You are here:
Autism/Questions Answered by Expert Tim Runner
| Subject | Date Asked |
| withdrawing consent given in the past | 2/10/2012 |
| Q: Tim, Last year, at my son's annual ARD meeting, my wife and I intended to disagree with the ... A: David, What you were told at the last ARD meeting is not true -- they were just pressuring you to ... | |
| recess punishment | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: My son who has PDD-NOS was recently punished for me not signing his nightly planner. I have never ... A: Angela, This is outrageous! Punishing a child for their parent's oversight. Their policy is illegal ... | |
| Autism | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: What age can a child be sucessly tested for autism?what are the signs of autism?ate thier classes a ... A: Patrocia, There is no set age for being able to diagnose Autism. Most medical professional have ... | |
| concerns about autistic entering highschool with no IEP | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I am resending my question with name changed and no gender for my child. My autistic child is due ... A: Linda, The school can not assess your son without your permission. There are State and district ... | |
| NLD | 11/26/2011 |
| Q: I totally understand that its hard to get all this over an e-mail. With that said, the district, ... A: -- Cetta, The proper diagnosis of your son is too important to be left to people that are not ... | |
| HFA in 13 year old | 11/19/2011 |
| Q: my son who is going to be 13 in DEC, is HFA in public school, for a couple of month he is home with ... A: -- Iaresa, You can continue the home/hospital teaching he is receiving now if a medical doctor ... | |
| school work problems | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: Mr.Runner, My 7 year old has austism asbergers/adhd,He is brilliant but since he had some ... A: -- Veronica, I represent a number of students with Aspergers' Syndrome. They tend to not be served ... | |
| PreK Problems | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: My daughter is 4 yr old with Autism in an ESE PreK program throught the local elementary school. ... A: -- Kimberly, Under the law, the school district is required to offer a Free Appropriate Public ... | |
| His focus on bagpipes | 10/23/2011 |
| Q: My son is 15 and has just been diagnosed with a mild form of Asbergers. My son is in high school ... A: Chelle, Based on what you have shared in your questions, you have two options still available. You ... | |
| His focus on bagpipes | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: My son is 15 and has just been diagnosed with a mild form of Asbergers. My son is in high school ... A: Chelle, I represent a number of students having Aspergers so I understand how devastating this can ... | |
| Aspergers and small schools | 10/5/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Runner, I am the father of a 8 year old daughter that was diagnosed with ADHD at age 5 and now ... A: -- Craig, Aspergers kids are difficult to get special education services for because they do well ... | |
| IEP question | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: Runner, My son is autistic and is in 8th grade in middle school special needs program. In June, ... A: -- Missy, Both the school and the parents can call for an IEP Team Meeting at any time. It just ... | |
| interim transfer | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: I may need to seek legal advice and My question is my daughter transfer to a new school district.and ... A: -- Tammy, The law clearly states that the new school district must provide a new student entering ... | |
| school placement. | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: Our son is judt started in 2nd grade. He has autism, ambulatory, able to understand some vervbal ... A: -- Martin, Finding the right class (or classes) for special needs children can be a challenge. ... | |
| IEP and NVLD | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: My son has a diagnosis of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He also has AGCC and arnold chairi II ... A: -- Jill I support the use of advocates, but you have a unique situation. I suggest you ask her for ... | |
| IEP and NVLD | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: My son has a diagnosis of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He also has AGCC and arnold chairi II ... A: -- Jill, You do not mention your son's scores on the standardized tests conducted by the school. ... | |
| What do do about adult autistic son? | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have an adult son who is autistic. He can talk on a toddler's level and is affectionate, but he is ... A: -- Judith, My heart goes out to your and your husband. The challenge of caring for Autistic adults ... | |
| school question | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: My 16 year old has very aggressive behaviors at times and is in a AI classroom. Recently I was told ... A: -- Marge, So long as your son has an IEP they can't change his schedule without your permission: ... | |
| Autism Assessment in School | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: My son is in 1st grade and has been given a medical diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our ... A: Casey S. In order for the school to serve your child with the special education services he needs, ... | |
| ASD- Aspergers | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: My 10 year old son was diagnosed with ASD - Aspergers in Nov 2010. Before we received the results ... A: Kelly, The school district should have performed a number of assessments on your son and they ... | |
| IEP Rights | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: My name is Elizabeth Paz, my son is has autism. He is in 7th grade this year. My son have been ... A: Elizabeth Paz, You should write a letter to the superintendent of your school district and copy the ... | |
| getting district to pay for outside help | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: We hired a behaviorist to evaluate our regressing 4-year old and our child's school program. This ... A: Alex, I am pleased to learn of the progress your child is making thanks to the behaviorist. Once ... | |
| Preschool for Autistic son? | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: We just had an initial IEP for my son who turns 3 in a few weeks. He qualifies for services under ... A: Alison, You are quite right: schools have to serve special education students at their level in the ... | |
| transportation from school district to aba therapy | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a child soon to be 3 in the state of PA, he will not be attending early intervention ... A: Kim, Based on your question, I assume that your child has an IEP that calls for him to attend the ... | |
| tri-annual review ? | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: Runner, My 13 year old son Scott is autistic and is 7th grade in our local middle school. You and I ... A: Missey, You should respond to the school district with a letter stating that you have consulted an ... | |
| autism IEP and high school foreign language requirement | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed with Aspergers prior to starting high school. During elementary/middle school ... A: Sue, I assume your son has an IEP based on his disability. Most of the Aspergers students I ... | |
| Moving to USA with autistic son | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: wondering if you can help, am currently in the UK, my son is 5 and started school last September. He ... A: Gemma, US education law states that the school district a student is transfering into must provide ... | |
| Grandaughter and clothes | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: My 6yo granddaughter is having a terrible time with her clothes. She will not wear socks, shirts ... A: Lynne, It sound like your granddaughter has sensory issues. She should be assessed for possible ... | |
| no IEP goals met | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: Runner, My son, Scott is 13 years old and has autism. He is in 7th grade in a special needs ... A: Missy Roy, Goals are a key ingredient of every IEP. First the IEP Team determines the unique needs ... | |
| Residential Placement | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: I'm a mom to a 11 year old boy who is severly autistic. He currently is attending public school ... A: Kelly, Why hasn't the school district exhausted all school resources? I would ask the special ... | |
| Helpless! | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: Felling helpless, school,county health,therapist,diagnosis? Does a school need to provide different ... A: Sheere, The law requires schools to meet the unique needs of each student in special education. The ... | |
| transportation to school | 12/23/2010 |
| Q: I have been having trouble with the school district and my autistic son getting to school.He is 8 ... A: Josette, Transportation for the special education student is at the discretion of the IEP Team. You ... | |
| Resources for Aspberger's Austic Child | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: My son is in the 5th grade and headed for middle school. I am concerned that his public school has ... A: Melissa, I represent a number of Asperger kids. They all need a variety of help, but many times ... | |
| Autism Assistance | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: Is there financial assistance available for child diagnosed with autism at the pre-school age for ... A: Rhonda, Depending on the age and needs of an Autistic child there are services available. It also ... | |
| what are my rights? | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: My town in Saugus, Ma has a preschool program that only offers 10 hrs per week.. But the city of ... A: Robyn, Special Education law says that each child is supposed to be given the level of services ... | |
| IEP' s and school districts choice of vendors | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: Runner; Thank youfor your time in considering my question. I understand that schoold districts can ... A: Cindy, The school district has the right to choose the provider of services they are paying for. ... | |
| one to one aide | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: at my son's iep meeting i was told his main issue is his need to focus when the teacher is teaching ... A: Maria, Because one-to-one aides are expensive to school districts, they often fight to keep from ... | |
| Autism and middle school | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: My son is 15 and in 7th grade- public school. There are no alternative programs in our county in ... A: Carol, Special Education law does not give the school an excuse, "there are no alternative programs ... | |
| modifications for honors classes | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a son with autism that is in a freshman honors English class. The school is trying to say ... A: Ian, The IEP Team for your son can set any accommodations that are not disruptive to the other ... | |
| pdd dignosis | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: If my son was dignosed at age 3 and half for pdd. He is now 6 wouldn't he need another dignosis if ... A: Kim, It is always beneficial to have a current diagnosis for a child that has been previously ... | |
| assessments and tests | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: What tests would be appropriate for an educational diagnosis of autism PDD (nos) in the school? ... A: Michelle, The law says that students should be tested in all areas of suspected disability. They ... | |
| Autistic student in a regular ed classroom | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I have taught many Autistic students in my regular-ed 5th grade classroom over the years but I have ... A: The school should have a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) for this student and it should state step ... | |
| Aspergers-504 plan, problems | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: My son is a teenager with AS, Agoraphobia and Panic and Anxiety Disorder. During the school year, ... A: Trina, As I told you, I am an advocate that practices in all 50 states. Visit my website and email ... | |
| Aspergers-504 plan, problems | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: My son is a teenager with AS, Agoraphobia and Panic and Anxiety Disorder. During the school year, ... A: Trina, I represent many students with Aspergers, and I fight for them to all have IEP's. These are ... | |
| Teacher's Aide | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: Our 9 year old son will be entering 3rd grade at an Illinois school in approximately 10 days. We ... A: Jena, Unfortunately, there is no licensing or certification required for aides. Each school district ... | |
| autisim | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: my great grandson is 16 months old but not saying any words seems perfect in every other way is this ... A: Your grandson's speech challenge should be discussed with his doctor. When he gets a little older, ... | |
| Law/Autistic children | 7/18/2010 |
| Q: I seen in the July 10, 2010, New York Times, Title Motherlode In this article a family right before ... A: Sheri, I am not a lawyer but rather an advocate so I can't really give you legal advice. But based ... | |
| caregiver compensation | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: My sister takes care of my Autistic son everyday. Is there a program where the state of California ... A: Amber, In California, we have Regional Centers, which are state funded non-profits that coordinate ... | |
| residential placement for my autistic daughter | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: Im single mom of two girls one, the younger one has autism,ADHD, and mild mental retardation,she is ... A: It is difficult for me to recommend a residential school not know more about your daughter. For ... | |
| Education Choices | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: We pulled my PDD-NOS 12yo son out of public school last year to homeschool him. Reason: Between the ... A: Schools are required to offer special education services to students that qualify regardless of ... | |
| rights for my autistic son in school | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I am requesting at school for my son to have a Teacher Aid with him when he goes into first grade. ... A: Since your son now has an aide, I have to assume that he has an IEP. The final decision concerning a ... | |
| local school system | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I have an IEP meeting for my son (7 years) old, on May 18th. My problem is that every time we have ... A: Your only option about your son's placement is to file for Due Process. This is a challenge unless ... | |
| 25 month old son not talking | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: My 25 month old son has not started talking yet. We have him booked in for an assessment next month ... A: Andrew, I'm not a fan of trying to use some kind of check list to make diagnoses, especially for ... | |
| resources | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: My son is a single parent of a 5 year old son who has been diagnosed with PDD and others.He is ... A: I am not that familiar with what agencies offer support for Autistic children in Florida. I suggest ... | |
| Residential Placement | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have had legal custody of my brother for almost four years. During that time I have managed to ... A: In order for your brother to be considered for school paid residential placement, he must not be ... | |
| Autistic child neglected at school | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old autistic son who is now in a CSIU class which is a special class with only ... A: You need to ask for an IEP to address your concerns about the class your son is in. You need to ... | |
| autism | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: i applied for ssi in august 2009 for my 6 year old autistic son he only has been diagnose by the ... A: Unfortunately, is seems to be the norm for SSI applications to be denied when you first apply. They ... | |
| Health insurance won't cover therapies | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I have an 4 year old autistic daughter and my health insurance (Aetna) denied service for speech ... A: I suggest that you contact the Texas state agency that investigates insurance complaints, then file ... | |
| How do i find out if i have autism? | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: well my older brother has been diagnosed with autism and i've been doing a lot of research into it. ... A: Diagnosing Autism is something that has to be done by an experienced medial professional: doctor, ... | |
| Credentialed Teacher | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: My son is autistic and is currently in a special education classroom in CA. The teacher is leaving ... A: When it is a special education class, the teacher must have a special education teaching credential. ... | |
| autistic son | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 10 yr old son with autism. He currently has an IEP in place and last year we added a ... A: You do need to ask that the BIP be updated for the new behaviors. You should make this request in ... | |
| Educating an Extremely Aggressive, Self-Injurous Autistic Child | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: My three year old is extremely agressive and prone to violent outbursts. He is both self-injurous ... A: You need to contact the elementary school that serves children in your area. You need to tell them ... | |
| Help for my Nephew | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Runner, my brother has an autistic son-my nephews mother has just pasted away and my brother has ... A: You need to have your nephew assessed by the school he will attend (if he goes to public school). He ... | |
| my sons unfair treatment at school | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: My son is currently old. He is a very shy child, who perfers routine, he has a speech problem and ... A: It sounds to me that your son may need special education services in the area of behavior. Given his ... | |
| autism and mental retardation | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a ten year old daughter who has been diaginosed DOD pervasive developmental delay when she ... A: I dislike the name "Mentally Retarded" used for one of the qualifying conditions for special ... | |
| Suspension | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 5 year old Autistic child who has always had aggressive behavior problems. Since starting ... A: You need to ask for in writing an emergency IEP. At this meeting you need to express your concerns ... | |
| Asperger's and Music Theory | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: During the summer my 14 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Previously he had been ... A: I represent a number of students diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Often they have areas of high ... | |
| 3yr old autistic twins | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: my daughters are 3 1/2 years old and have been diagnosed as autistic with speech delay i have them ... A: The school should assess your daughters, and based on the results, provide them with speech therapy. ... | |
| 1st. grade lesson for autistic child | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: My son was singing his ABC's then song them backwards.At first I was surprised then I became a ... A: I suggest that you talk with your son's teacher to find out her/her reasoning for doing this. You ... | |
| Wording on psyc eval report | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I just received my 7 year old son's psychological evaluation. The "Diagnostic Impression" is ... A: For once a school did is correctly. You may still want to have your own diagnosis made just to make ... | |
| Wording on psyc eval report | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I just received my 7 year old son's psychological evaluation. The "Diagnostic Impression" is ... A: The school psychologist can only make diagnoses as they pertain to education, not medical diagnoses. ... | |
| Residential Placement | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: My son Josh is 12 years old diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome & Mood disorder. We live in New York ... A: You have the final say in placing your son in a residential treatment center (RTC). I suggest you do ... | |
| Early intervention | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: Tim, I have a six month old son receiving EI services in N. California. My son is hitting most of ... A: Medical doctors say it is very difficult, if not impossible to diagnose for Autism in a 6 month old. ... | |
| My son, diagnosed autistic | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed autistic a few weeks ago. He is 26 months. He shows no signs of "stimming" or ... A: With a diagnosis as important as autism, it is often advisable to get a second opinion. I am not a ... | |
| autism or aspergers | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: my son has recently been diagnosed with ASD, he is very loving, cuddles and kisses on a regular ... A: It takes a very knowledgeable medical doctor familiar with Aspergers to make a diagnosis. It is not ... | |
| Take consultant with? | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: My son has Asperger's and is in a regular class with support in our school district. We live in New ... A: Under the law, you have the right to have a knowledgeable person with you at IEP Team Meetings. In ... | |
| tuition reimbursement | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a son with autism that we put in private school. How can we get our school district to pay ... A: Over the years I have represented a number of students requiring placements in non-public schools ... | |
| iep. testing | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I don't know what to do now. My daughter was diagnosed by the school with autism, because they said ... A: You need to have your daughter's doctor put in writing his diagnosis, including the fact that he ... | |
| How early can you detect autism? | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: My granddaughter is 4 months old and acts very different that any baby I have ever been around. You ... A: Lauri, Most publications by doctors indicate that a child must be about 2 years old before a ... | |
| iep | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: i do not think that my daughters iep is right how can i find out if the iep is okay A: I need to know what specifically you are concerned about in the IEP. For example, if you feel the ... | |
| testing for autism | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: My neighbor is 70, alcoholic, and the guardian of his 26 year old son. He has recently asked me to ... A: Sandra, Go to the son's medical doctor and get his or her recommendation. The son needs to be ... | |
| Child with autism in daycare | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. First, some background info. I have a 40 month old son that has been ... A: I suggest that you talk with your child's doctor and his ABA/IBI providers about your plans. I can't ... | |
| Worried about babies repetitive hand motions | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: For a few weeks my 8 month old has been repeatedly flexing is wrist back and forth. He does it with ... A: Whitney, Before you jump to the conclusion that your son is autistic, you need to have him ... | |
| milk and water | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: I had an issue recently with the school over a cup of water. My son has autism and we are limiting ... A: I agree with you. You can file a complaint with your state's department of education. Many state's ... | |
| TAKS and Autism | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: In a nut shell... I have a high functioning 5th grader who took the TAKS (Texas Assessment of ... A: Sarah, I am not able to help you much without knowing why your son was not allowed to take the ... | |
| AS/NLD | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: My son's latest sccores show a high discrepency in nonverbal and verbal (stanford binet). He is ... A: Liz, I think it more important that your son receive the services he needs rather than being ... | |
| should i keep seeking help? | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: i have a wonderful 9rd old boy who is having quite a lot of problems at school.we have dealt with ... A: Sarah, You don't say if your son is receiving special education services. Based on what you stated, ... | |
| School Placement for a 3 YO | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: My 3 yo autistic daughter is transitioning to the SD from the regional center (we live in CA). The ... A: Sue, Until your daughter reaches mandatory school age, they can't force you to do anything. If the ... | |
| Transition plan from private to public placement | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: my 17 yr old non verbal autistic son is being pulled from 8yrs private aba placement to public ... A: If you don't sign a proposed IEP, the school has to use the last IEP that was signed by you until a ... | |
| Transition plan from private to public placement | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: my 17 yr old non verbal autistic son is being pulled from 8yrs private aba placement to public ... A: Giving you a transition plan is not enough, the school has to hold an IEP stating the new placement ... | |
| Asperger's IEP | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: When my son began preschool, he was put on an IEP for speech therapy. At this point we were seeing ... A: Nikki, The school has to assess your son in all areas of suspected disability when you request it ... | |
| Help IEP | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: I had another IEP meeting today for my child. She has been dxed with Asperger's Disorder and ... A: Maria, It sounds like your have your hands full. One option you have is to sign the IEP for ... | |
| could my 3 year old have autisim | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: my son just turned 3. he makes very broad statements. and likes to spin and spin and spin. he ... A: Jennifer, You need to have your son diagnosed by a medical doctor familiar with pediatric autism. ... | |
| MY 26MONTH OLD HAS MILD AUTSIM | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I TOKE MY SON TO THE DOC BECUZ HE STOPPED SPEAKING AND GOING TO THE BATHROOM ONCE HE WAS ALREADY ... A: Jenn, If you are located in California and the agency you are working with is one of the Regional ... | |
| IEP, Social Skills, and understanding what he's being told | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: My son is about to turn 10 and was recently diagnosed with PDD-nos. We have had a long struggle ... A: Sherry, You need to put your assessment requests in writing to the school and remind them of the ... | |
| autism and space | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I have an 8 year old that is Autistic. He loves space. There are also 3 other boys in his school ... A: Aimee, Each child is unique. It does seem interesting that all three autistic boys are interested ... | |
| schooling | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: my son is almost 7 years old an him finding school (public school) to be difficult. hes having so ... A: Cherie, If you live in the United States, you need to write a letter to the principal asking for a ... | |
| Evaluations | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: My son has had a recent evaluation at Hershey Medical Center and was diagnosed with Asperger, ... A: Angela, The law only requires that the school district "consider" the results of outside ... | |
| Wondering about the future | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: My five-year-old son is in a special pre-kindergarten class for students with disabilities. He is ... A: Rebecca, I'm pleased for you and your son that his preschool is working well. Before this school ... | |
| student | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: Do you know why he does this? Also do you think headphones are an answer for cutting down ... A: Lynn, Destructive behaviors are fairly common among children with Autism. No one know why, it just ... | |
| Is Autism noticable from birth? | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: My son is 18 months, and at his last check up the DR noticed he hadn't met a lot of milestones. Even ... A: Mary, You are doing the right thing in having your son seen by a developmental pediatrician. From ... | |
| Child possibly autistic? | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I have been taking care full-time (10 hrs. a day, 5 days a week) of a little boy for 5 months now, ... A: Michele, Neither you nor I are doctors. Therefore, neither of us can diagnose autism. The long list ... | |
| autism eligibility | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: The Behavior Specialist at school recommended our child be assesed for PDD-NOS. The guy that ... A: Tim (good name), Legally thee test results speak for themselves. The opinion of the assessor is not ... | |
| Autism and Hitting | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: My son was just diagnosed with High function Autism about 2 weeks ago. He is 3 years old. He also ... A: Kristi, I don't know what state you are in, but many states have special programs for autistic ... | |
| Austic Boy's Unfair Treatment by School District | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: My son is 8 and autistic. We live in PA. He's only been to school 3 days since Sept 2. He is ... A: Tracy, The school's behavior is reprehensible based on what you stated in your question. You have a ... | |
| education placement | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: We have been battling with our school district to let my 5 year old twin boys with autism remain in ... A: Stacey, I am in the middle of representing a 5 year old that the parents want to remain in ... | |
| school | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: My 3 year old autistic boy just started his early childhood class. The first 3 days he went to ... A: Carol, You are in a real bind. Your son has learned to have a fit to avoid going to school. You can ... | |
| Asperger syndrome | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a 15 yr old son with asperger syndrome.We moved to India from USA 4 yrs ago. He was in a ... A: Sue, His last executed IEP from an American school will be the starting point for him if he comes ... | |
| Parents rights when choosing therapies | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: my son is 7 and Autistic and we live in California. I want to know if my wife & I have the final say ... A: Joshua, You can request a different coordinator, but it is their call. They will decide if they ... | |
| Help for my brother | 9/6/2008 |
| Q: My brother has had autism since he was little. He has been to school and graduated from a school for ... A: Tia, You need to contact your local mental health agency and ask them to help your brother. You may ... | |
| Parents rights when choosing therapies | 9/6/2008 |
| Q: my son is 7 and Autistic and we live in California. I want to know if my wife & I have the final say ... A: Joshua, If the services are being paid for by your school district or Regional Center, you do not ... | |
| parent's rights to request mainstream | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: My son was deaf for 8-10 mos as an infant. Since then he has had extensive therapies and activities ... A: Carol Ann, As parent, you have the right under the law to ask for an assessment for your child to ... | |
| 4.5 year old | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: My son, 4.5 has been in special education since he was 2.5 years old. He was initially brought in ... A: As a parent, you have the right to observe your child in his education settings. It may be best if ... | |
| adaptive P,E. | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: what activities are used in clasroom setting? A: Melanie, This can not be easily answered, because it depends on the needs of the students, the size ... | |
| 4.5 year old | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: My son, 4.5 has been in special education since he was 2.5 years old. He was initially brought in ... A: Dianna, From what you say, it sounds like your school district is not properly serving your child. ... | |
| can all these kids be autistic? | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: Im losing sleep over worrying. every and I mean EVERY family i know has at least one child in ... A: Lisa, Rather than getting concerned over what might be, you should have your son assessed. His ... | |
| CPSE initial meeting | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: My son, age 4, is currently being worked up for an autistic spectrum disorder. He has received ... A: Heather, You should share the letter from your daughter's pediatrician. If the assessments and ... | |
| My Daughter (3) Jumps, Flaps her hands | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Ok, first, please forgive for my ignorance. I am brand new to any aspect of Autism or related ... A: Stephanie, Only a doctor can make the diagnosis of Autism. If you are very concerned, you can seek a ... | |
| Concerned about autism in 13 month old son | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I've recently become concerned about my 13 month old son having autistic tendencies. I've been ... A: Bill, You have done the best thing in scheduling an appointment with your son's doctor. In terms of ... | |
| Aspergers - IEP not working | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: My 9 year old son was diagnosed with Aspergers, NVLD and ADHD. For over a year, we have been trying ... A: I have represented students in many Due Processes: The shortest was 1 day and the longest was two ... | |
| Aspergers - IEP not working | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: My 9 year old son was diagnosed with Aspergers, NVLD and ADHD. For over a year, we have been trying ... A: It sounds like you may have to file for Due Process in order to get their attention. You need to be ... | |
| anxiety in 6 year old diagnosed with ASD | 4/3/2008 |
| Q: I am a teaching assistant in a self contained K-1 sp ed class. There is a boy in our class who has ... A: Beth, I recommend that you discuss this matter with your school psychologist. He or she can review ... | |
| infrequent social smiling | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: My son is 11 weeks old. I noticed his first social smile at 6 weeks. He is cooing and does appear ... A: Megan, Your son is very young to be trying to diagnose Autism. You should speak to his doctor about ... | |
| 11 1/2 month old doesnt point or clap, limited verbal | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is 11 1/2 months old and she has been slightly delayed in her speech for a few months ... A: Shannon, I think your doctor knows best. Your daughter is still young to be trying to diagnose ... | |
| AS, SID under "EBD" placement and class | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: My son was labeled "EBD" because in that state at the time Aspergers wasn't considered a disability ... A: Erin, From your questions, it seems you have a real fight on your hands. A student does not have to ... | |
| asperger's | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: Our school pushed for a medical diagnosis for our daughter we got a diagnosis that she has both ... A: Meganjo, Your school has three choices: (1) Accept the medical diagnosis presented by the parents; ... | |
| school suspension - behaviour | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: My son is a 6 year old student currently in the SRVUSD and he has a behavior plan to support him ... A: Thawkins, The school can refuse to perform these services while your son is on suspension since they ... | |
| school suspension - behaviour | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: My son is a 6 year old student currently in the SRVUSD and he has a behavior plan to support him ... A: Thawkins, An IEP is a binding contract between the school and the student. If it is in the IEP, ... | |
| Possible PDD-NOS? | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: My son was evaluated when he was 18 months old b/c he did not speak any words at all...since then ... A: Chantal, It is challenging to make diagnoses for a child only 18 months old. Given what you state, ... | |
| Re: hand flapping in 27 month old boy | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: My 27 month old toddler flaps his hand when excited or happy. He has been doing so for a long time. ... A: Vimmi, Many kids flap their hands when excited or happy. This one activity does not mean a child is ... | |
| Autism | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: I am from India.....My son is 2 1/2yrs old.... he is autistic... from the day one he was born he ... A: Bindhu, It seems to me that you are doing the right things for your son. It sounds like he should be ... | |
| does this indicate possible autism | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: My son is 25 months old and I am worried that he may well have autism. The reason that first got me ... A: Determining whether or not your son has autism requires medical professions assessing him over a ... | |
| autism diagnosed in adults | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: I am a 31 year old woman and got married last year. Having now been living in my own house for a ... A: Joanne, You have poured your heart into this question and you have acknowledged many important facts ... | |
| Need help.... | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: How are you? I am Rajendran from Chennai, India. My daughter Age 5, studying LKG. She's having some ... A: Rajendran, It seems from the information you supplied that your daughter has some serious ... | |
| Son's challenges | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: My son is eight-years old and was diagnosed with pdd-nos. He is extremely articulate, no LD's, but ... A: Elizabeth, You can seek an assessment and justification for stopping the one-to-one aid. This aid ... | |
| school suspention | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: My son has autism. He is 5 years old, and he is enrolled (through a nickerson letter) in a private ... A: Lara, Because your child is in a private school, you have to follow their rules. I'm sure you have ... | |
| 27 month old grandson | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: My 27 month old grandson is not talking as much as other kids his age. He does say, "I want my ... A: Cheryl, Yes, you need to be concerned and your need to have your grandson assessed. I suggest that ... | |
| 3year old daughter | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: My 3 year old daughter Kaitlyn has had some speach delays we recieved theropy through the state at ... A: Susan, I complement you on getting your daughter the help she needs starting at a young age. Unless ... | |
| Autism | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: My child is struggling in school.You can tell right off hand he has a speech problem and will not ... A: Jessica, If you are in the United States, then the law is on your side. You should write a letter to ... | |
| Autism in daycare | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: My son is currently 3 yrs old. I have him placed in a daycare where there is 1 child I am told has ... A: Tammy, You do not say whether the daycare you son attends is private or public. If it is private, ... | |
| FAPE | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: Hey Tim, I'm hoping maybe you can clarify for me... how I can manipulate the FAPE to help me get ... A: I am sorry that you are not satisfied with the answer I gave you. Without doing an in depth case ... | |
| FAPE | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: Hey Tim, I'm hoping maybe you can clarify for me... how I can manipulate the FAPE to help me get ... A: Mary Anne, I don't want to be manipulating FAPE offers from the school districts. From your ... | |
| Autism in adults | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 children. One is 14 with Asperger's which I am currently learning I may have as well and ... A: Edna, The symptoms for adults are similar to those found in children. I think you should have an ... | |
| autistic 2 yr old | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: i work in a daycare and a 2 year old boy has been diagnosed slightly autistic. he runs around all ... A: Shana, This boy obviously has serious behavioral problems that need to be addressed. The fact that ... | |
| Autism | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: At what age is a child safe from Autism?? I have a 26th month old and she is going in for shots, ... A: This is a question for a medical doctor and is beyond my ability to answer. Autism is a range or ... | |
Autism
Answers by Expert:
Tim Runner
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Questions concerning autistic student special education: IEP, assessments, Due Process, mediation, resolution conference, federal law, state law, qualifying for services, residential treatment, special day classes, resource specialists, procedures, having your child assessed, adaptive PE, speech & language, non-public school, FAPE, tuition reimbursement for private schools and treatment centers .
Experience
I have been an education advocate representing students and parents for six years. My experience includes: representing my clients in IEPs, SSTs, Due Process, review assessment results for my clients and for other advocates, and mediations. I have represented clients with learning disabilities, autism, Downs Syndrome, cognitively challenged, emotional problems, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and physical disabilities. I have also represented clients to County Mental Health Departments and Regional Centers. My clients range from pre-school to college students in California and various other states.
Education/Credentials
I have a degree in Mathematics from the University of California with minors in Psychology and Physics. I also studied applied statistics in the field of psychology at both the undergraduate and graduate level. I have taught college classes, conducted seminars, written articles for various publications, and testified as an expert witness.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.