Autistic Impairment Label in School

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Autistic Impairment Label in School
9
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 2:16pm

Hi everyone-


This is my first time posting here.

Diane

Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 2:54pm

This is a new one for me. I have NEVER heard that a category that a child has been placed under for educational purposes cannot be changed, and that it somehow automatically remains in place through college -- that makes no sense to me. Just as children grow and change, the correct category can and should also change, if that's what's appropriate.

I do know parents here in NYC who had their children in the Autism classification, who later got it changed because they wanted to send them to schools that didn't accept children who had that classification. They were certainly able to do this, so those children are now under Learning Disabled or Other Health, etc. Also, here we still have Speech and Language Impaired when a child is older, so I'm surprised that that category is no longer available to you.

Running over to Special Education Plans board here at iVillage and asking Steph and those savvy gals over there about this seems like a good idea, they know everything.

HTH,

and welcome to the board!

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 3:05pm

Hi Diane, and welcome!


Well for me, it would not bother me to have the label, even going up to college.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 3:17pm
Sara gave a MUCH better answer than I did cuz I didn't know you could change classifications like that.
Avatar for sobkogirls_mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 4:28pm

Hi Sara-


Thanks for your response.

Diane

Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers

Avatar for sobkogirls_mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 4:44pm

Hi Lainie-


I know - it's

Diane

Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 4:48pm
Ya know ***Shaking head*** Why do they make it so hard for us and our kids???!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2007
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 6:35pm
If your daughter truly has Asperger's then she certainly isn't going to outgrow it. During the first few years of school, our Aspies might make it seem as though academics are a cake walk and all their problems are social or behavioral, but as they advance through school you will see a change. It's not that they lose their intellectual abilities. It is just that the work becomes less about rote memorization and more interpretive and subjective. Very difficult for someone with Asperger's. They may still do well but it is challenging. Having the label, if it truly applies, means that they will be entitled to the supports they need all the way through college. This isn't a bad thing. Many neuro- typical kids have difficulty transitioning to college. Can you imagine how difficult it would be for someone on the spectrum? A label is only limiting if you let it be. Good Luck.
Avatar for sobkogirls_mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 7:24pm

Hi and thanks for the response!

Diane

Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-15-2008 - 7:46pm

well, I don't have time to read all responses but that is just plain silly that it will follow her to college, etc just because the label is put there.

ALL educational diagnostic labels are basically the same. They have one purpose and one purpose only, to identify eligibility for a child with a special need. In honestly doesn't matter which label is given other than it does help those who are working with the student get a bit of a quick synopsis of what direction to go in to help them. But the IEP should be individualized and not based on their label either. However, like you said, having the autism label will likely make it easier to get a 1:1 aide but it shouldn't make the difference of whether or not she can get one. That isn't determined by her label but rather by her individual needs.

That said, an educational placement is not a life sentence. Heck as school officials we CANNOT share that information with ANYONE unless there is express consent from the parents. SOOOOO if she is wanting to go to college someday and still has an IEP and is still identified as autistic the school CANNOT share taht info with her college without your consent. BIG Hippa NO NO.

The educational label should only identify which of the 13 categories is the most significant area of difficulty for a student. Where they fit best in other words. If at some point autism really is not the central issue and say ADHD is then it would change to OHI. It is actually reviewed at every annual IEP which category the child should be put under.

Finally, what sara said. Autism is a life long disability. Yes it is very possible that once she has the autism label it will stick with her but that will be because she has autism not because of some weird redtape kind of thing. Labels are good when they are useful to us in helping students access supports and meet potential. With my own 2,yes they have autism labels and they will for life but it is only a small part of who they are much as their hair color and eye color. It is neccessary to know how to help and understand them. It will always be there but it isn't a death sentence.

Renee

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