rose

From: M <rachelfran@...> Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 11:41:39 AMSubject: ( ) Re: anyone have this concern with the school classification?

We are awaiting an IEP meeting since my son's diagnosis -- though the school already called to tell me that they recommend OHI for aspergers instead of autism.In our case (NYC) the classification only comes into play with regard to the school or class distinction. There is a program for HFA or Aspergers kids and to get into that program, you need the Autism classification on the IEP. However, many folks end up in private special needs only schools -- that are paid for by the board of education - if they can prove that the school cannot provide what they need -- many of the schools that accept aspergers kids DON'T accept kids with AUTISM classifications. .. It's a ridiculous game that we play because some schools do take OHI and some don't but they could still work for the aspie kid.I've applied to some of these schools and am hoping we get into one before our IEP meeting so I know what classification to use ... If not, I'll probably go

with the OHI classification since I don't know what difference it makes in our current classroom situation.>> > are there any schools out there that the CSE team don't want the school classification to say autism for the HFA kids because they feel it would hold them back because they/teachers see autism as the more severe type of autism. that this would be a disadvantage to a HFA child.> and they want the classification to read OHI instead of autism for that reason.> I was told by the school that most schools are doing this now and wanted to check with you all to see how many schools are doing this or if it's just mine.> > Also, I wanted to let you all

know I disagree with that change of classification.> > If you can please let me know if you school did this change with the classification and how you felt about that change. Also, what did they change the classification to.> Rose>

[Guest guest]

Betsy

that is what happened to us! except my son since day one in the public school system had an autism dx/classification and they promished the same - for his classification to get changed to OHI and he will have all the same services. I disagreed and they said, take it to a hearing. I should have! My son is losing out on so much. because the teachers aren't trained in autism and don't know how to teach my son. this makes me sick because my son is losing out while they are buying new equiptment for their school too.

I have been taking my son after school for skills, therapy, and anything else he needs so he won't fall too far behind.

I have so much thinking on what I should do next and with trying to find out what options I have and also keeping in mind what's best for my son.

I have to see how this CSE meeting goes and I will decide from there. if all remains the same, I will go for a hearing.

thank you for sharing your experience. OH one more thing. I was told by the school that schools today are changing the autism classification to OHI unless the austic child is more challenged in autism. the HFA will lose the autism classification. I wonder how many others were told the same.

Rose

well?o.com>

Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 3:22:35 PMSubject: ( ) Re: anyone have this concern with the school classification?

In a former school district, my daughter entered the district with an Asperger's diagnosis and she was classified as autistic on her IEP. The next CSE meeting, they talked us into letting them change it to emotionally disabled, siting that she would get the same services but that they felt it was a better classification for her. We believed anything they told us at that time. Why would they lie. But it did not sit right with us so for the next 6 years at every single CSE meeting we requested it be changed back to autism, providing documents with Asperger's diagnosis from 5 different doctors, 3 of whom the district referred us to. It never got changed until I relocated from that district in order to get her into an Asperger's program through the BOCES program in the next county. It was there that I learned that children classified with autism automatically recieved speech therapy which in her case would have provided her with the social

coaching she so desperately needed in the old district. The old district shuffled her from program to program and she ended up in psych facilities 4 times over the stress of it all. What I found out from a mom who lives in my old district who got her Masters in Special Ed with a focus on Aspergers becuase she has 2 Aspie children of her own, is that if the schools have children labeled as autistic then the district is required to set up a program for them....even if it is a program for ONE child. That takes funding away from other things the school may be wanting....like my old district's new auditorium. I also got the same story about classifications not being labeled properly from one of 's tutors. This tutor was a special ed tutor who's mother taught special ed in another district and who's father was the high school principal in my old district. There IS a reason they don't want to label your child as autistic and sadly, it's more than likely

not in the best interest of your child. -Betsy >> > are there any schools out there that the CSE team don't want the school classification to say autism for the HFA kids because they feel it would hold them back because they/teachers see autism as the more severe type of autism. that this would be a disadvantage to a HFA child.> and they want the classification to read OHI instead of autism for that reason.> I was told by the school that most schools are doing this now and wanted to check with you all to see how many schools are doing this or if it's just mine.> > Also, I wanted to let you all know I disagree with that change of classification.> > If you can please let me know if you school did this change with the classification and how you felt about that change. Also, what did they

change the classification to.> Rose>

[Guest guest]

Are you happy with the services your child is getting? what grade is your child in?

our school didn't change anything until just before he left elementary school to enter middle school. that's when everything change.

Rose

From: <ladle24@...> Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 3:58:00 PMSubject: ( ) Re: anyone have this concern with the school classification?

Chicago isn't doing that.>> > are there any schools out there that the CSE team don't want the school classification to say autism for the HFA kids because they feel it would hold them back because they/teachers see autism as the more severe type of autism. that this would be a disadvantage to a HFA child.> and they want the classification to read OHI instead of autism for that reason.> I was told by the school that most schools are doing this now and wanted to check with you all to see how many schools are doing this or if it's just mine.> > Also, I wanted to let you all know I disagree with that change of classification.> > If you can please let me

know if you school did this change with the classification and how you felt about that change. Also, what did they change the classification to.> Rose>

[Guest guest]

,

Like you, I also want to get the correct services for my son that will help him.

Never give up. here, in NYS, there are lots of people that homeschool and they have speech teacher come to their homes. I don't know what age your son is but it is very important for him to have that as young as possible. Everyone told me how lucky my son was to get speech at the young age that he was. I hope you will continue to fight.

With me, I already know I will be going to a hearing. So right now, I'm trying to learn how to advocate for the hearing.

Best luck to you & your son

Rose

From: <ladle24@...> Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 9:05:42 PMSubject: ( ) Re: anyone have this concern with the school classification?

If he attended the public school, we would get autism services, but since we homeschool, we only get access to speech services through proportionate share. I am very happy with the school that did the evals, but we moved (within the city) and the school here is so-so about stuff.I spent the summer reading and researching about how to deal with his speech and language issues (the school that did the eval gave me a lot of pointers), and figured that it made more sense to work intensively with him at home than to bring him in every week. So now, I just bring him in periodically for a "check-up" and to get suggestions. However I requested a sort of checklist or milestone marker in the speech realm for kids like him, so I would have some kind of baseline to compare him to on my own, but I don't think I am going to get it. This kind of irks me. I am trying to gain a few simple resources like that, so that I don't have to be dependent on the school,

but they seem kind of wishy washy.I think his IFSP is still blank. Sometimes I want to be done with the school, but I think they can still be helpful once we deal with the red tape and what not.> >> > > > are there any schools out there that the CSE team don't want the school classification to say autism for the HFA kids because they feel it would hold them back because they/teachers see autism as the more severe type of autism. that this would be a disadvantage to a HFA child.> > and they want the classification to read OHI instead of autism for that reason.> > I was told by the school that most schools are doing

this now and wanted to check with you all to see how many schools are doing this or if it's just mine.> > > > Also, I wanted to let you all know I disagree with that change of classification.> > > > If you can please let me know if you school did this change with the classification and how you felt about that change. Also, what did they change the classification to.> > Rose> >>

[Guest guest]

Great! you are doing right for your son to fight for his speech. maybe you can request in writing that a speech teacher comes to your home to work with your son.Soooo important.

Rose

From: <ladle24@...> Sent: Sat, February 13, 2010 9:06:38 PMSubject: ( ) Re: anyone have this concern with the school classification?

I forgot to add that he is in kindergarten!> >> > > > are there any schools out there that the CSE team don't want the school classification to say autism for the HFA kids because they feel it would hold them back because they/teachers see autism as the more severe type of autism. that this would be a disadvantage to a HFA child.> > and they want the classification to read OHI instead of autism for that reason.> > I was told by the school that most schools are doing this now and wanted to check with you all to see how many schools are doing this or if it's just mine.> > > > Also, I wanted to let you all know I disagree with that

change of classification.> > > > If you can please let me know if you school did this change with the classification and how you felt about that change. Also, what did they change the classification to.> > Rose> >>