I honestly think that you have got to stop dealing with this school as though they are on your child's side. It may or may not be logical, but the school is NOT their for your child's best interest. They are actively working to keep you from getting services and to make up the rules as they go along. Other schools may have been great. MOST will not offer many things because it costs $$. Every accommodation ends up costing $$.
The 504 plan only works when schools want it to. It is totally unenforceable. As in, if/when a teacher chooses not to follow the 504 there is NO legal recourse. The principal and school board don't have to make the teacher follow it. They are telling you that an IEP is not needed because they do not want to really do anything. Many parents here have seen this.
As for school providing transport because they are on your child's side and want the best for him - pipe dream. They are interested in educating the most kid spossible with the fewest resources possible. I know of districts where principals get unofficial rewards from the Superintendent of Schools for having the most # of kids moved OFF of IEPs. Is it legal to do this? Who knows. It sure isn't ethical, and they know this because it is carefully kept off the record. But I have seen memos about it left lying on a desk.
School will NOT provide transport to docs, etc... It really isn't their job to do so. They do provide transport to school. It will be the insurance co that provides the transport.
Many psychologists and therapists and psychiatrists have NO idea how schools/IEP/504 plans work. And don't work. It is important to learn about sp ed law in order to get what you need and enforce your child's rights.
in my opinion your son needs a very thorough evaluation. It really sounds like he may have NonVerbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) (non verbal learning disorder) and possibly other learning problems. He may have other problems than the ADHD and possible learning disorders. MOST of the people here have kids who started with an ADHD diagnosis. I estimate at least 90% of us started there. For some it was totally false, for others it was part of the truth. I cannot tell you how many difficult children who are now diagnosis'd with bipolar were diagnosis'd with only ADHD when they started here. Ditto almost any other disorder.
Just fyi, adhd is considered a part of Aspergers. At least according to every psychiatrist I have known. It is often listed as a separate diagnosis because insurance co's pay more for 2 diagnosis's than for 1. And some things that help are not covered if teh diagnosis is only Aspergers and adhd is not listed separately. The neuropsychologist my daughter sees told us that more and more the thought is that adhd is on one end of the autistc spectrum and the stereotyped autism is at the other end. Dr. J had just returned from a conference where that was a major topic of discussion.
We trust schools with our most precious resource. It comes as a HUGE shock when we realize that they have an agenda other than what is best for each child. In many cases the budget determines much of what they will do with-o being forced. We don't WANT to use force, or even use the formality that is required to enforce our kids' legal rights, because the school employees might not work with us as well. Or might take it out on our kids.
But the BEST way to protect our kids is to know the law and their rights (the child's).
You have stated several times that the school keeps telling you that your son doesn't qualify for an IEP. Have you ever sent the request for evaluation for an IEP via certified mail, return receipt requested? The timelines don't kick in unless you do that. They do run over the summer, so asking for one NOW if important. Don't let them talk you out of it.
If you go to the sp ed archives you will be able to find a general letter asking for the IEP evaluation. Just add the names where appropriate and then send it certified. Be sure to keep a copy.
Spend time reading the sp ed forum and the archives. Get a copy of Wrightslaw and/or check out
www.wrightslaw.org . It is a wonderful website about Special Education rights.
Regardless of your transport, call Medi-Cal and get names of neuropsychologists and of University and Children's hospitals in your area. If you have to travel far to get to an appointment, and you will be needed there for several days, call the Ronald McDonald house. I know the one here will put parents up for several days during testing for medical AND for psychiatric and psychological testing. I haven't stayed there simply because we can drive back and forth fairly easily. Many people cannot, so I leave rooms for them. If there is no RMD house, the hospital may have some housing that is available. The hospital here that isn't near the RMD house has a hotel that was given to them for patients families to use.
There most likely will be a wait of several months to get in to see a neuropsychologist. Have his current docs fax a referral as soon as possible. Then take the soonest appointment they have and ask about the cancellation list if you think you could get there on short notice. either way, much of the waiting would be during summer if you call soon. Hopefully.
