Special Education pre-K and vaccines?

Question

My son who is 3 was accepted in special education pre-K . He is delayed social (very shy) and has a few autistic behaviors but it is so mild that the dr did not label him as autistic or PDD . Academically he scores very well . However he needs social skills and speech therapy but the school does not accept him because his immunizations are not current. They have to accept him if we bring a paper from the health department that says we refuse to vaccinate for religious reasons but since he has had vaccines before they can't give him this paper . Why I asked , can't you change your religion ?They said this is the policy . I want my son in school to start therapy asap . As an alternative , since my son has an IEP , shouldn't the school provide therapists to work with him at home? What else can I do?

Answer 1

You have been lied to by an incompetent moron bureaucrat.

Tell them to go back to sleep and ask for a supervisor. Advise the supervisor that you do not appreciate being discriminated against due to your religious beliefs and that they have absolutely no right to ask you ANYTHING regarding your religious beliefs. I would post this question in the religious section.

No mindless bureaucracy is going to force me to further poison my family.

Study these sites and good luck.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/va...

http://home.san.rr.com/via/STATES/allsta...

Answer 2

If they have qualified him for special education they can NOT keep him out of school. This is violating the FAPE part of the special ed laws.

You wrote --Why I asked , can't you change your religion ?They said this is the policy

Tell themt to show you a copy of this so called policy. You'll be surprised. If it's not in a policy then they are lying.

Answer 3

Hi

My son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 3, in short for those that don't know, Asperger's is on the high end of the Autistic spectrum with IQ's above average. I'm shocked that you are being put on this stress mill, we chose after many months of reseach to stop the immunisation of our son, we couldn't take the risk by sacrafising our child for the good of the country. For the people that see this as abhorent, you should realise that a child who is not immunised is the child at risk, the immunised children are safe and you are brainwashed if you think otherwise. Off my soap box - are you possibly mistaking the two issues with the schools none acceptance?

1) no diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorder/PDD etc.

2) not fully immunised.

I would look at the issues seperately, try and get a diagnoses that gets you the services the school provides, your not making it up, he has issues that require help and intervention early, see your doctor and tell him/her the problem. Can you get a letter from your doctor about your conceinsious objection to immunisation, we thought our boy couldn't go to school with out being immunised because thats what people kept telling us but there is no law in our country that states they are to be excluded.

In fact there are descrimination laws that protect children with disabilities that you should look into. If his doctor or atterny is willing to write a letter addressing his adverse reaction to the immunisation and while there is no scientific proof that immunisation causes Autistic Spectrum disorders but that is your informed belief, then no discrimination should happen. I am under the impression that no child can be turned away if they have the disability they provide services for. For the record I think it's outrageous to be forced to change your religion to fit into school policy, simply wrong!

Janice

Answer 4

Children under age three can have services provided in the home, but after age three services are provided in the educational setting.

Are you no longer interested in vaccinations due to his spectrum-like behaviors? As a special ed Pre K teacher, I have seen children progress by leaps & bounds when participating in a school based classroom/program. The years from age 3 - 5 are critical for bridging the gap between special education and general ed Kindergarten classes, so I understand your desire to get him in school ASAP.

If you do not want him immunized, have you considered itinerant services? You can bring your child to school for his speech therapy and they can give him matching minutes for social interaction to address his delay in the area of social skills/ social behaviors.  This is better than nothing, however if at all possible, I would try to get him in the full time school based program. It's hard to improve social interactions in a home-schooled environment (for children with delays in social skills). Best wishes; hope it works out for you.

Answer 5

You mentioned that there is a social development delay.  How is providing services at home as opposed to a school setting going to help him develop social skills?  The reason that you can not use a religious reason is that a large number of people are using this excuse in order to not get their children vaccinated.  From my understanding it is the vaccines that are given at 18 months that are linked to autism.  If you want what is best for your child you should take him to the doctor and then enroll him in school.

Answer 6

My son is now 6 and in a regular ed Kindergarten, but my situation, diagnostically, sounded EXACTLY the same as yours when my little guy was 3. Get him in that class!! You will be shocked and amazed how quickly you will see results when they are in a structured Special ed Pre-k. You are in the beginning of a very long process, and often getting your child what they need is a question of how YOU proceed.  Demand to see all paperwork on so-called "policies".  You would not believe how many times I was told something was "unavailable" or "not offered", only to find I was lied to.  If you are uncomfortable with confrontation with district, look into hiring an educational advocate.  I did it myself, but they did not like seeing me coming :).  My personal policy was always polite and persistant...but they are used to people doing what they say because they are the "authority".  Remember that YOU are the expert on your son...I always laugh and say that they may have masters or docorate in psychology....but only I have doctorate degree in my son.  Don't go the home route.  So many parents do this, and it is not what will benefit your son inthe long run.   He needs the socialization and structure of a classroom.  Good luck, and fight hard!!