Thank you for your replies. No, my son is not at all violent. We live in California-what State is it that you cannot be labeled ED if you have ADHD or other physical brain defect?
We do have an advocate but I'm wondering if I should consult a lawyer. I just received an e-mail that the school is willing to find him eligible under OHI (as the primary eligibility) and ED (as the secondary eligibility). The advocate thinks that is somewhat better but I'm still not sure.
We were supposed to have the iep meeting today but postponed it due to this issue (and because our advocate was not able to attend). I don't even want to have the meeting unless I know we can reach a agreement about this.
Anyway, thanks again for the support.
Hi, it sounds like you are really on top of things. I agree that you should avoid the EH label and go for the OHI. That is what we have. You have an advocate so you should be set. I think that bringing in a lawyer at this point is going to really put you at odds with the school system. That is kind of a very last resort option, from what I have read.Can you get an advocate for your son? I would look into it.Thanks for the advice. I know that it seems like I'm on top of things but, really, it has been a 7 year battle and, even with a advocate it is not over yet. Our district really resists giving IEP's for kids that academically test at grade level. And, I think they want to give him the ED label so that they don't set a precedent by giving an ADHD kid a IEP for OHI.HI, it is so sad to hear that. In my state if you are diagnosed as ADHD you cannot be in EBD (emotionally behaviorally disturbed). I was told that if there is a physical brain defect they cannot be put in EBD. I agree I would fight to not have your child labeled ED. That is very damaging to a childs spirit. No one will love your child as much as you and you are really the only person that can be his #1 fan. Good Luck!!!Hi everyone,
I am new to this board. I have a son who is age 11 and has ADHD, mild Tourette's Syndrome and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. After years of begging the school to give him an IEP to address his needs, the school is finally agreeing but ONLY if his eligibility is listed as Emotionally Disturbed. We feel it should be Other Health Impaired because of his ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome. Though we agree his anxiety can at times be disabling (he dreads PE and sometimes asks to stay home or go home early because he is stressed or feeling overloaded-he also has Sensory Integration Disorder), we feel much of the anxiety is due to living with an "invisable disability" in the real world. In other words, we do not think he would need an IEP if he did not have ADHD (which causes him to be impulsive, distractable, and have social problems-all things that increase his anxiety).
We have also been exploring the possibility that my son might have Asperger's Syndrome. He is bright (no traditional learning disabilities) and creative but he is slow to process things and has some severe executive functioning deficits. But, it seems my son is one of those kids that don't fit nicely in any category, and the doctor isn't sure. My son wants friends (and has a couple) but they are fairly superficial friendships (mostly due to my son being somewhat "in his own world", particularly when overloaded).
Have any of you faced a similar dilemna with the Iep process? I welcome any advice. Our son will go to Jr. High next year and we don't want him to start a new school with the label Emotionally Disturbed (especially because we don't feel he is) but, we do want him to get the help he deserves. He is a good kid.
Thank you
I would get an advocate. I am not a fan of the EH label either and the way you described your DS he is not violent. I would fight like heck for the OHI label. When is your meeting? We had an IEP meeting this week. Do you have a written diagnosis of ADHD? Because we had that, that is why he is getting the IEP, he tested just below grade level not bad enough for that reason, but because of the written diagnosis that we have. So in his it is written other medical and they have listed ADHD.