Expert: Tim Runner - 8/28/2009

Question
Hi Tim,
My son Josh is 12 years old diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome & Mood disorder. We live in New York State. I finally got the school district to realize that my son needs to be placed in a residential school. I have a list of the schools that my school district sent out screening packets to, and I have researched many of these schools and I do not feel they are appropriate for his needs. Many of the schools accept children with severe behavioral problems, conduct disorder, drug & alcohol abuse, were in abusive enviroments and my son is too impressional, I do not want him picking up other issues. My question is do I have any rights to tell the school district I do not want to send my child to one of these schools based on the type of children that attend these schools? Also, he is diagnosed with mood disorder first and has a educational label of emotionally disturbed, I want to make sure his needs with the Aspergers is being taken care of, in regards to social skills, if the school does not have any real experience with Aspergers but  has with mood disorders, can I still tell the district I do not feel that the school is suitable for my son? Any help you can provide me will be greatly appeciated. Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Jennifer

Answer
You have the final say in placing your son in a residential treatment center (RTC). I suggest you do research on RTC's catering to Aspergers' students. They should emphasize social skills, strong structure, and challenging academics. You should share your findings with Josh's school district. Your true power is that you have to sign the IEP offering a placement for your son. If you don't sign, or if you sign, but disagree in writing on the IEP with the proposed placement, they can not make him go to the RTC of their choice. The school district can file for a Due Process Hearing to get a judge to order their chosen placement. But this would cost them a lot of money. This is why it is better to have them work with you and contact the RTC's you identify. Most RTC's have web sites so I suggest you use Google to find good RTC prospects.

I wish you and your son the best,
Tim Runner, Advocate
Advocates 4 Kids
Email: timrunner@cox.net
Phone: (949) 582-3601
You can learn more at my web site:
www.special-education-answers.com
www.education-advocates.com (for DSL and phone)