Am I getting the run-around?

[strugglingagain]

I SWEAR I'm not trying to be hard to get along with. Maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about or maybe the doctors at TX Children's Hospital don't know what they're talking about either. GFG was evaluated by TCH this summer. Two of the things they recommended was a Behavioral Intervention Plan and an Occupational Therapist (handwriting). I requested both in writing to gfg's school. They have very carefully manipulated until neither are going to be done. First the Guidance Counselor took it into her hands to help him with his behavior, so now she says they have a handle on it and he doesn't need a BIP. The OT "observed" gfg about a month after the request (perhaps they are that busy in the school district) and I got the report today. "He wrote manuscript instead of in cursive. His work was messy but legible. He wrote faster than most of his peers. He erased every third word. Sentences were short and simple. Excessive and off task behaviors seemed to interfere with is academic progress. They do not recommend therapy at this time."

I feel like I'm getting the run-around. Is the reason is that they have to wait for it to be soooooo bad that drastic measures have to be taken to get him back on track? I thought it would help to have intervention before either of these were severe issues. (Actually I thought they were severe in the first place.)

PLEASE tell me, someone, if I just need to lighten up. Or if I need to get a broom and go flying up there....again. Maybe I just need to forget it and when someone complains, wave the report in their faces??

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[Mayleng]

Did they call an IEP meeting to review the results with you? If they are denying services then you should write to them and ask them to give you Prior Written Notice as to why they are denying services. What other evaluations did they do? You need to request a full academic and cognitive evaluation and OT (which you have already done - but that report needs to be explained to you in person at an IEP meeting, and it sound contradictory to me).

Read up on your rights at www.listen-up.org/rights/rights.htm#comp

www.wrightslaw.com/

www.concordspedpac.org/

www.schwablearning.org

[ilovemyboys]

I had a very similar issue. My son had a full eval and the OT refused to do an evaluation - she just did an "observation" like yours, and basically said yes his handwriting was bad and he had some "sensory issues" but this is common with Tourette's kids and there was no services provided.

So I picked up the phone and talked to her directly. I asked very pointed questions as to how she knows what my son struggles with without an evaluation, I wanted her to explain to me exactly why she wouldn't do one, etc. I told her without an evaluation his needs couldn't be met in middle school since nothing was documented, etc. Anyway, she has now decided to do the OT evaluation.

I would suggest you try the same. Have a sit down meeting or at least a call and demand (nicely, of course!) an explanation.