Expert: James Michael Roan - 12/7/2008

Question
QUESTION: My son is 32 monthes and was diagnosised with PDD-NOS today.  He is also profoundly deaf, has mild CP, and has been diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay.  What are our next steps?  A behavioral specialist with our school district will be observing him at his Oral and Auditory school tomorrow.  We were also told that there is a website that gives useful information about the first 100 days after an autism diagnosis.  Does anyone know where I can find this?

Laurie

ANSWER: Hi Laurie;

What country do you live in? It makes a huge difference in terms of what is available. I'm most conversant on services in the U.S.

I think this is the web site you are looking for: http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/family_services/100_day_kit.php

Let me know what country you are in.

Kind regards,
James



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi James,

   Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and for the link to the information.  We live in the United States (Sacramento,California).

ANSWER: Hi Laurie;

Call your school district's special education department and refer your son for a special education evaluation. With his diagnosis of PDD-NOS, he will qualify for a special education preschool placement in the category of Autism and speech and language and/ or occupational therapy if so needed. He may qualify for a school for the deaf all at school district expense. You will have to be tough on advocating for your child's rights and know what those are.










James Roan Bio:

James Roan (roanpsych@gmail.com) has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disability and with enforcement of their rights. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and ADHD screening tools and other content for www.accessspecialneeds.com. James Roan is the past president and current board member of the autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Have you ever heard of a book that contains the laws that pertain to the rights of special needs children?I have heard that there are a few out there, but have not been able to find any.

Answer
Hi Laurie;

The best place to look is at Wright's Law http://www.wrightslaw.com/

Remember, that "interpretation" of federal law is up to individual states and there is wide variability from state to state. For state relevant information go to your state's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/

I'm most familiar with Washington State law. I may be able to answer basic questions for you.

Kind regards,
James








James Roan Bio:

James Roan (roanpsych@gmail.com) has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disability and with enforcement of their rights. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and ADHD screening tools and other content for www.accessspecialneeds.com. James Roan is the past president and current board member of the autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors.