Autistic Impairment Label in School
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Autistic Impairment Label in School
| Fri, 02-15-2008 - 2:16pm |
Hi everyone-
This is my first time posting here.
| Fri, 02-15-2008 - 2:16pm |
Hi everyone-
This is my first time posting here.
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
Hi Diane, and welcome!
Well for me, it would not bother me to have the label, even going up to college.
Hi Sara-
Thanks for your response.
Diane
Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers
Hi Lainie-
I know - it's
Diane
Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers
Hi and thanks for the response!
Diane
Mom to Morgan (10) - Complete Heart Block and McKenna (7) - Aspergers
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