All You Need To Know About Individualized Education Programs

"Our daughter is experiencing severe meltdowns due to the new school year. We recently were forced to make a trip to the Children's Hospital. Every person we've seen asks if she has an IEP. She does not, just a 504. The school district says she does not qualify for an IEP, which I question since all the mental health professionals think she should have one. Why does she need an IEP, and what should be included that will help this child?"

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Comments

Anonymous said…
You have really interesting blog, keep up posting such informative posts!
September 19, 2012 at 7:35 AM
Anonymous said…
Your daughter should absolutely have an IEP my 6 year old Aspie is statemented and has an IEP and part-time classroom assistant. I had to push and push but he has had one since Jan 2010. If you get no joy go to your local education authority whatever council that is. Goodluck :)
September 19, 2012 at 7:54 AM
Anonymous said…
Has she had a full evaluation by the School.Ask for them to it,then ask again,been there done that....ask,they are not supposed to deny you.Also,have the Dr request in writing for the 504,IEP and such.keep at it.Then call the School District Psychologist if nothing happens.
September 19, 2012 at 7:54 AM
Anonymous said…
MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND DOCTORS, HAVE NO CLUE AND SHE IS A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y ELIGIBLE! DO NOT let those ignorant people shake you. THEY are the ones who need help! The child may need longer time for testing...a person to write their notes and homework..and frustration is A LARGE PART of Autism. DO NOT ALLOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BRING YOU DOWN. YOU ARE THE PARENT...AND THE TEACHERS KNOW LITTLE IF ANYTHING. GOOD LUCK! AND FIGHT!!!!!
September 19, 2012 at 7:54 AM
Anonymous said…
I have even got a lawyer involved and my child is in 6th grade and still does not qualify for an IEP.
September 19, 2012 at 7:54 AM
Anonymous said…
My 5yr old boy as ad an iep since nursery and were just starting the process to get him statemented
September 19, 2012 at 7:55 AM
Anonymous said…
If your child gets a statement of acknowledgement from your local education authority - you send them the diagnosis from your community paediatrician/health visitor/GP/any other professionals and educational psychologist. They have to issue an IEP for any child that is statemented atleast here they do anyway. I brought my kids statement and iep across to England from Northern Ireland.
September 19, 2012 at 7:55 AM
Anonymous said…
My son is 7 and in 2nd grade. He has an IEP, I had to fight for my son but we have had one since the mid of his K year
September 19, 2012 at 7:55 AM
Anonymous said…
This absolutely sounds like my situation. I have found an attourney for us, the school refused an IEP because my child continues to "grow educationally" and an IEP is for "the kids that ceiling out" However we are in week 5 of school and I have already recieved 2 letters stating he is failing class, wouldn't it be more detrimental to allow him to fail than just get an IEP in place?? So with the attourney, his doctors, therapists and a local organization we are ALL going in against the school and if all fails, well I will be giving my all at homeschooling.
September 19, 2012 at 7:58 AM
Anonymous said…
I really feel for you parents. My daughter and her husband have been fighting with schools and their asperger son until they finally pulled him out of school to homeschool a year ago. He's 13 and doing a lot better! School was too traumatizing for him. He's even off two of his 5 medications. He lives close to a park and has some friends he plays with there. So far no problems. He just seems calmer.
September 19, 2012 at 7:58 AM
Anonymous said…
sounds so much like my situation. My son was diagnosised mid to late K and he's in 2nd grade. I had pre-IEP meetings and they keep telling me "his education is not being affected" I did have him see an outside OT which was such a blessing but my insurance didn't cover the servicesand we had to take him out. I myself is in school to become an OTA because of him.
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
Wright's Law has some advocates that can help you with how to get an IEP in place and what the law is in your state. Some will even go with you to meetings. Most advocates have children and have been through the IEP process. Most have had similar problems.
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
It is so frustrating! My son has a 504 plan but does not "qualify" for an IEP because his academics are not affected. I think so much more than academics needs to be taken into consideration when dealing with an Aspie child. It is not a black and white issue and I wish the schools would educate themselves on Aspergers. When my son first got his diagnosis the school didn't even know what Aspergers was! I had to educate them! That is NOT how it should be :(
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
Make sure you ask in WRITING for evaluations, I actually sent the request certified mail for my records. there are timelines that have to be followed. Ask for social emotional, O.T., Speech and Launguage, Adaptive P.E, physical therarpy, ....all areas that you and your experts (other therapists and doctors) think need to be assessed. There is a process and the school district can't just say no. There are laws and rules. Fnd an advocate for your local area or your state(usually other special ed parents will be able to reccomend an adovocate). If the school completes the evaluations and you don't agree, there is a process for that. If all else fails get a special education attorney. My little guy is almost ten and finally after learning all of the above, he is in a regular ed classroom, with proper support and is doing well.
2 hours ago · Like
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
I have a close friend who is a speech therapist in the public school system. Because autism and asperger children have tone/ speech issues and other sensitivities she is the one who does therapy with them. My suggestion is to have your child set up with the speech therapist at your school because he or she should also be trained in some occupational therapy associated with learning needs of autism spectrum children. This professional will also work with the teachers on their communication styles for the learning and social needs of the student.
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
I am going though the same exact thing. My daughter is 8, not only did she go to a new school but we also moved into a new house the frst week of school. Her hole routine is messed up do to the move. I have spoke with the speech therapist from the school and it seems like the IEP really helps with communication, for the parent and staff that is care of my daughters education.
September 19, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said…
Also check if your district has a parent advocate available.
This is a person who works for the board of Ed and can be called in to help you and your child navigate IEP meetings and also work with and on your behalf to make sure your daughter is getting the correct support in class.
September 19, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said…
We have a 504 and it did nothing! Teacher told us she doesn't need to follow it, it was just a suggestion!! I was told also by my daughters school district that she was not going to be eligible for IEP because she wasn't "failing". I was also told that the state we're in will fight tooth and nail not to give away IEP's so quickly because it cost the government money. I was mortified that the school didn't want to help children who needed it because they didn't want to "burden" the state! We pulled her out after K and have been virtual schooling since. Don't know what else to do. Every time we talk to someone they tell us what to do and when we don't agree they say there's no other option. :-(
September 19, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said…
Yes, she is eligible. talk to whoever you need to to get this done. Don't give up!
September 19, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said…
Try looking into these websites: http://www.copaa.org/ and
http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2011/12/creating-individualized-education.html
September 19, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said…
Also use google to see if there are any local organizations that may be able to help. Check to see if there is a Parent-to-Parent in your area.
September 19, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Anonymous said…
This is great!
September 19, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Anonymous said…
We are still fighting our son's school because his test scores are advanced and he just needs behavioral and social help. We have even had an advocate involved. You may have to fight, but you can and should get an iep. Good luck!
September 19, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Anonymous said…
My daughter has a IEP, and still we battle social and behavorial issues. Just met with the school Monday. She is in a EBD classroom setting instead of a Aspergers/Autistic classroom setting which I think is best for her. But still they act like they dont know how to handle her or accept her. THey are just learning. Her perception is much different than other kids. When asked to do work, she does it differently and turns it in. Instead of having her repeat it only to get same result they are learning she does things differently. FINALLY... still a work in progress getting the school system to see my child for who she is.
September 19, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Anonymous said…
All states have different laws about special education. I fought for an IEP last year for my daughter and was told many things that were not legally true. Once I read the laws and contacted an advocacy group, they treated me a lot different. It is sad that the schools don't want to help. The process is so long too that it can be so frustrating!
September 20, 2012 at 6:41 AM
Anonymous said…
I recommend that you get an advocate - our son had a 504 and we were told he did not qualify too - a new assessment group with a seasoned advocate that is very knowledgeable with autism/aspergers really made the difference for us in getting an IEP - good luck
September 20, 2012 at 6:42 AM
Anonymous said…
Please have your child tested by an outside doctor and have them talk to the school and get an IEP, that is detrimental to her well-being and she has a right to a proper education. without it they will not help her, the can list her as other health impaired.
11 hours ago · Like
September 20, 2012 at 6:42 AM
Anonymous said…
Oh wow, I feel your pain! Our 13 yr old son moved schools last year and suffered too much. With a diagnosis of Aspergers from your paed your child's school is entitles to extra funding and the learning support teacher or equivalent should organize it FOR you. I'm really tired if the fact that we all have to muddle through this stuff ourselves. Good luck. To tell you the truth though it's lots if pages of idealistic outcomes for your child that sound good but doesn't really change anything in a major way.
September 20, 2012 at 6:42 AM
Anonymous said…
This is a great resource to reference. Having knowledgable parent advocates is crucial. I learned that Thomas Jefferson had this disability.
September 20, 2012 at 6:42 AM
just plain cis said…
Omg i could have written some of these posts myself! My 14yo daughter was diagnosed with asd in middle school and i was talked out of having her evaluated for an IEP (by tye middle school counselor) because of her extremely high IQ (although she was struggling in several classes and her severe anxiety was contributing to her academic difficulties). She is now in high school and struggling even more and has had to have her therapy appointments increased due to her anxiety and propensity for depression. When i asked for about 15 minutes per day with an interventionist for her, I was told by her counselor that because she was on a 504, this wouldnt be possible. He was very honest with me and told me it all came down to funding and resources. Im currently in the process of formally filing to have her evaluated for an iep based on the fact that her diagnosis is negatively affecting her ability to be successful in school. This is such a frustrating process and has been EYE OPENING as to how underserved aome children can be. My child is lucky because she has a squeaky wheel mom for an advocate (and they WILL give her that IEP) but how many chidren dont have that luxury?! It breaks my heart thinking of all the untapped potential in so many children who are being denied the services they NEED because school officials arent willing to go the extra mile to see to it that the funding is available for those children. Heartbreaking and so very frustrating.
September 24, 2015 at 12:25 AM
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