Expert: James Michael Roan - 6/23/2006

Question
I have a child who was diag. with Autism, Asperger's, PDD-NOS etc. and now dsm 300.9 or child infant adolescent dis.  I am really angry confused frustrated.  I really wanted clarification as I had my child seen at by a well respected person in this field yet I received little salient information.  My daughter continues to have difficulities in areas of communication, development, social recipricativeness etc.
School is a huge concern as I have found that the district uses the law to deny services that would help her progress by removing her from the catagory. How would you proceed?  I don't want my child in this catagory but I do have a difficult time with my child falling through cracks in the educational system and denied the ability to utilitze services that would not otherwise be made available as some through the district are not options.  The regional center is more helpful, but the school district if placing my child in left field and basically "dumbing up" my child because they have their own classification of Learning Disorder or Sensory Integration
Disorder.  All of these ..sub catagories but do not address her entire deficits. I am at a lose of what to do with a child who is on that line of the grey area of PDDnos or Aspergers where the experts don't even agree.  I really want them to get my child caught up using the Discreet Trial method. or ABA approach.  What suggestion's might you offer?

The state?...Asperger's
Regional Center?....catagory 5  (and child is not retarded)
child receives socialization services, occupational therapy, a bahaviorist for the toilet training..... and my child is about 7.

The school district wants to place my child in a school for disabled with 1st through 4th grade.  My child has the skills of a pre-k child.

Answer
Hi Robert;

Do you live in the U.S.? What state? Do you mind clarifying specifically what questions you would like me to answer? I'm a little confused.

According to the 1997 revision of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children are served according to "assessed need" and NOT by categorical listing or by a diagnosis.

The issue of ABA is a complex one, however, I have met many parents satisfied with the results. I suggest you thoroughly review all opinions on the subject before you go down that road. If your child is in the PDD-NOS/Asperger's range, which is considered high functioning, she will probably do quite well with any service she receives.

The more information you give me the better I can help.

Kind regards,
James