An IEP for a friend's son ?

[MEG&MINNIE]

I would think that his special needs would be best served in the Public School setting, which is entirely different than HEADSTART. In the local public school they are required to service special needs children as soon as they turn 3 years old. I would have your friend call the Special Ed Dept. of her local town/city and set up an appointment to have her son evaluated. They must provide Speech Therapy, OT , and PT if there is found to be a special need and in some cases , he may be able to get a 1:1 aide but the school system would decide that after he is evaluated. She sounds like she could use an "Advocate"....someone to support her and guide her thru the Special Ed/ IEP Process.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Also, if he is diagnosed as Autistic he may be able to get an Aide that is ABA Certified and is specially trained to work with Autistic children in school and at home.Good Luck

 

[Alexsma]

I'm not sure where to begin.

The child's rights are covered under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). It is a federal law. States may interpret it differently, but they can only offer more services/rights, not less (yes, they don't always folllow the law).

If the child is under three, your friend would need to go through the early intervention program in her area. If the child is three or older, your friend needs to contact the commitee on preschool special education chairperson in her school district.

Have her do everything in writing and keep copies of all correspondence and keep a journal/log of all communications. In her letter, make sure she requests an evaluation, and that she indicates that she knows that they only have 60 days from the receipt of the letter to perform the evaluation, hold a CPSE (committee on preschool special education) and determine the appropriate program (again, this is federal law...this part of the law is often broken).

Make sure she knows the term FAPE (FREE and appropriate education). It's every child's right and is protected under IDEA. She should not be paying for any services her child needs.

It is imperative with autism, to receive early intervention. The earlier the therapy starts, the better chance for a positive outcome.

A few other terms she needs to know is LRE (least restrictive environment), Needs, and Appropriate. Make sure she never uses the word wants, always use the word Needs. They don't care what she wants for her son, only what he needs (it's semantics, but they will jump down her throat if she uses the wrong word). Never use the word Best, always use the word Appropriate. Her child doesn't have the right for the Best education, but he does have the right for an education that is Appropriate for his needs.

If she doesn't agree with the outcome of their evaluation, she can request an IEE (Independent Educational Evaluation) at school district expense. They will probably say no, but then she can request an impartial hearing.

A 504 is covered/protected under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). It is for children who have a documented disability who are succeeding in school without actual special education services. It allows for modifications, both physical and academic, that the child needs.

Please feel free to PM me and ask any questions that you or she may have.

All excellent advice, call the local school district. They must offer a Free apporpriate program. Headstart is for lower income families, mostly single parent households. They will take children who are above the povery line but they are limited on how many. Where as the school district has to offer their services to you regardless how much money you make. You could be Bill Gates and they have to offer you the services your child needs, that's right needs not wants. Good luck to her.

 

[SueM in MN]

Head Start is a federal government program and does include children with disabilities. Here is a link to their page about disabilities (specifically publications about disabilities) and the page from the Head Start website with admission criteria and their policy/standards regarding IEPs for programs for children with specific disabilities. Autism is one of the conditions that qualifies a child for entry into Head Start.

Even though IDEA has been in existance for a long time and the schools are responsible for children from age 3-21, in some states Head Start is still one of the main ways that children with disabilities are served if they are under the age of 5-6.

Here's another good website:
www.pacer.org
PACER is the Parent Advocacy Center for Education Rights. It is based out of Minnesota, but is a national resource. They have a lot of information about education rights and have links to advocacy centers for each region of the US.
And, assuming your friend lives in Louisiana, here's a page of assorted disability links for that state.

 

[bobcat]

I know that when my son was in Head Start his speech IEP was done in conjunction with the school district. There was a representative from the school district as well as Head Start. There should be a parent advocate available through Head Start, at least that is the way it is in Ohio.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I must say that I teach sped gr 3/4 and cannot really help with the younger kids because I do not have any experience with the beginning age for an iep. If this is not a public school they do not need to offer services. IN addition, the federal mandate is free and appropriate public education ....it used to read in our state to the maxium extent feasible but no longer. If he is not in a sped class and does not have an iep then there is not a lot that she can expect but I am sure that has been said before(unless he is under a 504). The new interpretation FAPE in our state means that the child needs to have access to the grade level curriculum with accomodations and modifications and all that goes with it BUT not to the maximum extent feasible.

I totally understand the teacher not allowing the cars when he is in the mainstream. As to the aide issue that is tricky. If he has shown that he can be a danger to himself and other students then she has a chance. As to the feeding problem, he should be fed in school. I can see why the teacher will not do it in light of the fact that she has a typical classroom and young kids who might want to adopt his behavior in order to get extra attention. I am wondering how long the session of pre school lasts. If this child gets out at say noon and has eaten breakfast by 7:30 am then the need to feed him in school could be argued in that he could eat when he got home.

Just b/c he has a diagnosis from an MD does not necessarily mean he will qualify for services. I think the whole problem stems from his age and the fact he is not really in the public school as yet.

 

[SueM in MN]

If this is not a public school they do not need to offer services.......I think the whole problem stems from his age and the fact he is not really in the public school as yet.

He is in Head Start, which is a Federal Government program and is "subject" to IEPs.
If he has a disability and doesn't have an IEP, that is the problem. He should have an IEP in Head Start.

 

[eeyore kelly]

The mother gave me a copy of the IEP to look over, and I am appalled. I am going to post in a little while, but I don't think it is even filled out properly.

 

[Sinderelli]

What about Child search? Has she been in contact with them?

 

[TammiMcMan]

The mother gave me a copy of the IEP to look over, and I am appalled. I am going to post in a little while, but I don't think it is even filled out properly.

The Autism Society of America has a good section on their website regarding IEP's. You might want to look it over, http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=IEP . I know some of our parents have had to work extremely hard in getting the right education for their kids. Best of luck to this mom and encourage her not to give up on what's best for her child.

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[eeyore kelly]

I am still printing out and giving all responses to the mother of the child. This IEP is a real concern to me.

1.) the primary exceptionality is listed as developmental delay not Autism

2.) under general student information it says the child "participates in breakfast and lunch and has not demonstrated feeding problems. even though senory processing and feeding skills are idenitified as need areasthere is no evidencethat these skills are affecting his educational performance."

3.) the child is not due for another reeval until 10/06/08 as in 2008

4.) on two pages the person responsible for implenting goal is not marked in any way although objectives and benchmarks, criteria and termination pt are filled out

5.) on a third page they have the objectives and benchmarks and person responsible for implenting goal marked but they do not have criteria and termination pt filled out

6.) the Occupational therapist only is allotted 30 minutes a month with this child and can be entirely consult with classroom personnel

The mother also told me thursday that the people rush her in and out the IEP conference and tell he things like "this is your first child, we know better then you.

 

[nwdisgal]

Developmental delay is a far cry from Autism on an IEP. There are a significantly different set of services that they are required to provide in each instance - with Autism being much more comprehensive. DD is a great way for a school district to get out of providing more extensive services. Glad that you caught that on her IEP.

 

[SueM in MN]

The re-evaluation date can't be 2008 either - it could be that is a date for full evaluation (and then the date might be correct), but the plan has to be reviewed at least once a year.
If the parent didn't sign it, that is taken as agreement with the plan as written, but she doesn't have to sign it at the meeting. She can take it home and look at. There has to be a date on the IEP where it will take effect if she doesn't sign it. (That protects the child and the school against parents who just never get around to signing things and allowing them to not be held in limbo forever).
Even if she did sign it, the mother can still call for an IEP meeting. She also has a right to have someone with her at the IEP meeting - there are advocacy groups that can send someone or she can just invite a friend. She has the right to have someone with her (even if they are just a neighbor or friend she wants for moral support).

It could be at the time the IEP was originally written that Developmental Delay was the diagnosis and the IEP never got amended to reflect the autism.

 

[fgms]

The re-evaluation date can't be 2008 either - it could be that is a date for full evaluation (and then the date might be correct), but the plan has to be reviewed at least once a year.

A reevaluation does not occur every year. It is every 3 years from the date of original eligibility, formerly known as the Triennial- which is to determine if the child still qualifies for special ed services. The school no longer has to do a full evaluation every 3 years they can opt to continue eligbility for another 3 years if there is not a request for addtional testing. AN IEP is written every year.

 

[SueM in MN]

The re-evaluation date can't be 2008 either - it could be that is a date for full evaluation (and then the date might be correct), but the plan has to be reviewed at least once a year.

A reevaluation does not occur every year. It is every 3 years from the date of original eligibility, formerly known as the Triennial- which is to determine if the child still qualifies for special ed services. The school no longer has to do a full evaluation every 3 years they can opt to continue eligbility for another 3 years if there is not a request for addtional testing. AN IEP is written every year.

That's what I was trying to say.
I know the re-evaluation is every 3 years, but I misunderstood when his original evaluation was. If it was last fall, then 3 later would be 2008.