Re: educational evaluation

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/30/2007 6:02:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, picklespaw@... writes:

Hi everyone! Our family is seeking an evaluation separate from the school. Has anyone ever gone to Dr. Barry at Rainbows? She was recommended by a professional, but I hold other parent's opinions higher. Before we spend a large sum of money, I want to make sure she will be helpful for us. I'd appreciate email to the group or to me individually, if you prefer. Thank you very much! Chris

Dr. Barry did my daughters educational evaluation. I have to say I was VERY impressed! (It takes a lot for a Dr. to impress me.) She took her time w/ my daughter, they had multiple appointments because Dr. Barry was able to respect some of the limits that my daughter has. Some of the testing times were 30 min. some were 90 min. It would depend on how emotionally available my daughter was at the time. They also took breaks and my daughter was able to pick from a reward box at the end of the testing time for doing well.

I found Dr. Barry easy going and very detail oriented. She didn't look over some of the behaviors/issues that every other tester had previously.

When I got the evaluation (15 pages, I think), I waited until my kids were in bed so I could give myself uninterrupted time to go over the report. I cried for several hours. But it wasn't a sadness cry it was a cry that was filled with "someone FINALLY gets her"

Having the independent report has been a HUGE bonus at IEP meetings. The report is so through that it's almost impossible for the school to go against. I'm not saying that the school didn't TRY to ... but having that report has given us more control over our daughters education.

Also, after getting the report I was able to understand my daughter better. We totally changed the way that we parent and it worked! She has had an amazing turn around in the past year.

We didn't have to pay out of pocket for the report. My daughters neurologist requested the evaluation and we were able to have most of it covered by insurance. You can also get the school to pay for the eval, but that's not an easy task and may take more time than it's worth.

The only negative thing I have to say is that the wait for an appointment can be up to a year. It is more than worth the wait.

Feel free to contact me off list if you have any other questions.

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[Guest guest]

I agree, Dr. Barry is fantastic and was wonderful with Noah!

The only problem is getting in which can take some time.

She is worth the wait, however.

Good Luck!

ShariGet a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Wow! I am sorry I have waited so long to get an independent eval!!

We did get an expert SLP in my son's diagnosis to give a report,

which was very very helpful, but it sounds like Dr. Barry is more

thorough in her evaluation!! Thanks so much!! Chris

>

>

> In a message dated 7/30/2007 6:02:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> picklespaw@... writes:

>

> Hi everyone! Our family is seeking an evaluation separate from

the

> school. Has anyone ever gone to Dr. Barry at Rainbows?

She

> was recommended by a professional, but I hold other parent's

opinions

> higher. Before we spend a large sum of money, I want to make sure

she

> will be helpful for us. I'd appreciate email to the group or to

me

> individually, if you prefer. Thank you very much! Chris

>

>

>

> Dr. Barry did my daughters educational evaluation. I have to say

I was VERY

> impressed! (It takes a lot for a Dr. to impress me.) She took

her time w/

> my daughter, they had multiple appointments because Dr. Barry was

able to

> respect some of the limits that my daughter has. Some of the

testing times were

> 30 min. some were 90 min. It would depend on how emotionally

available my

> daughter was at the time. They also took breaks and my daughter

was able to

> pick from a reward box at the end of the testing time for doing

well.

> I found Dr. Barry easy going and very detail oriented. She

didn't look over

> some of the behaviors/issues that every other tester had

previously.

> When I got the evaluation (15 pages, I think), I waited until my

kids were

> in bed so I could give myself uninterrupted time to go over the

report. I

> cried for several hours. But it wasn't a sadness cry it was a cry

that was

> filled with " someone FINALLY gets her "

> Having the independent report has been a HUGE bonus at IEP

meetings. The

> report is so through that it's almost impossible for the school to

go against.

> I'm not saying that the school didn't TRY to ... but having that

report has

> given us more control over our daughters education.

> Also, after getting the report I was able to understand my

daughter better.

> We totally changed the way that we parent and it worked! She has

had an

> amazing turn around in the past year.

> We didn't have to pay out of pocket for the report. My daughters

> neurologist requested the evaluation and we were able to have most

of it covered by

> insurance. You can also get the school to pay for the eval, but

that's not an

> easy task and may take more time than it's worth.

> The only negative thing I have to say is that the wait for an

appointment

> can be up to a year. It is more than worth the wait.

> Feel free to contact me off list if you have any other questions.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-

new AOL at

> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

>

[Guest guest]

We are on her waiting list, and it's long, but the time is going to go

by anyway, so we might as well be patient, and get a good eval!

Thanks, Chris

>

> I agree, Dr. Barry is fantastic and was wonderful with Noah!

> The only problem is getting in which can take some time.

> She is worth the wait, however.

> Good Luck!

> Shari

>

>

>

> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-

new AOL at

> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

>