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Post by Ericsmomma on Apr 16, 2006 15:49:24 GMT -5
Well, we just finished getting result of Eric's three year evaluation. This includes input from his teacher, pt, ot, speech and the "wonderful " IQ test by the school psychologist.(who has never observed Eric before). As you can guess, I don't put much weight on these results, especially since many parts involve verbal participation, and since Eric has Apraxia, I don't know how these test can be objective. I ended up disagreeing with much of what was said, but for him to be placed next year, we have to participate. They have classified him as severely mentally retarted with a developmental age of about 3 years old. (Eric will be 6 in June). They IQ scored him at ..................25!!
25! Thats non-functional. Then the psychologist said he noticed Eric missed alot of school, ( he does due to chronic sinusitis. ) He then says perhaps Eric's illness is from him being so stressed out from school. You know, kinda like psychosymatic....I just looked at him and said.."NO", it because his nasal passages and ear canals are as big as an ants and this is his problem!! DUH! The shrink did mention that he only has worked with Eric for this test and he really didn't know him, and Eric didn't know him and it was in a different environment, but he (the doc) has to work within the "guidelines of the test". The only other person who was there who worked with Eric was his teacher. She said he was doing fairly well, but communication was a big issue. They suggested placing him in a multi-handicap unit, which is at a few schools in our area, or we could leave him at his school now, but it will now be a self-contained unit. How I HATE this testing! I know Eric is capable of so much more, but this is how they see him (on paper). I wish I could hit the lottery, quit working, and home school my little man. But the reality is we will probably be sending him back to his school, which hasn't really helped him progress too much, but its the best decision for now. Thanks for letting me vent!
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Post by Emilysmom on Apr 16, 2006 20:50:47 GMT -5
Dolly,
I'm with you on the testing! I don't think I have ever agreed with the test results for Emily! I have even asked to be present when they tested her, and I have watched her totally fail to respond correctly to a question when I KNOW she knew the answer. She just freezes up and does not do well at all with testing like that. And it is so much worse when the testing is done by someone the child doesn't know well! I know the whole purpose behind the testing is to help the school find out the areas where our kids need the most help, and to fit their placement to what they need. But, it really can be upsetting if you let it!
Vent away...........I think we can all relate!
Susan
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 17, 2006 16:01:52 GMT -5
First of all... MANY hugs Dolly... tis the IEP season ey? Sorry you had the 3 yr testing done this time! I reposted my testing thread from the general forum here in this forum... you should read it! LOTS of helpful stuff. Since Eric has a DX of Apraxia.. they SHOULD be administering NON VERBAL tests... and I would go back and put in writing a request for them to retest Eric if you are truly dissatisfied... you CAN request nonverbal tests be done. Also.. this right here what you said.... "I ended up disagreeing with much of what was said, but for him to be placed next year, we have to participate" This is absolutly not true... you do NOT have to do ANY ANY Testing for placement. Please know this is actually illegal even though most districts will try to tell you otherwise. They cannot try to make you do testing FOR placement or services... or USE testing results SOLEY for placement and services.. or DENY you placement or services if you say NO to any/all of the tests!!! They can't. You can say NO to all the tests and they would have to wait 3 more years for more tests actually  Anyway... I know the tests are always a double edge sword kinda thing..... so yes VENT AWAY! A. |
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Post by CC on Apr 18, 2006 9:00:10 GMT -5
HUGS going out to you Dolly. I can relate  Since you already had the testing done and you disagree with much you can request an independent testing be done and you can request it be done in an atmosphere that works best for Eric. When Chris was younger and very little speech we requested that the testing be done in the morning, as that was always his best time of day. We requested that his one on one that signed be present with him so she could sign to him lots of it and he could sign back. We also requested that I be told prior to when the testing was cause for my guy if he is not feeling well or saying an off day for whatever reason that would impact his testing, so I made it that we had the option to reschedue if needed. I remember one ? for some reason this just stands out in my mind. One of the questions was can he ride a bike. I said yes but with training wheels. K, to them at age 6 using training wheels did not count as age appropriate  I was like yea well how many 6 year old can ski and ride horses, tell me that. LOLOL Didn't help any my response BUT made me feel better VENT away girl, this is the place you know LOTS will understand  CC ~ |
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Post by Pat on Apr 18, 2006 10:24:59 GMT -5
((HUGS)) Dolly I remember that psy test. They asked ME the questions. What did he care? He was leaving the school district in 3 days anyway. He said John was pulling stuff off the shelves. Not unless his arms grew 4 ft & bent backwards. Now WHO is it that needs the psy test??  The Psycologist? The one that was seeing things that weren't there?? The one that wanted me to have him wait in the waiting room by himself at 6 yrs old, much less had DS & was a runner?? So PLEASE DON"T put a whole lot of stock in what they say, okay. Pat P.S. I have to have it redone. The right way this time |
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Post by cindylou on Apr 19, 2006 1:16:18 GMT -5
I have never had Kaylee tested or evaluated for the school district. It is not required. I would not agree to further testing if I were you. I refused to allow a number to be put in her school file. I do plan to do some testing at a local hospital this summer-but I will pay for it myself and keep the results confidential.
Unfortunately, I fear that most educators look at IQ as the end all and the # they see puts and idea in their mind of what kids are or are not capable of.
Not to be discouraging--just want everyone to know that you do not have to agree to testing--no matter how much pressure they put you under.
Now-- I will be calling my friend who works for the school district as a speech path and who also has a high school daughter with ds. She know's of certain tests that most kids score well on that can be used. She's told me about them before-because they're good for kids with speech issues--and possibly you could have a private doctor do these tests and submit the information to the school district if the results are more positive.
sounds like your school district is not that great--huh?? the IEP team does tend to roll their eyes at me--but I'm used to it now-
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Post by lindaadamsmom on May 10, 2006 17:44:57 GMT -5
Dolly - Hi! -- I see you posted this back in April & so I am a little behind -- but {{hugs}} to you and your family as WE have just finished the 3 yr. testing [ugh] for Adam..... The last time he was tested was just before he entered Kindergarten - at age 5 1/2. Needless to say - the numbers did us more harm than good when trying to get a placement for him for Kindergarten...... The school district showed us every self-contained program on the East side of town - where we live and NOTHING (in MY heart) seemed right for my liitle guy ..... I REALLY felt a gut sense that Adam needed to be in an Inclusion type of setting. That's when I started visiting this site for help and information!!!! Like Eric -- Adam's test scores were EXTREMELY low -- and would be what they would consider to be borderline for INCLUSION. And they were VERY resistant to my choice for Adam. And same thing here - they convinced us that Adam HAD to have these tests as they needed them for placement issues.....(We live in Western NY) HA! Thanks for sharing that we don't need to succumb to their pressures A.! Alas we DID succumb once again (just this past month Adam's were completed and Iwas prepared for his #'s to be low...... BUT still it stings when you see it in black & white! ) Anyway, Dolly, what I wanted to say to you was, IF you REALLY feel in your heart that Eric would do better in an inclusion setting -- DON'T let them sway you! You are his Mom & know what your child is capable of.... I am SOOOOOOO glad that we pushed for Adam because he really has shown EVERYONE what he CAN do and CAN learn ---- DESPITE those nasty scores......!! Now I have teachers saying -- "WOW! Look what he CAN do!" It has made everyone at the school feel extremely proud to have been a part of Adam's elementary learning experience.....AND I am sure he has taught them some things as well! Like - "Don't judge a book by it's cover -- or a kid by his test scores!" The thing is, our kids are VISUAL learners -- and what they see ROLE played by the other kids -- they seem to do..... so THAT is one of the main reasons why we pushed soooo hard for Adam to be in an inclusion setting..... Also, we figured it this way --- some day, our hope is that he will function in the day to day world we all live in and it's just important for him to be around the kids that some day he may work with and be in the community that one day he will probably live in (independently -- or at least with minimal support) and the way to do that is expose him to it! So I hope you find some peace with this issue - as I know it made for a miserable summer for us here before Adam started Kindergarten -- We didn't even get the final word on WHERE he was going until 2 (that's TWO) DAYS BEFORE school started --- and they hadn't even hired an aide for him at that point!!!!! (Which was specified in the IEP!) BUT it was well worth the pushing we had to do to get him where he is today! Be strong girl & we're here for support!! Let us know what happens!!!{{{HUGS}}} Linda |
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Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
I was like yea well how many 6 year old can ski and ride horses, tell me that. LOLOL Didn't help any my response BUT made me feel better 
The Psycologist? The one that was seeing things that weren't there?? The one that wanted me to have him wait in the waiting room by himself at 6 yrs old, much less had DS & was a runner?? So PLEASE DON"T put a whole lot of stock in what they say, okay.