Once diagnosed with autism,does diagnosis need to be ongoing? (IEP, school)
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Sorry if it sounds stupid,but my cousin was told by her daughter's school that they could not use her paperwork with the diagnosis on it from 2 years ago because it is old and she needs to be re-certified as Autistic every year.
Anyone ever hear of this?
As a nurse,once someone is diagnosed with a chronic dusease/mental issue it stays.
There's the medical aspect of it, and then there's the school's requirement. They have to be able to show that a doctor is still treating her for Autism, any meds she is on, etc.
I don't know the legalities of how the IEPs work, but I'm sure someone will come along shortly who does.
What I do know is that psychologists I have talked to advise that children are not tested more often than every two years. And once you receive a diagnosis, it's with you for life, although some children progress to a point where they no longer show enough symptoms to make therapy necessary. So perhaps what they meant was that the therapist needed to re-evaluate to see if the symptoms were currently severe enough to warrant a particular therapy or accommodation. A therapist evaluation is a much shorter evaluation for something specific, like speech or motor skills. It's not the full Autism evaluation.
For my 8yr olds sensory, She was Dx at 5, had "symptoms" until 2015 when the therapists said " shes good" but now has "symptoms" again and we have to start all the way at square 1 with evals, etc. Autism is the same. On the medical side.
There is a difference between the medical dx and the educational dx. For schools, the educational dx is important because it will determine what accommodations or goals the child needs for his or her education.
Schools are required to re-evaluate for the educational autism dx every 3 years. The medical dx certainly stays with the child (although a child *can* drop off the spectrum as they learn to cope and have therapies). They are also required to evaluate the child's IEP goals every year and they must tell the parent whether or not the child is making progress toward meeting those goals.
My grandson was dxed at 18 months. He is now 12 and still obviously autistic. For IEP purposes, we have to re-evaluate to change goals every 3 years. In fact, the goals are evaluated every year really although not as thoroughly as the 3 year evaluation.
The law requires a school to test a child if the parent requests an evaluation in writing.
The above standards also apply for a child who already receives special education services. A re-evaluation must take place at least every three years. It may, however, be conducted more often if the parent or a teacher makes a written request. An evaluation may also focus on a specific area of concern. A re-evaluation of all areas of suspected need is necessary if parents feel their child is not meeting the short-term objectives of his/her current IEP.
There's the medical aspect of it, and then there's the school's requirement. They have to be able to show that a doctor is still treating her for Autism, any meds she is on, etc.
No, schools do not have to know that a doctor is treating her. If she is on meds, they may need to know that *if* the meds are taken during school hours, but not if they are only taken at home.
The educational dx is entirely separate from the medical dx. Schools do not have to accept the medical dx and usually do their own evaluation. This evaluation has to do with the child's educational needs.
There is a difference between the medical dx and the educational dx. For schools, the educational dx is important because it will determine what accommodations or goals the child needs for his or her education.
Schools are required to re-evaluate for the educational autism dx every 3 years. The medical dx certainly stays with the child (although a child *can* drop off the spectrum as they learn to cope and have therapies). They are also required to evaluate the child's IEP goals every year and they must tell the parent whether or not the child is making progress toward meeting those goals.
My grandson was dxed at 18 months. He is now 12 and still obviously autistic. For IEP purposes, we have to re-evaluate to change goals every 3 years. In fact, the goals are evaluated every year really although not as thoroughly as the 3 year evaluation.
The law requires a school to test a child if the parent requests an evaluation in writing.
I'm in NC and I requested in writing the school evaluate my son. I had to have a meeting with the Lead EC teacher, principal, and his teacher. They are not required to test if I request but they are required to meet. They meet to see if there is need after looking at all the data.
I'm in NC and I requested in writing the school evaluate my son. I had to have a meeting with the Lead EC teacher, principal, and his teacher. They are not required to test if I request but they are required to meet. They meet to see if there is need after looking at all the data.
According to IDEA, they must evaluate if you request it in writing. Some states do have a pre-referral process though.
IDEA sets a timeframe of 60 days. However, each state may choose to set its own timeframe. For example, in North Carolina the time frame is 90 days from the time the school district receives the parent’s written request. In Florida the timeframe is 60 working days. Check with the Division of Special Education in the state department of education or public instruction to find out the timeline.
Note that if the school refuses to evaluate, you may be entitled to a private evaluation at their expense.
Quote:
If the school district refuses to do an evaluation or, after evaluating the child, concludes the child is not eligible for special education services under IDEA, parents have other rights. If they are refused an evaluation or disagree with the evaluation, parents may be entitled to an independent evaluation at the school district’s expense. Parents also have the option to pay for an evaluation by a professional of their choice.
Does the law require the school to test the child? Yes.
You say testing is not needed when the child's teachers are providing accommodations and modifications. This is incorrect.
Quote:
Teacher assessments and interventions do not meet the criteria for an evaluation. According to the IDEA, "the screening of a student by teacher or specialist to determine appropriate instructional strategies ... shall not be considered to be an evaluation .." (20 U.S.C. 1414(a)(1)(E))
Yes, they do have to evaluate but they don't have to test. We had the evaluation and our school district does the RTI. They looked at that plus his other data and decided to test. It does need to be completed within 90 days. They had 3 options at the evaluation. 1. To test. 2. To gather more data. 3. To not test.
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