School District and CST - do they diagnose?

We start our school district evaluations next week which will just be a brief meeting with the speech therapist and another member of the CST. Then we will go back for a more comprehensive evaluation.

We've been in this state of "limbo" over the last year in not knowing if my son is on the spectrum or not. We have had two neuro consults. One said no. And the other said "it's hard to say so we'll say PDD and hope he gets a lot of services".

While we've seen so much progress and I thought we were heading in the right direction we hit a roadblock 2 months ago where he started jumping a lot. Now we have a problem with jumping with flapping and showing a sensory seeking behaviors. So I've been thinking lately that perhaps he really is on the spectrum as he starts to develop other symptoms that weren't present before.

I don't think I go back to the neuro until May. In the meantime I wanted to know if the school psychologist makes a diagnosis officially as to whether or not they believe he is on the spectrum. Just curious.

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

They should be able to, yes, if they are giving him an ADOS.

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

thanks...I'm just going to google ADOS


OK - I'm back and now I know what it is.

Very interesting and I hope they do this with my son. I'm wondering why the neuro or EI never did?

Message edited 3/17/2010 10:31:04 AM.

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

I am a certified school psychologist, and as part of my job, I do CPSE evals in NYC. Generally, the purpose of the eval is to determine eligibility for services, not to be a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, and I don't use the ADOS for these purposes. However, I do give parents some informal feedback about what I've observed and what the parent has reported, and might comment in the report that, "so and so exhibits symptoms characteristic of PDD-NOS." That said, I don't know what all districts or psychologists on LI do for their evals, so I wouldn't want to make a blanket statement. Good luck to you, and if you have any questions once you get the report, feel free to FM me and ask.

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

I know a school psychologist in a LI (Nassau) elementary school and she definitely uses the ADOS. I guess it varies by district.

When my son was going through EI, we requested a psych eval and my friend advised me to make sure they used the ADOS and it was that Psychologist, in fact, that did indeed do the diagnosis

HTH

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

Coincidentally I just got the official invitation for the IEP meeting in the mail today. It appears as this is just a preplan meeting to determine if the comprehensive evaluation is necessary.

The list participants include the school psychologist, learning disabilities teacher/coordinator, school social worker and speech pathologist.

I am going to call them tomorrow because it also has a section where I waive having and OT and PT present. However, I'm not sure that I want to waive that as he receives both of these services presently. I'm assuming it would be my right to have them there, right?

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

You have the right to have anyone you want at the meeting. You could even ask your child's OT and PT to attend the meeting. The district should also offer you a parent advocate - someone who currently has a child in special education. By law, this is required, although you can sign a waiver if you don't want one there. I think they can be very helpful to parents, especially when you are new to this.

I am so b/c on the way to work, I was specifically thinking about my response to you re: diagnosis during CPSE evals. When I did my pre-doctoral internship in Westchester, I was working for an agency that the school districts often contracted with to do their CPSE evals. When i was working for them, I did very comprehensive diagnostic evals. So, I really do think it depends on the district.

Message edited 3/18/2010 8:17:11 AM.

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

I would definately include all of your therapists in this meeting. They can be helpful and keeping services.

Jacob's final CPSE meeting is on Monday and we will also be having his CSE meeting for placement for kindergarten.
I will be having his teacher, the Director of the preschool, his SEIT at the meeting. My OT and SOcial Skills leader (MSW) will be on teleconference. I have opted out of the parent advocate coming. I just feel that no parent needs to know my child's situation and I know it is supposed to be confidential but it is a parent within the school. Of course this is just my feeling.

Re: School District and CST - do they diagnose?

So i spoke to them today....since it is just a short preplan meeting they said they typically exclude all of the therapists. So basically our next meeting after this will include all of the other specialists.

Thanks everyone for your input...I'm anxious to get the ball rolling but yet so nervous about what they're going to tell me.