No Longer Aspergers?

I watched an explanation on The Today show. The diagnosis is now lumped in with Autism. The good news is that every school does not have a plan for Aspergers. BUT EVERY school has a plan for Autism. Fight you fight under Autism and go in armed for bear. Don't go through all the diagnosis stuff again, they just moved where it is lumped in.

It didn't disappear, it's just no longer considered a separate diagnosis. It is encompassed within the Autism Spectrum Disorder code. Per the new APA DSM guidelines, your daughter would fall into ASD.

Just FYI- a section 504 accommodation plan does not require a specific diagnosis. Your school is dragging this on unreasonably and that is a much bigger issue. Either your daughter had a condition that significantly impacts her ability to learn or she doesn't. If she does, then she would qualify. If they don't conviene a meeting within the next two weeks, I would suggest writing a letter requesting a referral to the committee on Special Education.

Hold their feet to the fire, Debra. It's just semantics - it would now be called high-functioning autism. Tell them that if they stop the 504 process, you will bring in a lawyer. That'll put the fear of God into them. None of these people wants a lawyer coming in to these meetings.

You can also try to find an advocate who is well versed in this. There was a lady who used to be on this site (Martha) who did this work. She knew the system inside and out, having special needs children of her own, and people hired her to come in and be the "big gun" dealing with the school. The schools saw Martha coming, and boom, they were no longer dragging their heels or giving these moms a song and dance. Perhaps you should look for a "Martha" in your area (cheaper than a lawyer too.) However, a lawyer who deals with this would be a great threat - just be sure to find one in case they ask for a name. You want to have your ducks in a row, just in case.

Dawn

I haven't read the studies to which you are referring, but if Asberger's no longer exists, is it because the lines with high-functioning autism are too blurry? Rather than being "cured," I would suspect your daughter is now considered highly-functioning autistic, and therefore still very much in need of the services the school is required to provide. I think the problem is with the school, not with the definition of Asberger's.

So weird... I JUST came home from an ARD meeting at my daughter's school. The school diagnostician said her testing showed "Very High Functioning Autism" that would be classified as Aspergers. I just call it quirky- but whatever you want to call it I don't care as long as she gets the help she needs, right?

Three months from a formal request sounds like way too long to me, and I've been dealing with schools, ARDs, IEPs, 504s, BIPs etc. since my oldest was in Kindergarten! You might want to start making some noise up the food chain Mama!!! Perhaps throw in a sentence like "perhaps I should look into getting a Special Education Advocate help me understand why this process is taking so long?" That should shake things up.

Some school districts drag their feet for different reasons -- funding, lack of staff, lack of understanding maybe? By law they have to test your child. Unfortunately, sometimes they count on our ignorance to get away with not giving our kids 100%. Sometimes the "least restrictive environment" becomes the "least effort on their part".

... steps off soapbox.

My grandson has Asperger's and his school is not making any changes. What I've read is that with the new change Aspergers just becomes a part of the continuum of autistic. The diagnosis gets a new name but it's still the same.

I suggest you ask the school this question. I suspect that you're misunderstanding of what the school is doing when they're calling for a meeting. I doubt very much that they are asking to start over. They may need to change the wording on the plan already set to go into place.

Later: I don't understand why your process is taking so long. Has your daughter been evaluated by the school office that handles such evaluations or are you trying to get them to accept a diagnosis made by an outside person? The office is called The Intermediate Education Service District in our school district. It's a county office that works with the school districts and runs the special education program.

My grandson has had private evaluations which are included in the Service District's plan. The Service District plan is administered by the school my son attends.

My granddaughter is ADHD and has a 504 plan. She received only a diagnosis by her pediatrician. Her school then convened a committee that included several different people to devise the plan. First the school/district people wrote up a suggested plan and then met with my daughter to discuss the plan. The whole process took less than a month once it was understood that ADHD was her difficulty. It did take time and trying out different ideas before a definitive diagnosis was made. The committee meets once a year to evaluate the plan and make changes if needed.

My grandson is in a special school that only teaches special ed students. His committee meets as needed.

Other posters have suggested that you need to fight for your daughter. Yes, but I suggest that the best way to do that is to show a co-operative and questioning attitude. The school people want to do what is best for your daughter within the limits of what the law and the district policies are. We really do catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

It sounds to me like you have an issue with your school not wanting to give you services. This just happens to be as good an excuse as any to put you off.

All they did was took away big buckets and made the diagnosis the spectrum. Any spectrum disorder is going to require a 504 plan so nothing has changed.

Tell them to stop dragging their feet, nothing changed.

Yeah, congrats, your daughter is cured!! God if it was that easy lets make a manual of types of cancers and then throw them all out. Heck we could have this health care thing licked in no time cause no one will be ill!! We win!! That was all sarcasm but if your school thinks you are a bother, I would be all over my kids school with more of the same. :p

Oh, so no, since it is all autism spectrum my son's school didn't even bring up the subject not that I noticed if they threw PDD into the no man's land.

My 13 yo daughter has Asperger's with a side of ADD, which is what *I* call it, can't remember the long medical term the Psych called it. Anyway, it really doesn't matter. She is diagnosed and that is it. Call the Principal and say you need a meeting IMMEDIATELY if not sooner. My daughter qualifies for an IEP and my son who is 10 and ADHD has a 504 Plan. Maybe its just where I live, but my school is on top of it, or maybe its because I'm on top of them. Sometimes you need to FIGHT for your kids and get done what needs to be done. So start with some urgency wit the school. If that doesn't work, go to the school district. Good luck!

Asperger's continues to be "on the spectrum" of autistic disorders (I hate the word "disorder"). It's considered to be "high functioning autism."

Only the name has changed, it won't effect services already in place.
Has your daughter by officially diagnosed yet, is that the issue you are dealing with, that the school doesn't see a need to test her?
Can you have her tested outside the school? I know that can be costly but it would likely get things moving a lot faster!

I hate all the red tape just to be able to get your kids help. I am sorry you are going through this.