Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 12/19/2005

Question
Dear Ms Ridenour,
 I have a child in the Little Elm school district which is in Texas and he has been diaganosed with autism, a learning disability is speech impairment.  I have had an ard meeting in sept and oct to get some supports into the iep.  The committee disagreed and then I met with the special education director in Nov and she seemed very receptive to the supports for better organization and more communication with my son's teachers.  But I did not hear from her for a month and emailed her in Dec about what was being done.  Her reply was to meet with the school's principal, who I feel does not take this matter seriously.  He told me in an ard meeting after meeting my son a few times that he was barely ausitic.  I have contacted other educational resourses and they have been supportive, but have not been able to give me some practical advice on how to get the ard committee to adopt the supports I want for my son.  The supports are not out of the ordinary requests, they include a backpack checklist, picture schedule an organizer to help keep himself organized.  Also more effective communication with my sons teachers.  In Oct the  ard committee agreed to some informal communication and other informal requests but did not put it in the iep and they are not doing any of it.  Also some of the things in the iep they are not doing as well.  Last year the school's special education teacher made my son a schedule notebook and it is in the iep to use also it is in the iep to have social skills training with the school's counselor, which he is not and I notified the spec. ed director, and she said to contact the school principal.  I am at my wits end, I do not know what exactly it is I need to do.  I have read extensively on the education and ard process, but this committee is not responding to written requests, informal one or the special ed director and I even sent a copy of my email to the superintendent.  Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
                    Thanks,
                       Jana Stjernholm

Answer
Hi Jana,

At this point, you may need an attorney.  Your son is not receiving the needed services to which he is entitled.

Many schools will hold the meetings, write an IEP and then ignore both.

I don't know how well the Texas State department of education supports parents and disabled students.  You might start by calling them.  Document the accomodations that are in the IEP but that he is not getting, tell them about the "verbal" agreements and the refusal to write them in or honor them.  See if you can get some advocacy from them.

I just found a web site: http://www.esc2.net/autism/ that is "Texas State Autism Conference" and there are two phone numbers at the bottom.  I would call these folks and see if they can recommend an advocate.

Just between you and me, being a "little autistic" is still a huge handicap.  Our daughter has Asperger's Syndrome and is very bright, none the less, she had a terrible time in school.  She did not come into her own until entering college.  She is doing well now, but not because of anything the public schools did for her from diagnosis at age 15 until graduation.

Keep fighting for an appropriate education for your son.  You are his best advocate.

Best wishes,
Catherine