How do I get a full time aid for my autistic son?

Question

He is struggling with inattention in the classroom and his grades are very poor. Will bring the issue up at an IEP meeting soon. Meds not an option. What do we do if the school refuses our request?

Answer 1

The School Special Education members of the IEP team are very knowledgeable, so they should be helpful to you.  After evaluation, observations etc.  They may not suggest a full-time paraprofessional for your child, and then they may suggest one.  However, the suggestion at the IEP meeting will be based on what they know and have observed about your child....and his disability.  They have been trained very well in special education to meet these needs.  Sometimes....when a child with Autism is provided with a paraprofessional, they become very dependent upon that person and flatline on learning (stop gaining skill at the level that they should).  However, others who NEED a paraprofessional may not need one in the future.....This is where having highly qualified staff in your special education program comes in to play.   Now, as for a full-time para, I have never seen a case that I thought a child should be hovered over by one individual person.  Often times.....folks who do not work in the education system think that when their child has para assigned to them...then the para is with their child full-time....however, this is not true...those paras have to have lunch and breaks in the day....and so does the child.....so as much independence that the child can handle.....the better.  If you strongly feel that you child needs a para's assistance, I would mention it to the special educator before the meeting, so they can come to the meeting prepared to address you concern about it.  I would request that the Special Education Supervisor, Principal, Speech Therapist, OT and PT attend the meeting along with the special education teacher and the regular education teacher....I hope this helps.  My little brother was born with water on his brain and has brain damage from this.  I became a reg. ed. teacher...but my heart always led me back to sp.ed.....so I have taught and supervised sp.ed. for serveral years....

Answer 2

This can be a touchy subject, especially in my district.  Many district coordinators are eliminating full time one-to-one assistants.

As far as your medication comment, think of this before you crucify me.  If you are diabetic, would you refuse medication?  If you are an asthmatic, would you refuse to take your inhaler?  If you struggle with depression and have tried alternative methods, wouldn't you consider medication?  If your son is having inattention issues, I would at least consider it and talk with you pediatrician.

Now, you have to consider how autistic your son is.  If he is severe, then obviously you have a good case to present.  However, you need to discuss with the teachers what they see and what they can do.  If he is in the regular education setting, perhaps he may need to go into a more restrictive setting such as a resource room for subjects that he is having difficulty with.  

Funding can be easily cut especially in special education.  You are more likely to find special education teachers than assistants.  I would consider all the possibilities before considering a full time assistant.

Answer 3

If they refuse, write to district sped director and request 'prior written notice'. By law they are suppose to give this notice to parents whenever they

1) start something

2) stop something

3) change something

4) refuse something

that has to do with childs FAPE and IEP plan.

They have to have LEGAL reasons for their decisions. They have to have a legal reason for refusing an aide.

When you ask for this notice, and they do NOT have a legal reason for reufsing,  they will either

1)change their mind and let him have the aide because they will not put illegal reasons in writing

2) will not give this notice at all. If they don't, your next step is to file formal state complaint. State will make them give you this notice. If they still don't have a legal reason for refusing the aide, they will let him have it becuase they will not want the state to find out they made the decision to refuse illegally.

This prior written notice is a powerful parent right and is a lot of times THE main key to getting what your child needs. So many parents don't know this.

If he is having bad grades, this means the IEP is not working and they have to change the services on the IEP plan so he WILL have good grades.

THey can NOT even mention medicines with you. If they do, whip this out -

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c1...

and this should shut them up.

Answer 4

I just wanted to back up deekdee. Good post.

As for least restrictive environment, they must prove that it will not work before moving back to a more restrictive one (ie special ed classes or school). This includes all 'reasonable measures' under IDEA, which includes a full time aide.

The school may try to tell you that they don't have the funding or personnel. That is ILLEGAL. Under IDEA they cannot say that yes...your son may do good with an aide but they don't have the money. If they say it WON'T help him, then ask for proof that it wouldn't. They can't provide that and thus, the rock and the hard place meet.

An aide is not a crutch. It may be if the person is not trained (typical considering that most schools will hire anyone with a high school diploma for an 'aide' and pay them $10 an hour) Make sure your IEP says that the aide receives training in autism, and is being supervised by a special ed teacher with autism training. Having an aide is the only thing that kept my 1st grader in the classroom. She is smart enough to learn in a regular classroom, but needs the assistance. Academically she could cut it.

Someone once suggested a way to lead the LEA to helpful thinking. Start by saying that the grades are obviously a problem, so what's their plan? If he's not learning or achieving goals from the IEP, then the IEP needs changed. What's going to change? If they suggest placement, ask them if it's LRE or not, and how they can maintain LRE legally. etc etc. Definitely read www.wrightslaw.com

Good luck. This is why we homeschool our kids now. Schools just don't have the energy, training or willingness to do what would teach children who are different. That's not an attack on teachers, obviously. They do the best they can with what schools tell them. Often the training they get in school isn't adequate to dealing with children with special needs (One semester of all special needs classes?)

Answer 5

You haven't stated whether your son is in a special educational school. Often inattention is down to the teaching methods being used rather than the child's inability to concentrate. i have been working in a special needs school in hampshire for 3 years. Often children respond well to differential teaching methods. Have you considered applying to have him attend a local special school? It is the same as a state school -free, but has smaller classes and more assistants to support your son's learning. The teaching methods are different to those used in mainstream schools. Most children flourish in these settings. Check out special schools in your local borough usinjg your local LEA website.

Answer 6

I am a special ed teacher. I would suggest requesting an IEP. At the IEP state the order for you child to meet goals, and basic curriculum it is need. If they deny, let them know that you plan to take legal action. THIS IS YOUR RIGHT!  They are required to give a handout of your rights. READ IT. You can take it due process. It is hard a battle, and all too often I see students not getting their needs met. It all comes down to the almighty dollar.  I hope you can get the help for your son.

Answer 7

They should provide if a reasonable request, is he mainstream?

Answer 8

You have asked a number of questions and I will try to answer them in a logical sequence. As per your question(s) your son has an IEP and the first thing you need to do is look at the goals. If your son is not making progress on the goals then you are in a position to ask for a change in services that will more likely cause progress to occur. You should request concrete data to support progress is being made. A change in services need not been a full time aide. I must also say that a full time aide is no panacea and can present as many problems as it solves - there is much research on this.  You may be better advised to request an independent evaluation from a knowledgeable consultant who goes into the school to assess what is happening. Good Luck.