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"IEP Ambush and Other Worries" or "Never Sign

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Alex is 4 1/2 years old. We began evaluations and interventions when he was 2 1/2 because of delayed language, tantrums, obsessive behavior, not responding when his name was called, not calling me mommy, and a bunch of other eccentricities. I called him my eccentric little genius because he could identify all the letters of the alphabet, upper and lower case, in random order(hyperlexia). At three he was DX with autistic spectrum disorder by a private developmental pediatric specialist. That September, he started attending a class for children with autistic characteristic. We were also working together a lot at home and in the community. He thrived. By January, the director of the school started pressuring me to move Alex to a less intensive class for children with language delays. I didn’t agree to have him moved until the summer, after he’d made his first attempt at socializing with another child. He’s been doing well in the language development class since then. In October, I gave verbal consent for his teacher to administer language tests while I observed(previous attempts at language testing had been useless because he couldn’t/wouldn’t participate). I got the results of those tests, along with his IEP goals, the day before his IEP. The day of the IEP, I was given test results by an evaluation done by the school psychologist and test results from an evaluation done by his speech therapist. Both of those evaluations had been done without my knowledge or signature. The IEP goals I had been given the day befor included the goals for his 1:1 speech but the speech therapist’s evaluation said that Alex was no longer eligible for 1:1 speech. I ended up allowing them to get away with that because Alex’s classroom teacher is so great that I wasn’t sure having Alex removed from her class to go to speech therapy was worth fighting over. I did not allow the psychologist’s report to remain in his file. It stated that Alex was eligible for services based on a language delay. The problem with that was the intentional omission of his eligibility based on an autisti spectrum disorder. Fortunately, I did not sign anything at the IEP or that would have gotten by me. This was an IEP that I had been led to believe would have no surprizes. We have another IEP scheduled for the 24th. I asked the director of the school if there would be any surprizes and she said no, that we were all in agreement that Alex would not be going to kindergarten in the fall(I had that written into the last IEP). We all have agreed that he will continue in his present placement in the coming school year. She did mention that the only reason that might change was if the incoming group of children was too low functioning for Alex. It doesn’t matter if that turns out to be the case because there is no other placement in this county that would be appropriate. There is no other higher functioning class out there that offers the amount of structure or language intervention that he has now. Last week, Alex’s teacher asked if I wanted him to take the tests that other children in his class were taking. His teacher showed them to me and they were kindergarten readiness tests so I said no. Today I got a form from the school and a call from Alex’s teacher asking me to sign for Alex to take the tests. I want to get a big red marker and write in big letters across the form… “YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!” and “WHAT PART OF NO DIDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” So, I am now preparing myself for another ambush. Any words of support and/or wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Meanwhile, thank you for allowing me a place to collect my thoughts.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/10/2002 - 1:45 PM

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I appreciate your frustration!

Re your son’s language delays. Are you familiar with the Cherab Foundation? Are you a member of the yahoo group called “speech diet”? Because of astonishing anecdotal success, the Cherab Foundation (for children with speech apraxia) is sponsoring research on essential fatty acid supplementation to improve speech. There are a number of families on the list who use not only essential fatty acids but also enzymes (especially for kids diagnosed on the autism spectrum). There’s lots of information you may want to read if you’re not already familiar with it.

Good luck!

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/10/2002 - 7:40 PM

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According to Wrightslaw, the sp ed web site. The best thing you can do is to tape record the whole IEPmeeting. You have to give them advance notice. You can also write all uyou want on the IEP using additional pages stating your case. You ARE allowed to write on it. You may want to check Wrightlaw out for more ideas.

Good Luck
robin

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 05/11/2002 - 1:13 AM

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1. Evaluation by a school psychologist without your consent is a violation of your procedural safeguards.

2. To dismiss him,or change his placement also requires your agreement and consent,according to your procedural safeguards.

3. If any proposed change of placement or refusal or denial of services are to be discussed at the IEP,then they,the school,must provide you with prior written notice.

If they do not provide you with this,if they spring a change of placement on you,you have the right to be provided this in writing,and be given the opportunity to reconvene the meeting after you have had a chance to make an informed decision. Or collect your thoughts..

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