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Can anyone recommend a person or group to do a private psychoed assessment for my son? "D" (diagnosed with autism) hasn't had one since he was first diagnosed at age 5, three years ago. He tested very poorly. This is no doubt in part due to his placement at that time (was in an abusive foster home – D is adopted). I've been pushing for a new psychoed assessment to be done by the school district, so that we can find out where D's at academically, etc., and then make appropriate goals for his IEP. The school has refused, saying that "for autistic children, the psychoed test stays good for five years", compared to other children, who often need retesting every year. They insist that testing would be irrelevant and unsuccessful anyway, due to compliance issues.
The school currently has D working on tasks far below his ability, which I understand is necessary while they build compliance. However, when I ask to have work at his level sent home, to be done with me, they say that they don't believe he's above the stuff he's doing. It's completely ridiculous. I feel like I'm getting nowhere with the school.
I'd like to have an independent psychoed test done, by a qualified professional who can see past the autism, so that I can show the school that my son is NOT retarded, CAN learn, and deserves an education!
I'm sooooo tired of being looked at as though I'm a lunatic when I say I expect for D to be performing at grade level in most subject areas by Grade 7…
We're located in the Fraser Valley. If anyone can recommend someone, lend some advice, or even just some support, it would be greatly appreciated.
Signed,
a VERY frustrated mom
Hi,
I am a foster mom, in the process of adopting, an 8 year old boy with autism. Our son's been with us for two years now, and has made tremendous progress, despite a disheartening lack of support for our family from the Ministry and the schools.
"D" was diagnosed just before his sixth birthday, and received less than six months of limited intervention. He has never had a psychoed assessment done, and has never received ABA. All the progress he's made has been a result of his "Dad" and I fighting tooth and nail to access any support or services.
It's all a bit overwhelming – dealing with the foster parent stuff, the adoption stuff, the school stuff, all his trust issues and learned behavior from past placements, and the autism stuff on top of it.
While our family has the advantage of knowing how to work with social workers, and advocate for him(both have backgrounds supporting individuals with special needs), as well as being skilled in managing his behavior (hubby worked with autistic children for 7 years), we are not connected to any local support group, and don't have the benefit of being in contact with folks who've "been there, done that".
I don't even know where to start in looking to get D ABA services, or if he's "too old" to qualify, or how to get it covered, if possible.
The only thing we're accessing right now is EAI funding, which covers 1 hr PT/OT per month, and 6 hours a week with a one-to-one worker that takes him out in the community (basically an expensive babysitter). He'll be starting S&L next month.
I'd LOVE to hear from other parents on how I can take things to the next level and access more services for my son, as well as maybe getting in touch with a local support group who can share stories and coping strategies.
It's been a LONG summer
