Re: MET meeting results

[Guest guest]

Wow, I totally have had this experience before.... It is frustrating and I sometimes wonder what their gains are from our children's losses!! Honestly, if they suspected Aspergers then they had a responsibility and a commitment to assess "all areas of the suspected disability". I am just learning myself, but I am sure of this point..... Anyway, good luck in your journey :)CarolynFrom: jdarawi

<jenniferdarawi@...> Sent: Tue, January 11, 2011 2:16:34 PMSubject: ( ) MET meeting results

I thought I'd post what happened in our MET meeting yesterday, in case this experience could possibly help anyone.

We had our 7 yo dd assessed by the school district for special education services under the ASD label. She has been homeschooled for the last year and a half, and will start at school tomorrow. We had a good discussion with the team about her strengths and weaknesses, and our concerns. I knew from the reports from the school psych. that she didn't think she met the requirements for the language criteria for ASD, and the social worker didn't think she met the social requirements. However, I thought that we might still have a chance, since it was a Team decision, and both of the above mentioned they thought she needed a social skills group etc. There was also an ASD consultant there, that works for the schools. All staff noticed a lot of rigid thinking in our dd. But, when we came to the ASD eligibility form, they didn't think she qualified because they didn't think her issues would be "lifelong". They had particular trouble with that word. We

objected, but it didn't help. The psychologist proceeded to check no to every single criteria! All of the other staff agreed, but my husband and I signed as we disagreed. I was surprised that despite all the concerns raised and problems testers found, they didn't check "yes" to any of the ASD criteria. They did say verbally that she may very well have Asperger's however.

On the positive side: her new teacher was there and is aware of her needs/our concerns. The ASD consultant will be meeting us at school tomorrow to observe our dd and help the teacher with suggestions as needed. They scheduled our dd to be the topic of a "Staffing" meeting to be held on March 2, to discuss how the transition went and possibly to write a 504 plan. They said they would be doing now what would be written in a 504 plan anyway. I was disappointed we couldn't get that in writing yesterday. However, we are taking her to see a developmental pediatrician next month, so we may get a new report that could help in the March meeting.

Its frustrating, nothing comes easy with AS, so it seems.

[Guest guest]

You definitely should receive prior written notice from the school outlining what was considered and why they made the decisions they made. This is required. If you don't get it shortly, write a letter requesting your PWN because you disagreed with their decision.

It's weird how people can say that this is probably AS but not lifelong. She doesn't meet the requirements in social areas but probably needs a social skill group. She doesn't meet the criteria for language but everyone noticed her rigid thinking problems.

I would write a follow up letter to the meeting outlining all of their inconsistencies such as the ones I just mentioned. Outline what was said and how you disagree.

Also, if you feel their evaluations were not appropriate, you can request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) at their expense by an outside independent person(s). Do this in writing, if you choose to do so. I'm not sure why a 504 plan was not written at your meeting.

Roxanna

"I

predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) MET meeting results

I thought I'd post what happened in our MET meeting yesterday, in case this experience could possibly help anyone.

We had our 7 yo dd assessed by the school district for special education services under the ASD label. She has been homeschooled for the last year and a half, and will start at school tomorrow. We had a good discussion with the team about her strengths and weaknesses, and our concerns. I knew from the reports from the school psych. that she didn't think she met the requirements for the language criteria for ASD, and the social worker didn't think she met the social requirements. However, I thought that we might still have a chance, since it was a Team decision, and both of the above mentioned they thought she needed a social skills group etc. There was also an ASD consultant there, that works for the schools. All staff noticed a lot of rigid thinking in our dd. But, when we came to the ASD eligibility form, they didn't think she qualified because they didn't think her issues would be "lifelong". They had particular trouble with that word. We objected, but i

t didn't help. The psychologist proceeded to check no to every single criteria! All of the other staff agreed, but my husband and I signed as we disagreed. I was surprised that despite all the concerns raised and problems testers found, they didn't check "yes" to any of the ASD criteria. They did say verbally that she may very well have Asperger's however.

On the positive side: her new teacher was there and is aware of her needs/our concerns. The ASD consultant will be meeting us at school tomorrow to observe our dd and help the teacher with suggestions as needed. They scheduled our dd to be the topic of a "Staffing" meeting to be held on March 2, to discuss how the transition went and possibly to write a 504 plan. They said they would be doing now what would be written in a 504 plan anyway. I was disappointed we couldn't get that in writing yesterday. However, we are taking her to see a developmental pediatrician next month, so we may get a new report that could help in the March meeting.

Its frustrating, nothing comes easy with AS, so it seems.