How do you qualify for special education preschool?

Question

My son is in Early Intervention. Our school district did their 20 minute test and determined he was not eligible for their free preschool for special education. They did, however, believe he needed to be tested further with their speech therapist and occupational therapist (which he did.) We also took him to Children's Specialized Hospital and had him tested. He is not autistic but he was diagnosed with apraxia, dyspraxia and regulation disorder. They said they recommend a preschool, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

The school district says that the diagnoses alone don't qualify him. They said it is determined by what percentage he is delayed in each area.

Is this true? Does our school district have rules they follow for their township or is it a county, state or federal law they have to follow? Where can I found out?

Also, where can I look online to see about qualifying for aid for NJ. (Not Social Security)

Answer 1

I found this link that talks about N.J. charter schools that specialize in special ed.  I will say you are great with being pro active about this.  I do not have kids of my own but I am very familiar with basically neurological disorders. The reason being is that I had something when I was a child I can't remember the "technical" name but it was also called a speech and langauge disorder.  I just read this article http://members.fortunecity.com/sian2/dys...

and a lot of the issues that they talked about were a lot like what I went through.  The main issue was not being able to understand simple instructions.  For example:  My mom would say "Can you go clean your room?"  and I would throw a total fit because it was not that I did not want to clean my room but that I did not understand what she was saying and I did not know how to say "I do not understand"  Now if she said to me "Can you go and pick up the toys in your room?"  I understood it.  This took a long time to figure out though and it was sooo frustrating as a child because it was like everyone was speaking a different langauge.  If that make sense.

Aggg....sorry I went a little over board, but if this is what you are experiencing let me know and I can talk to you more about it and try and help.  I think the main thing is that my mom would NOT give up and she was constantly in the public schools face about it.  

my email is [e-mail]

sorry if this is nothing like what you are experiencing I am just trying to help...

Answer 2

Each state has developed its own policy based on federal law. Here is NJ

http://www.edlawcenter.org/ELCPublic/Stu...

According to that, any child with a disability qualifies for services (which is how it is in most states) I would push for additional testing, and write a written letter disagreeing with the school's findings and ask for outside testing to be considered. I had to do this for my son, who has dysarthria. Generally schools will say a child needs 20% delay in more than two areas, but this can be argued with.

Good luck. I have no idea about aid, but I'd start with DHS and see if they have a developmental delays board. They generally are in charge of funding for that.

Answer 3

Generally schools look for a 40% delay in one area or a 20% delay in two areas. Developmental delay is the appropriate terminology. The link posted above was a good suggestion.

Make sure your district recognized developmental delays. I live in a county that recognizes this category but a neigboring county does not. Even if the developmental delay category is not recognized the gateway is not necessarily shut. Schools not recognizing that category still address concerns such as speech impairments, the categories are just labeled very specifically as a speech impairment or a language impairment versus developmental delay.

If your child does not qualify give consideration to asking if he could act as a peer model and still participate in the program. Some districts are willing to do this.

Also remember, educational certifications and medical diagnosis do not always correlate for procedural regulations.

Medical diagnosis are based on insurance reimbursement and educational certifications are based on educational law.

It occurs to me to consider Head Starts in your area as well.

Head Start is federally mandated. Check your phone book for listings.

Hope this helps and good luck.