Expert: James Michael Roan - 4/6/2009

Question
We recently had a meeting with educators to discuss entering 2nd gr for our pdd-nos son, high functioning (receives aba, speech, and ot).  Our school system shares a high school with another town, and pre-school services flip flop yearly depending on space, each school has its own elementary schools.  We were told that all special services for next year will be held at the other town's elementary school, therefore, he will need to attend that school, or he can attend our town's elementary school, but there will be no services supplied.  Can they do this?  Maybe I could get my own services into my town school, and have the town pay?  I'm told the district only has to provide a school with services, not all schools with services; is that true?  This greatly impacts our family unit, and my son with pdd-nos.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Teresa and John;

I certainly apologize for getting back to you so late. Circumstances here prevented me from doing so.

There are differences from state to state in this regard. I work in Washington State, so I will provide you with my understanding in this state. The bottom line is your school district is responsible for providing special education services whether they provide them themselves or contract those services out. The location is their call but they have to transport at their expense. For specifics on law I recommend talking to a school psychologist at another school district in you state. Ultimately you can file a complaint with the the Superintendent of Public Instruction in your state and they will adjudicate.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,
James



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Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who 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 (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. 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 disabilities. James Roan was the consulting psychologist responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.