Post by aussiecrush on Oct 24, 2014 22:10:52 GMT -5
We had our IEP meeting for DS1 this week. He assessed high for "autistic like" behavior. They (the school) can't make an official diagnosis, and having one won't make a difference where school and special needs service are concerned. We are left trying to decide if it's important to have a doctor make an official diagnosis. Thoughts?
I'm feeling envious and slightly bitter about a situation that, while genuinely and objectively unfair, is just the way things are and nothing can be done. How do I stop?
No questions but our dogs name is Lucy. DS calls her SueSue so whenever he says her name I think of you lol. I hope that's not creepy. I don't know any Sue's IRL.
Dude I know. I'm at a complete loss and can't talk to anyone about it IRL because it's absolutely not my business to tell.
So awkward. I have a similar situation with our close neighbor. I even wrote to Dear Prudence lol. basically we just drew back and then finally he mysteriously moved out.
We had our IEP meeting for DS1 this week. He assessed high for "autistic like" behavior. They (the school) can't make an official diagnosis, and having one won't make a difference where school and special needs service are concerned. We are left trying to decide if it's important to have a doctor make an official diagnosis. Thoughts?
wtf they assessed his behavior, but no diagnosis. That has to be tough. I really don't know any ins and outs of this kind of thing, anyone here with any experience?
They aren't medical doctors, they can just tell me where he falls based on testing. It's just stressful and it feel like either way we go we are screwing up. I feel better just sharing it, so thank you for that.
farmvillelover - there's definitely a good chance she doesn't know. yikes to the max.
This would be the worst possible outcome. It's my main motivation for just not saying anything at all and claiming busy for the next couple of weeks to give myself time to process it.
Can you make me feel less guilty about skipping my friend's wedding? There are eight girlfriends going together, we are all local, former teammates, and I haven't seen a few of them in years.
I've had a shit week, culminating in two endless days of parent-teacher conferences. I'm exhausted and I'm getting sick; nothing serious, just a cold. But I've been super busy lately and DH hasn't gotten to go out with his friends in a long time. Turns out we double booked for tomorrow night, but mine is a wedding that's been on the calendar for months and his is a casual get together. He told me I get first dibs.
The wedding is 90 minutes away and because of freeway closures, we would only be able to stay for three hours. I'm not a terrible friend for not going, right?
I have a karate test at 1pm. It's only 8am I'm already so nervous that I'm crying and my stomach is a disaster (let's just say no bathroom breaks at the 2+ hour test might be an issue here). This happens before every test. How do I calm the hell down? I know I'll be fine and I need to suck it up and be an adult, but my body is like "haha, NOPE, let's freak out!" Every time.
I have a karate test at 1pm. It's only 8am I'm already so nervous that I'm crying and my stomach is a disaster (let's just say no bathroom breaks at the 2+ hour test might be an issue here). This happens before every test. How do I calm the hell down? I know I'll be fine and I need to suck it up and be an adult, but my body is like "haha, NOPE, let's freak out!" Every time.
what are you afraid of?
I have no idea, it's completely irrational! I've done this a dozen times before and it's always been ok. I just can't get my stomach to listen to reason! I'm going to tell myself "there's nothing to be afraid of" over and over like a mantra and see if that helps!
wtf they assessed his behavior, but no diagnosis. That has to be tough. I really don't know any ins and outs of this kind of thing, anyone here with any experience?
They aren't medical doctors, they can just tell me where he falls based on testing. It's just stressful and it feel like either way we go we are screwing up. I feel better just sharing it, so thank you for that.
This. When IDEA first became the law of the land, evaluations were mandated by school professionals. There weren't enough clinical psychologists to do this work, so the term "school psychologist" was coined, by the APA, to describe the sort of folks who are trained to do psychoeducational testing. It would sort of be like elevating paralegals to the reponsibilities of an attorney because of a temporary shortage of lawyers and allowing them to do all the court appointed representation.
Most school psychs have a masters degree; DS's has a DEd.This isn't a put down, per se. One of the most important people on DS's team is a school psych who works in a private practice. He was life changing for us.
I can think of a whole host of reasons why a medical dx if worth persuing.
1. A second opinion. ASD is diagnosed clinically; it's the result of observing symptoms and behaviors and finding a descriptor that best fits. It's open to interpretation and bias. Until there's a better way to be certain, a second opinion is critical. When we had DS dxd at almost 7, we immediately brought him into a dev pedi for a second opinion. He's an adult now and has since been dxd by 3 school psychs, a developmental neurologist and psychiatrist who also gave him GAD to add to his alphabet soup.
2. A dev pedi is more likely to note comorbids and how they impact the presentation of your child's brand of ASD now and across his lifetime. It's a rare individual on spectrum who doesn't have at least one other comorbid condition at some point.
From the hypotonia and midline crossing glitches that impacted his ability to read and produce writing, to his ADHD that impacts his executive functioning, to depression, anxiety, sensory differences, learning differences. Other people I know on spectrum have issues with motors skills, ID, OCD, Tourettes, bipolar, seizures and schizophrenia.
3. There's a different level of qualification. A dev pedi will have some idea of what his/her other patients are getting in terms of services. This is a resource for vetting an IEP to make sure your child is getting the right kinds of supports in school and that you're doing what you need to privately. DS's team in K-12th was a world class dev pedi and a great school psych who we saw privately. His psych was also the district and County IU's ASD consultant. And yet the reports from the dev pedi were a much bigger stick for advocating.
4. Going forward, as @kirkette mentioned, you'll be able to access better transition services. It's hard to say whether you'll need them, but getting something like SSI will be easier if you have created a paper trail documenting the need for services and supports as a student.
The reality is that only 15% of those with the highest functioning form of ASD have full time employment. (U.S. and UK figures from just prior to the current recession) And that doesn't factor in the guy with a masters in IT who is working at Radio Shack.
Sue sue, I may post this to the board, but I'd like your advice, if you are up for giving it.
A good friend, Emma, has twin boys, 1st grade, autistic with medical needs. The public school does not want to talk to her. The IEP meeting last year was a joke. She asked for a parent-teacher conference last month and was told they are all "booked" and got an appointment for December. She 's not getting notes home/communication from the teachers as required from her IEP. She worked for a solid week to get a principal appointment and did meet with the principal last Friday. Principal was fine, but basically mediocre. Nothing changed in communication from the teachers. On Wednesday, the school nurse, at pick- up, asked about John's asthma and her mother (their after school care taker) detailed his upcoming medical appointments. Together, the nurse and grandmother both called and spoke to his doctor's office.
The next day, Thursday - 6 days after the principal meeting, the school (presumably the principal) called CPS for "educational neglect" resulting from medical neglect. Both children were named in the report, although only one child has missed more than 3 days of school. It claimed his medicine (inhaler) has not been provided to the school - it has. The report was a mess - lumping both boys together, as if one kid. The school has both children's full medical files - which detail John's very real respiratory issues, doctors and interventions. The school insists that John participate in gym, with no modifications, even though the exercise has triggered his asthma and required mom to pick him up from school on several occasions.
The principal mentioned NOTHING of concern for John's missed school days. And neither boy was absent between the principal meeting and CPS call. This "charge" came completely out of the blue.
The CPS worker investigated on Thursday night and basically apologized. My friend is so stunned and traumatized.
What should she do next? If she seeks legal advice , how dies she find a lawyer ?
Post by noodleskooze on Oct 25, 2014 8:43:50 GMT -5
Oh! I need work advice (will probably make my own post on Monday).
I need help making a connection in a professional manner. My best friend's sister has a job I would LOVE to have. I used to be fairly close with the sister (she coached our bball team in high school and was somewhat of a big sister to me at the time as well), but we only talk occasionally now. She recently found out she is pregnant and due in April. I would love to somehow find out if she plans to return to work after the baby and, if not, if she would consider me as her replacement. I only see her in person maybe once or twice a year, so I don't know how to ask unless it's over social media, which seems unprofessional. I have a feeling she will not return to work, otherwise I wouldn't even ask. To add another layer, my DH and I were thinking about TTC in Feb., but we would definitely be ok with delaying a year or two if it meant I could take this job.
*I* would want a diagnosis. Is there a developmental pediatrician in your area?
We do and I've narrowed the list and found a few covered by our insurance. This was the next logical step for us and I appreciate the push in that direction, especially the information from auntie. Our school psychologist could dx him outside of the school environment but as it stands her hands are tied. There are just so many damn options and opinions, it's overwhelming at times. Thank you for the help.