AboutTim Runner Expertise Questions concerning special education: IEP, assessments, Due Process, mediation, resolution conference, federal law, CA 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.
Experience I have been an education advocate representing students and parents for five 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.
Question My 21 month old is in speech therapy for an expressive delay. She has many signs and her receptive language was tested at her age level if not above her age level. We've been working really hard with her over the past two months. She says a few words now and we are mainly working with syllables. She has the M, D, P, B, Y, and W letters down as well as most of the vowel sounds. However, five days ago she got a cold. Yesterday I noticed she couldn't say mama any longer and everything she tried to say with a m, started with a b. Could the cold have something to do with this? She doesn't even try or attempt to fix her lips in the mama fashion anymore.
Answer You should have your daughter seen by a medical doctor to determine if their is a physical cause for her speech delay. Once this is ruled out, you should have your daughter assessed by a speech pathologist. Many medical insurance programs will pay for this. If your plan does not, contact the school in your area that she will be attending when she gets older and seek their help. They can tell you what government agency to contact for help.
I wish you and your daughter 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)
