My daughter - age 10 - Asperger's Syndrome - A teacher is finally listening - How do I help to get her tested?

Question

My daughter's teacher has said that she is going to look into getting my daughter tested for Asperger's Syndrome. (We live in Indiana, IN) What can I do to help the teacher to get my daughter tested?

Are there any good websites that anyone has any links to that speak intelligibly about Asperger's Syndrome and females that have it? I know of a couple of websites....but it is hard to find sites that deal with females or with females as well as males. The teacher needs more to go on. The only students that she has had that have had this are boys....although she has worked one on one with a girl that has it, she still wants to be able to read more on it.

If someone could please help, I would appreciate it temendously.

Thank you,

Miriah

Answer 1

The school has access to all the resources that they need to evaluate your daughter.  It is people higher up that try to brush it off because it costs the school money, but is free to you.  In most states they have 30 days to respond to your request for an evaluation before legal action is taken.  Push hard for your daughter.  It is her right to have a competent evaluation and she is intitled to any special aid that is provided to students with special needs.  Just keep being an advocate for her.

Answer 2

The teacher can put the wheels in motion for having  your daughter tested for an IEP.  

You should be the one getting the your daughter tested by a developmental pediatritian or a neurologist.  If there is a children's hosptial near you, please make an appointment.  

I'm have not come across any websites that pertain specifically to females w/ asperger's.

Answer 3

dont let the school test her. the more the school gets in it, the more control they have over how much spec. ed, that child gets, what a parent can say, ect ect. go to your childs doctor and have him refer the child to an developmental clinic. then you get real doctors advice, prescrips for therapies and all the other fun stuff. take it from a mom whos kid has landau kleffner. the school is out for the special monies they get from a disabled child. i've had a few good teachers, im not "dissin'" them, but the school board is who profits off your kid. go to a childrens hospital website, for more info on aspergers. there are alot of good websites on this mild form of autism. best way you will learn is from your kid though.

Answer 4

In addition to the above, you'll also want to give them a list of blood relatives that are odd or eccentric.  Especially, those that never married.  The disability is hereditary so she had to get it from somebody.  Its rare in girls, but it does happen.

Answer 5

You must officially request an evaluation from the school. You don't have to specify exactly what it is you suspect--it's not expected to be within your realm of knowledge. I would request an evaluation for a learning disability and recount your reasons or suspicions.

By federal law, if a parent requests it, the school district must provide an evaluation at no cost to the parent.  This can be done as early as 3 years of age.

If it is determined that the child does indeed have a disability that affects her learning, then an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed for the child.

Good luck, and god bless that teacher for noticing that something is different about your daughter's learning ability.

Answer 6

The teacher and/or the parent of the child can put in a request to the school to have the child evaluated. If the parent does it is best to put into writing and keep a copy for yourself. The following comes from the US Dept. of Education, hope this helps:

The state must identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities in the state who need special education and related services. To do so, states conduct "Child Find" activities. A child may be identified by "Child Find," and parents may be asked if the "Child Find" system can evaluate their child. Parents can also call the "Child Find" system and ask that their child be evaluated. Or —

Referral or request for evaluation. A school professional may ask that a child be evaluated to see if he or she has a disability. Parents may also contact the child's teacher or other school professional to ask that their child be evaluated. This request may be verbal or in writing. Parental consent is needed before the child may be evaluated. The initial evaluation must be conducted within 60 days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation or, if the State establishes a timeframe within which the evaluation must be conducted, within that timeframe.

The evaluation must assess the child in all areas related to the child's suspected disability. The evaluation results will be used to decide the child's eligibility for special education and related services and to make decisions about an appropriate educational program for the child. If the parents disagree with the evaluation, they have the right to take their child for an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). They can ask that the school system pay for this IEE.

A group of qualified professionals and the parents look at the child's evaluation results. Together, they decide if the child is a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA. Parents may ask for a hearing to challenge the eligibility decision.

If the child is found to be a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA, he or she is eligible for special education and related services. Within 30 calendar days after a child is determined eligible, the IEP team must meet to write an IEP for the child.

Far as Asperger's (high functioning autism) goes I have left a link for you about Asperger's, it will tell you, characteristics,

diagnosis, working with an individual with Aspergers,

educational issues, adults with Aspergers, and helpful resources. They also have info about other disorders that have the same characteristics of autism and onfo about the other PDD's. Don't know if you'll find anything specifically for females, but regardless if a person is female or male the criteria is still the same, the treatments/therapies are the same....they are based on each individuals needs, their s*x doesn't matter when it comes to treatments or a diagnosis.

Answer 7

I don't know why the teacher wants to get her tested? Schools do NOT do testing for aspergers. you will have to have this done on your own.

Or, is the teacher finding out how you can get testing on your own without the schools involvement?

I would not trust the school at all with this. Schools are notorious for not helping children with these type of problems.

Schools do testing ONLY to see if a child qualifies for special education, or if the child is already in special ed, they do testing to see what the childs problems are to know what to help.

They do NOT do these tests UNLESS the child is ALREADY in special ed.

Answer 8

Schools usually have access to psychologists etc, or you could try your daughter paediatrician who will assess your daughter.

I have included some links to give you some more information about Asperger's syndrome.

Answer 9

First keep a file of everything. Second request in writing to you school for the testing. Third if this does not work e-mail me, I will tell you how to handle the rest. Good luck

Answer 10

Write a letter to the school requesting a multi-disciplinary assessment.   You should also see your doctor and request to see a specialist.  Asperger's does need to be clinically diagnosed. The school can screen for it and give you help. Asperger's is on what they call the Autism spectrum of disorders.  

Try these websites: http://www.aspergers.com/

http://www.autism.org/asperger.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical...

http://www.autismspeaks.org/navigating/i...

I hope this helps.

Answer 11

Put your request in writing to the special ed director.

Check out works by Temple Grandin.Good Luck.

Answer 12

Go to Conductdisorder.com.  These women in this message board room know everything there is to know about it.  trust me.  p.s. good luck.

Answer 13

To get your daugher tested, all that needs to be done is for the teacher to request it through the school. At the same time, I would suggest you ask your pediatrician to give you a referall to a developmental pediatrician or developmental psychologist to get a "formal" medical diagnosis as well.  The medical diagnosis will be needed for insurance purposes...the school needs to do it's own assesments to determine if your child is eligable for an IEP and to work out an education, behavioral plan and other services if they are needed (speech, OT, special adaptations, a one-to-one if needed).  Get both going as soon as possible.  The school will have 90 days to get the eval done and then another 30 to decide if she qualifies for an IEP...a good chunk of the school year.

Autistic spectrum disorders, which include autism, are predominately found in males.  Most infomation out there will use "him", but all of it applies to both sexes.  Working with girls can differ slightly (especially as your daughter is hitting pre-adoloescence..we know the developmental issues are slightly different) but the basic ideas and techiniques hold.  I have never come across any books or materials dealing solely with girls on the spectrum, but that does not mean they do not exsist.  A book to read, at least for an interesting overview, is Temple Grandin's autobiography.  Ms. Grandin has autism.  She also has a doctorate and has written several best sellers.  Her books really give wonderful insights into what it is to live with autism, how the world appears to a person on the spectrum and an in depth understanding of why and how people on the spectrum may react as they do.