NYS says they'll provide services. Do i want to go this way?

[dragons in the flower bed]

DS8 has never been tested or evaluated, except that I asked his pediatrician about autism when he was three and not talking, and a neurologist told us shortly thereafter that he had brain damage in his speech center from the infantile epilepsy (now outgrown) he inherited from his biodad. I have often wondered if I should have him evaluated again.

Those of you in NYS, does the school district evaluate kids or just provide services for kids already diagnosed? What might be the advantages or disadvantages to going this route?

[newbie]

I dont live in NYS, but if you have a diagnosis they should provide services with no retesting.
Private services are so costly, that it would be advantageous to see what can be provided through the district.

Jet

[Laurie4b]

Not in NY, but I would ask whether they could diagnose something like autism. If they consider it a medical diagnosis, then a lot of states won't do the testing for it. (They got in trouble from over-diagnosing ADHD. In our state, they won't test for that specifically.) However, what you will get is a free IQ test (very expensive to get done privately) and other academic testing. Since academic testing is NOT covered by insurance, this will save you big bucks. You can then take that testing to a developmental pediatrician or a neuropyschologist and they can do the additional testing needed to make an autism (or other) diagnosis.

What I don't know is what kind of strings NY would attach to the testing and whether they would follow you more closely after they did it. Check with a state homeschool agency or HSLD before you commit to a course of action.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Not in NY, but I would ask whether they could diagnose something like autism. If they consider it a medical diagnosis, then a lot of states won't do the testing for it. (They got in trouble from over-diagnosing ADHD. In our state, they won't test for that specifically.) However, what you will get is a free IQ test (very expensive to get done privately) and other academic testing. Since academic testing is NOT covered by insurance, this will save you big bucks. You can then take that testing to a developmental pediatrician or a neuropyschologist and they can do the additional testing needed to make an autism (or other) diagnosis.

What I don't know is what kind of strings NY would attach to the testing and whether they would follow you more closely after they did it. Check with a state homeschool agency or HSLD before you commit to a course of action.




Thanks, Laurie. This is helpful info.

[KellyGirl]

I had ds tested while he was in ps, but brought him back home last year. The district will do the testing and provide services. However, my district was much better about providing my services when they were collecting money for my son being in their school. When I pulled him back out, they didn't want to give me much of anything.

I agree that free testing is a good thing, and I don't think that they will follow you more closely - they certianly haven't "bothered" us since we got some testing...