My 8-year old son was diagnosed at age 3 with Autism by the Early
Childhood center through our local school district. He's been making
slow, but steady progress every year untill now.
Not happy with the current situation, I've ruffeled some feathers at
school. I just found out that he's not getting the proper amount of
speech therapy as it was written in his IEP. I wanted to find out
exactly the amount of time he was being seen by the speech therapist,
and I was told that she's not required by law to keep track of this.
She does have her own "personal notes" but she is not required to
share them with me.
I would like to know if this is true.
I was also told that the school is only required to give him speech
therapy to help him with his education, not to help him with his
social skills.(lack of social skills is our biggest concern, he has a
lot of expressive language)
I'd like some proof of this also.
If you can put it in plain language and provide me with links that would be great.
Since his diagnosis of autism at 3, he was re-diagnosed with PDD at age four, 
and a year later with Aspergers sydrome. Neither one of the later
diagnosis were made through school.
I'd like to know how often is the school required to re-test the kids?
How do I make sure that his next IEP he gets exactly what he needs,
not what the school district want to give him.
I would appriciate any and all comments, and thanks for your help.

Hello Hilda18,

I am happy to be able to help you with this. 

First, to address the issue of your child?s IEP:

In a nutshell, yes, social skills can and should be part of an IEP if
they are a part of what he needs to be academically successful.  The
frequency and duration of services should also be a part of the IEP,
and should be adhered to.  You may request an IEP review at any time.

Here is a plain English article from the Autism Society of America on IEPs:
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=IEP

Regarding Testing:

A re-evaluation should take place every three years.  You may also
request additional re-evaluation if you feel that your child?s
placement should change, but you will have to give a solid reason for
this.  If your son?s last evaluation was at age 4, he is definitely
overdue.  To request re-evaluation, call *and* write your district.

Also from the Autism Society of America, an article explaining autism
and your rights under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act):
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=IDEA

Regarding the speech therapist?s records:

Federal law dictates that you should have access to *all* records kept
about your child.  This includes records of staff members such as your
child?s speech therapist.  If your school denies you the right to see
these records they risk losing their funding.  Here is the text of the
law that provides you this right, from Findlaw:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/20/chapters/31/subchapters/iii/parts/4/sections/section_1232g.html

For more information about this and other ins and outs of IEPs and
special education procedures, take a look at this handbook prepared by
the Maryland Disability Law Center, entitled ?Special Education Rights
and Wrongs"
http://www.ppmd.org/publications/rights&wrongs.pdf

You may find that you need help getting the best services for your
child.  You might want to contact an advocate in your area to have
someone attend IEPs with you and help you get better results from your
district.  Here is a fairly comprehensive list of special education
lawyers and advocates, from Yellowpagesforkids.com:
http://www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/legal.advocacy.htm

Please let me know if there is anything else you need.

Kind Regards,

Majortom

____________________
Google Search Methodology:
IEP+autism
IEP+record+keeping
Special+education+advocacy

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Request for Answer Clarification by hilda18-ga on 24 Feb 2004 21:31 PST

Hello majortom,
Thanks so much for your excellent and speedy answer. I just need to
know one more thing if it's not too much trouble. What's the law on
missed speech therapy sessions? I understand that if my son is sick,
the speech therapist does not have to make it up, but what if she's
sick? How about if there's a meeting or a Holiday (ex: Veteran's day).
I'd really appriciate your help on this.
Hilda

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Clarification of Answer by majortom-ga on 25 Feb 2004 07:24 PST

Hello Again,

No trouble at all.

To the best of my knowledge, it isn't a matter of who missed the
session and why, the therapist and the school are obligated to meet
the goals of your child's IEP.  Depending upon how serious the
therapist's lapses have been, the district could have to provide you
with compensatory services, including even providing services over the
summer.

I recommend you contact an advocate in your area who can act on your
part with the district.  It sounds as though they are nitpicking
little details and forgetting their central obligation to provide your
son with a Free Appropriate Public Education according to his IEP.

To get some one on one help, there are a number of Illinois advocacy
groups listed here:
http://www.iser.com/CAadvocacy.html

Best of Luck,
Majortom

Thanks, for all your help.