Most of that went right over my head. She has a medical diagnosis of Asperger's that was diagnosis'd after she got the IEP. The school refused to test her for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and said medcial diagnosis is different from their diagnosis for IEP purposes, but teacher of record is open to changing, she just advises that we leave it as ED because for whatever reason there are more supports for ED than Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). I don't understand it, but there it is. Also she can get Occupational Therapist (OT) but the only Occupational Therapist (OT) available is 20 minutes/month. How lousy is that?
ETA: For what it's worth she's at a different school than where she was when she got the IEP.
LOL sorry...
I think it seems that we assumed it was likely she got the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) diagnosis after she already had the ED IEP.
That happens a lot because people miss the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) diagnosis.
What is confusing to us is that there
should be no way that there are MORE or LESS services depending on that label. It may be a function of the staff hired in your district but it makes no sense that a child with an emotional and behavioral disorder would have more protection from suspension/expulsion than a child with a neurological disability . (in my opinion and legally, if it is related to their disability, they should have goals and teaching to help them learn the skills that are lacking and causing the behavior issues) Plus, if a student has Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) they often need the specialized teaching that is offered by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) trained teachers.
I am proposing that if you are comfortable with the ED label (you still think that bi polar and ODD are valid??) then maybe ADD Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as a secondary disability area on the IEP. As she gets older, if there are things that due to her Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) she really does not understand and may be limited in, an ED/EBD program may hurt her by using reward/consequence programs to teach behaviors that she neurologically just does not understand. If the ED program has as you seem to say, Occupational Therapist (OT)/sensory?? intervention... that is great, any program should... But Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) programs tend to have it incorporated into their entire environment, music selection, scent selection, mats, swings, etc...even in high functioning and Asperger's resource rooms. It is so common for those kids that it is often available to them all if needed. but maybe your district is more progressive and appropriate with ED kids....just make sure that goes on to the middle school level.
Yes, the medical diagnosis does not mean she automatically gets an IEP, but it is to be considered when selecting a category, they need to make sure that an autism professional is involved with making decisions during the IEP criteria process. It says that in the federal mandate.
Then for the waiver, that is a separate system... many counties divide up mental health and developmental disability waivers... Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), esp higher functioning kids and kids iwth Aspergers, tend to get non mental health waivers around here.... If in your county there are more of those, then Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may be better for her. Why her IEP would matter for that decison??? We have to use the medical system to get waivers. The IEP can be sent for supporting data but it is not diagnostic and the Waiver is MEDICAL INSURANCE so, I was confused why they would have said that to you. I hope that someone else in the county can help you sort that out.
I am sorry I made it worse, didn't mean to. Occupational Therapist (OT) should be based on YOUR CHILD"S needs...if they are saying that all the kids in that program get Occupational Therapist (OT) for twenty minutes...that is against the law. The reason is the federal law says that no decision can be made for programming based on the general label of special education nor on the individual category label. One can't say.... all kids with autism come to school fifteen minutes later than the gen ed kids because they need less sensory stimulation. IT has been fought and won in court many times.