Started new thread to avoid getting lost in the overwhelming response to my post yesterday.
Again, I would like to say how much I APPRECIATE all of you here. I appreciate all comments, suggestions and advice.
I told him how the meeting went and he was shocked, just like I thought he would be. He says they are all over the road here and for them to make a dx of ED without a report from a physician or psychologist is irresponsible.
A few weeks ago, I had asked him to write us a statement that I could submit to the school stating what he thought my son’s emotional condition was, how it was being addressed and recommendations for his educational setting. He did a great job.
I will spare you all of the details about the therapy but here’s the juicy stuff:
“It is evident that the level of educational remediation that the school has applied to date has been inadequate. X’s standardized test scores continue to lag behind at a level that is essentially identical to that when remediation was first begun three years ago. In addition, the switching from te regular class to a remediation setting has been inconsistent. X’s anxiety and shame over needing additional help make it essential the remediation services be applied on a consistent basis. It is clear that X’s continued intense frustration over academic work that is so difficult because of his learning disability is a major component of his clinical problems.
It is strongly recommended that X should be in a self-contained classroom for the subjects for which he has difficulty related to his identified learning disability. This is seen as the least restrictive environment given his continuing failure at the current level of intervention and remediation. X’s continuing severe anxiety is clearly related to an insufficient level of remediation at his school.”
…………………
So, I can’t wait to hear their response to the psychologist’s statement that their plan of intervention is clearly inadequate. Good thing they offered me everything before I gave them this little goody.
Re: met with the private psych today . . .
OH Lulu,
you obviously have found an outstanding gem of a psych. not to mention his knowledge of special ed laws! Great deal:-) Wish I could be a fly on the wall..
Re: met with the private psych today . . .
Lulu,
I read your post from yesterday and I’ll give you my opinion. I would never allow an ED label. That will hurt a kid FAR down the road. Too many negative connotations (i.e. behavior problem!). It’s fine if you deal with his anxiety medically or whatever you need to do, but keep it PRIVATE!!! I have a son who has an anxiety disorder and some OCD tendencies, and I think that kind of things needs to stay as quiet as possible. Of course, it sounds like you don’t even have a diagnosis to being with! (Your son just probably has anxiety due to his school circumstances). But to my knowledge, the schools do not get more $ for ED than LD for the same level of service, so I think it may be off base for anyone to suggest that is a motive for the school to suggest it. The school will certainly not fix an anxiety disorder, so I’d keep them out of it, period. They need to concentrate on delivering appropriate academic instruction and then he might not have any anxiety! (However, if you were in danger of losing LD services, OHI would be a far better category than ED).
Janis
Re: met with the private psych today . . .
I don’t understand why you would keep quiet about the problems and anxiety you child may be facing. Shouldn’t the people working with him understand what is going on? How will they help him if they don’t know what is wrong?
Just curious!
K.
Re: met with the private psych today . . .
I agree with Janis.
They are not qualified to treat a medical condition such as this. That diagnosis in the wrong hands can lead to serious discrimination.
Also, children who are judged based on a label such as this will live up to the label. It happens all the time.
Re: met with the private psych today . . .
K.,
And in addition to the things Linda just said, I would add that you can certainly express to the necessary school staff that there are anxiety issues if it would benefit the child to do so without having a label for it. Once it is on paper, it is there for any teacher to see until they graduate. The idea is for the parent to maintain control of what private information they want disclosed. I can’t see an ED label for a child with anxiety. I think it would do more harm than good in the long run.
Janis
.