What to do when school won't acknowledge a diagnosis?

Question

My daughter has a diagnosis of a fairly unusual pervasive development disorder. She was diagnosed out of the area where we live at a specialist centre. Both her school and our local PCT are refusing to accept the diagnosis and act upon the criteria within it. What do I do to ensure both her educational needs and medical needs are met?

Answer 1

Get a letter from your doctor. They are obliged to accommodate our daughter. If they don't then threaten them with legal proceedings

Answer 2

I think that since it was a specialist center the school might not have to acknowledge it unless testing was also done by one of their doctors. I would look at her individual IEP and talk with the teachers about adapting courses temporarily until the schools doctors examine your daughter. The school also might not be properly educated on the situation, so any information could bring better light to the situation. Good Luck

Answer 3

I wouldn't even waste my time with these people. Sue, right now. Go to a TV trouble shooter. Editorial pages. Anybody who'll listen.

Answer 4

In what ways are your daughters needs being/not being met?

What type of allowances are you looking for?

It's hard to tell if you or the school are being harsh here.

Answer 5

Play Hardball.  Get a signed letter from your doctor outlining her diagnosis and what the school needs to do to help her.  If they still refuse, go to the board of education for your state and raise a big stink.  go on the news, whatever it takes.  

Frankly that's c**p that they are refusing to accomodate a student.

Answer 6

First, get a note signed by the doctor and/or the person who diagnosed your daughter and present it to the headteacher. If they still refuse to act then you may want to threaten them with informing the local newspaper as that usually produces results. If that doesn't work then actually tell the newspaper about your situation. The school and local PCT will be petrified of getting a bad repuation after thousands of people read about their attitude towards your daughter's condition. This works just about every time.

Answer 7

There have been some excellent answers submitted and I wish I would have known then what I know now in terms of spec. ed.  I'm not impressed with "the system".  You can request in writing that your school district have your child tested at public expense (your tax dollars put to good use)  Keep the diagnosis from your source, also.  If they refuse then you request in writing for  mediation.  If you are still not moving forward then you can request a Due Process Hearing.  The whole system as it pertains to my personal experience is  a total "joke" and useless.  I see the team going through the steps in creating an effective IEP with words that are just that "a bunch of words"  I have come to the conclusion that they are trying to  appease me and I am furious that people (professionals?) would resort to this.  I know in my heart they do not believe my son has autism.  He is high functioning and because he does average to above average on state assessments (that make the school "look good') he doesn't need accomodations.  The points I brought up were "why is this average to above average intelligence not being seen in his daily assignments which are crucial to him graduating" and "why has he been given extra time on state assessments but no accomodations in his daily assignments"  These must have been good points but I will be honest in saying each meeting we have brings more frustration than anything.  I had one teacher tell me my son just needs to focus.  No kidding and the flip side is my son can focus actually hyper-focus it just doesn't happen to be the science or math assignment  for the day....It's probably researching the computer to find the different computer parts he will need , prices , etc. as he is "focused on" building a custom made computer.  He's a great kid-he has dreams and goals but he's having a hard time with accepting the sequence of steps to get to his goals.  Good luck to you-you are not alone.  PS Our next step is to get an attorney involved but we are not financially able to at this time Plus afraid of the backlash that might happen and the effect it could have on my son and daughter...small school..people can get hateful.

Answer 8

what is the disorder ; I think we need more information to try and help.

Answer 9

I'm assuming that the diagnosis on your daughter's condition is one from a doctor.  This being so, there is no power on earth that can ague with a doctor.

Take your case to court and call the doctor as a witness.

A doctor has high status and is a pillar of the community.

I always greet my DOCTOR with his title, DOCTOR!  as in DOCTOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FRS.....etc

Answer 10

If you are in the UK  you can formally request the Local Education Authority to do a Special Educational Needs assessment. If they refuse to do so, you can appeal by contacting SENDIST and going to tribunal. In the London area there is a charity called Elfrida Rathbone whose workers support and represent parents in such situations. I don't know what is available in your area, but there should be information available from social services or your local council or education offices.

Answer 11

Have you spoken with the board of govenors?

Approach you local M.P.

Make a written request to the local education authority for the relevent testing to be carried out.

Good luck.

Answer 12

Is the specialist who diagnosed her certified and acreddited?  If so then no one should be able to go against them without further testing.  I'm not sure where you are from and unfortunatly different areas have different laws pertaining to special education.  The first thing I would do is put it in writing to the school that you want her tested.  The school will need to meet with you about starting testing for your daughter.  Don't take we will start next week as an answer from the school.  Push and Push and Push until it is done.  

Best of luck and don't stop until you get results!

Answer 13

Educational Needs: if I was you I would ask for an assessment of her needs to be done by their Special Educational Needs co-ordinator all schools have one and this involves them bringing in a pyscologist and educational one. You will also need some proof from this centre as to what they found so you can give them a copy. If the school refuse write to your local education office and explain the situation.

Mediacal need: They do have a body just like the education system and go into the surgery and ask for the name and address of who you contact to complain. Then send them a copy of the report the special unit did and a letter.

Those things will get the ball rolling it is no good verbal you must try and put it all in writing your complaints as they have to act upon a written complaint.

Never give up fight all the way it is so important that your daughter get every available support both educational and medical you can.

I had a daughter who was undiagnosed and faced this so I just wrote to all concerened that made them sit up and listen and I was right. Good luck

Answer 14

Usually you would need a medical diagnosis for PDD-NOS, since it falls under the Autism Spectrun Disorder.  Also you can ask for her to be evaluated through your school district you are speaking of.  I would contact your doctor and ask for some information about getting her to a neurologist to see if you can get her a medical diagnosis that way.

A school does not have to honor a diagnosis from a specialist center.  They do however have to honor one from a physician or one from an evaluation team in their district.

Answer 15

Ask the setting if the area SENCO was involved in deciding that she does not need extra provision. If the area SENCO has not been involved ask the head of the school and the area senco to have a meeting with you to discuss your serious concerns and tell them that you think the decision was wrong and why and threaten to take your child out of the setting untill they are able to provide the neccessary provision and help for your child