Does anyone have experience with public, cyber, home, and special ed?

[amo_mea_filiis.]

As is usual with ds, we got stuck in a "unique" situation. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas to speed up the process.

 

In November I decided to have ds evaluated to see if anything new would pop up (specifically LD's) now that he's older. We were going to do psychoeducational, speech, and OT. After signing consent, I spoke with the psych who said some things I was not ok with. One of them was that *if* there were discrepancies in the iq vs achievement, she would not consider LD's because it would be better explained by his other disabilities. So I revoked consent for the psych-ed eval, but continued with speech and OT. 

 

They did their evals and ds didn't qualify for speech or OT. The OT was fine. I knew he was borderline. I still don't think it's normal for a 5th grader to reverse b and d, and he's still having slight difficulty with horizontal tracking, but whatever, not too surprising.

 

The SLP ignored my request for non-standard tests. Ds has been over tested (different facilities, different opinions, constant testing), but I wasn't able to get the previous test names in time for the eval. She also refused to give me her opinion of his conversation skills, separate from the standard tests. She wrote in the report that he didn't use long sentences, but that was it. 

 

They also checked the box that ds did not have a disability and did not qualify for specially designed instruction. Somewhere on it they mentioned general education, but also wrote that ds has been receiving appropriate instruction (he's working at a 1st to 2nd grade level, and they were well aware of it).

 

I never had a meeting with the school because I didn't see the need. I checked the box that I did not agree, but then wrote that I wasn't taking further action. This was all finished up early January.

 

Then in January I decided to put the kids in a public cyber. I really need the ABA support for ds, and dd needs to be accountable to someone else. 

Ds started off "unique" with cyber because he's special ed, but no IEP because of the homeschooling (can't access services through ps if homeschooling, so no need for the "if he were enrolled, this would be his IEP" meetings). While waiting for cyber to get the evals set up and everything, I was just going to continue homeschooling, and occasionally email his homeroom teacher with some weekly samples.

 

Still with me? :)

 

Now the problem... Because of the school's evaluation report, and my having revoked from local school, the IEP flag has to be taken off of ds's account until they do evals. This means that even though every party involved knows he's not capable, he's expected to participate in the general ed 5th grade curriculum.

 

The cyber has to cut through some additional red tape to get the evaluation process started, but their communication skills leave a bit to be desired. So far, that's my only complaint. I don't know exactly what the hold up is. Yes, I revoked from local district, but I submitted a written request to the cyber when I enrolled him. 

 

Anyone know what the additional red tape might be? Is there anything more I can do to speed up this process?

[maize]

I would just keep following up with the cyber school, I've been through the IEP process a few times and it can drag out. Our schools have been really good about working with us.

[amo_mea_filiis.]

They have 60 days from ds's date of enrollment, but I don't know if that timeline changed by my screwup with pursuing the local eval.

 

They have my written request, but they still haven't sent out the formal consent to evaluate forms.

 

I hope it's not holding anything up, but cyber wants to do VB-MAPP, and I verbally said no. Ds's behaviorist (BCBA) says he's way beyond VB-MAPP, but if he's in a mood with the evaluator, he may "test into" VB-MAPP programming.

[Alessandra]

I am not sure if I read your first post correctly, but it sounds as though the post-testing meeting you did not attend may have been the eligibility meeting? Usually, an eligibility meeting is held after testing to determine if a child qualifies for special services.

 

Also, it sounds as though you refused consent for the main psych-ed evaluation? That could have made determining the need for special services difficult. It sounds as though ds already has an IEP?? Is that no longer in effect?

 

Good luck! I think, for your son's sake you need to follow up with meetings and so on, even though it can be difficult.

 

I presume that you have checked what services are available in your state for cyber schoolers, homeschoolers, etc. This can vary on a state by state basis.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Alessandra

[Crimson Wife]

I hope it's not holding anything up, but cyber wants to do VB-MAPP, and I verbally said no. Ds's behaviorist (BCBA) says he's way beyond VB-MAPP, but if he's in a mood with the evaluator, he may "test into" VB-MAPP programming.

 

The VB-MAPP only goes up through the equivalent of a neurotypical 4 y.o. so I would agree with this for most 11 y.o.'s with ASD. My DD is almost done with it and she's 7.

[amo_mea_filiis.]

I am not sure if I read your first post correctly, but it sounds as though the post-testing meeting you did not attend may have been the eligibility meeting? Usually, an eligibility meeting is held after testing to determine if a child qualifies for special services. Correct, there was no meeting. There wasn't a point. They didn't hold a meeting without me or anything. We just didn't do it.

 

Also, it sounds as though you refused consent for the main psych-ed evaluation? That could have made determining the need for special services difficult. It sounds as though ds already has an IEP?? Is that no longer in effect? I revoked consent from the local district because of the comments made by the psych. After revoking from local, I gave consent to cyber, which created more hoops. He *had* an IEP, but because he's been home for 4.5 years, that data is out of date. In PA, homeschoolers do not always get sped services, so there was no point in keeping up with their painful IEP process for services not being used.

 

Good luck! I think, for your son's sake you need to follow up with meetings and so on, even though it can be difficult. I absolutely follow up. If anything, I piss them all off! Lol. There was no meeting scheduled with the local district. 

 

I presume that you have checked what services are available in your state for cyber schoolers, homeschoolers, etc. This can vary on a state by state basis. We have a BCBA paid for by medicaid; only one in the county. :) Not only am I aware, but I'm working with a lawyer to improve the available services in our area.

 

[amo_mea_filiis.]

The VB-MAPP only goes up through the equivalent of a neurotypical 4 y.o. so I would agree with this for most 11 y.o.'s with ASD. My DD is almost done with it and she's 7.

 

That's what our BCBA said. But with ds's insistence on ignoring and pissing people off, it's slightly possible for him to present low enough for it (he'll get in a mood where all he does is sign no, verbally curse, and attempt to be inappropriate when demands are given). If he truly needed it, great. But we don't want him getting stuck with programming just because he was in a mood. But at the same time, we're hoping he isn't in a great mood during testing because he could look like he's not in need of an ABA program for academics. 

[Alessandra]

Thanks for clarifying. I'm having trouble quoting using mobile device, but I see about IEP -> no IEP. My state does not require schools to provide services to homeschoolers either, so I get that.

 

ETA

 

(Could quote after I wrote post)

 

"He *had* an IEP, but because he's been home for 4.5 years, that data is out of date. In PA, homeschoolers do not always get sped services, so there was no point in keeping up with their painful IEP process for services not being used."

Edited February 17, 2016 by Alessandra