Recommendations for educational advocate for 10y.o. with Asperger Syndrome?

Question

My son is a 10 year old boy with Asperger Syndrome. I am trying to get help for him from our local school district (which he currently attends in general education). They have given him a 504 plan, but it's not enough. I am not sure what to ask for or what is even available to him. I spoke with his teacher today and she feels that he needs a one-on-one aide. (Nobody at the school had ever mentioned that to me before.) I am thinking of hiring an advocate or lawyer to help us navigate this complicated process. Can anyone recommend an advocate, attorney or advocacy group. I am in Rockland County, New York. Thank you.

Answer 1

My video about my Asperger's might help you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-...

Answer 2

I have heard that New York has good Social Services. Have you spoken to the Principal or the School Board. I would speak to the Principal or the School Board first and or the Supervisor of Special Education. A lawyer costs money so I would try the Supervisor of Special Education first and these other avenues first. Then, if you do not get any help or see any progress, then go to the attorney.

Answer 3

I have a 10 yr. old son w/Asperger's as well.   I am in PA I reccommend checking with your states local department of education to fine tune what I'm about to tell you.  First if his needs are educational or learning based, behavioral or social emotional than a 504 will not provide you the Free & Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that your child needs to make appropriate and meaningfull progess in a school setting.  The next step would be to request in writting a  full "psycho-educational evaluation"  to have him considered for an IEP.  Address this information to the Principal and cc it to your son's Gen Ed teacher, guidance counselor, and special ed surpervisor or LEA for your school.  They will issue a permission to evaluate.  This evaluation is needs based and usually starts with and IQ test and all the subtests that accompany it.  Since you already have an Aspergers Diagnosis the school will also "consider' the key word is consider input from your specialist(s) involved with your son.  Once your son is identified as a student in need of receiving special ed services you and your team can begin to put together an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for your son that would act like a blueprint to help ALL the people involved in his education provide him with the appropriate services.  I will include a link to the Wrightslaw Website Yellow Pages directory, listed by state are advocates and educational attorneys if that is the path you choose to persue. Good Luck, know you are not alone, you are your child's best advocate!!!

Answer 4

First of all before you get an attorney, you have to learn the special ed laws and follow them. All lawyers will tell you this before they will take your case. Kind of like a 'go up the chain of command' thing.

THe best place to learn the laws is www.wrightslaw.com

The other thing to do besides a 504 plan is get special education services. Schools do not legally have to provide ANY help for children UNLESS the child is in specail ed or have a 504 plan.

So, the school can SAY they will get an aide, but without the child being in special ed or have 504 plan , they don't have to do this, OR they can get one and take the aide away at any time and you can't do a thing about it.

WIth special ed, you and your child will have rights to protect you and the school will HAVE to use an aide if it is agreed on by the parent and the school.

With all this being done, and if the school refuses an aide, there is legal recourse you can take WITHOUT having to hire a lawyer.

As far as you not knowing what is available for him thru the school, with a child in special education , ANYTHING  he needs is suppose to be available and used.

The school can not 'pick and choose' what THEY want to provide.

Now, you CAN get an advocate at this point  to help you, they WILL take your case, OR you can do the things I mentioned above and if it doesnt' work, THEN get the advocate.

ALL states have a FREE advocacy  agency for parents. Call your state dept of education and ask for the     'special education federally funded advocate agency for parents'

THis is long but these are the legal words to use.

If you need more help I'll be glad to help you ! Email me at

[e-mail]

Answer 5

Have you checked the Autism Speaks website?  They may be able to give you advice on advocacy and where to turn next.  Off the record, I have Asperger's Syndrome and went k-3 in the Chenango County NY school system.  They actually told my parents they couldn't accommodate my "special needs" and pretty much threw me out of school.  It doesn't surprise me that you're having difficulty, but I believe the NY school policy is that they HAVE to provide your son with whatever he needs, including fees for services (like having a one-on-one).  My advice is to learn "the rules" for your state's school system inside and out, and learn exactly what their policies are.  That knowledge will prove a greater weapon than any other in your arsenal, and you'll save time and money on legal fees.  

Best of luck in your endeavors.

Answer 6

My 8 year old has Aspergers too.  We just completed his IEP and it "legally" goes into affect next year.  I think having the school behind you is "huge bonus" and I've been fortunate in having that.  I have heard stories from people that have their children in schools that just don't care.

Autism speaks is a wonderful suggestion.

I hope everything works out for you.  Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job and are on the right track.  Sorry I couldn't be more help I just wanted you to know that you're doing a great job.

Answer 7

Updated notes:

Saw your additional information posted.  Your son's intellect is not the real issue.  His deficits and strengths and how he processes and learns are what need to be addressed.  The IEP should address these and allow accomodations to support them.  For example, almost all children on the spectrum have some sort of language deficit.  Not speech per se, (i.e.apraxia or dyspraxia), but language.  These issues relate to how he understands what he reads and hears people say- thus the language issues in turn impact how he answers.  Serious problems can occur when language isn't readily accessible.   For example, my son has fine motor skill problems that make handwriting very difficult for him.  Since this is due to his Asperger's diagnosis, if he is struggling to write during a test they must accomodate his disability by testing him in an environment where a tester can obtain a spoken answer from him and write it down for him.  Likewise, tests are often read aloud to him, and he verbally provides the answer which is written on his behalf.  He is also allowed additional time on tests.  It is incredibly important to address these issues and get accomodations for them now as they continue throughout his educational process, including the SAT/ACT's and college work.  It sounds like an educational consultant would be able to take that psycho-ed eval and parlay it into an meaningful IEP.

Your middle school issue will be a challenge.  My older (not my Asperger's child) son's high school has about the same enrollment.  You are right to be concerned.  Typical children also face serious social challenges during middle school for exactly the same reason you point out. These are often magnified for a child on the spectrum- even when they are very high functioning.  I'd address it as soon as you can- middle school is a tough time in any child's education.  It will be incredibly difficult for an asperger's child to navigate changing classes 7 times a day with 3000 of his peers.

Best of luck.  Hope this helps you.

Sometimes the jump from working with the school yourself to bringing in an attorney is a red flag to the school system that you are preparing to litigate.  Your message sounds more like you are just looking to understand the laws that relate to your son and need help determining what type of supports and interventions he needs.  Most Asperger's children are high functioning and don't require one-on-one instruction.  The goal is for each child to function in the LRE (least restrictive environment), and some would argue that one-on-one instruction could inhibit learning for a high functioning child.  To develop a meaningful IEP  (individualized Education Plan[ as provided by IDEA (Individuals w/ Disabilities Act)  you will need a psycho-ed eval which shows the childs strengths, IQ and deficits.  Surely you've already had a psycho-ed eval if your child has been DX'd ?   Psychologists, psychiatrists and sometimes developmental pediatricians have contacts with local advocates.  Also places that provide therapies for children on the spectrum like OT, speech and language, writing and reading interventions also provide advocacy services. They can be a wealth of information and tend to know other related people in the autism world.  you could also check and see if there is a local chapter of the Autism Society of America in your area.  The non-profit organizations are usually run/moderated by parents of children on the spectrum and might be able to give you some first hand info.

Advocates usually charge anywhere from 25% to 50% of an attorney's hourly rate.  A few ask for retainers, but most do not.

Do an internet search on Individuals with Disabilities Act or IDEA and you should hit the US Dept of Ed's site that explains IDEA, FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education)  and other important things to learn about services.  State advocacy offices are great but they can be buried and slow to respond.

Good luck, I hope this helps you.