School psychologist vs neuropsychologist

[Toni]

Hi all! My son had an evaluation at school he was diagnosed with ED, OHI. I didn’t think the diagnosis was correct so I took him to see a neuropsychologist that diagnosed him with Autism(specifically Asperger Syndrome), anxiety and ADHD. The school district states he needs a new evaluation from them to change the diagnosis. I don’t want him to be reevaluated by the school because he is able to mask his symptoms quite well and quite frankly they have failed him many times. I am in Pennsylvania if that helps. I would think the credentials of a neuropsychologist would trump a school psychologist but the school thinks differently. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Lisa Lightner]

Ok, first, schools do not diagnose. They determine a child eligible or ineligible for special education, under one of the 13 eligibility categories. 

In my 15 years of doing this, I have seen many kids incorrectly categorized as ED instead of autism, because when autistic needs are not met, the child often displays behaviors similar to ED. 

However, what gives me reason to pause is that your neuropsych said aspberger which is no longer in the DSM and hasn't been for over 10 years. Nevertheless the child in front of you should match the child on paper.

What you're asking the school to do is to change eligibility category based on the neuropsych eval instead of the school's eval. Be careful, because if the neuropsych report also says anxiety, that certainly qualifies for ED. 

If this is what you want, you need to make a formal request to make this change, and you'll receive their decision on a NOREP. And no, another set of evals is not necessary (by law) to do this. Ask them to show you where it says that, if that is their sticking point. A school can choose to use an outside eval if they want.

 

[Toni]

The neuropsychologist said Autism was primary but he wanted to make sure the district knew he was high functioning that’s why he put Asperger’s in parentheses. The district uses their own school psychologist and told me for them to change the diagnosis he needs to be reevaluated. I don’t want to put him through that again it was very taxing and he was very frustrated when he came home. How can I get them to change the diagnosis without their evaluation? 

[JSD24]

The school will not change their eligibility category without an evaluation report.  Have you shared the neuropsych report with them to 'consider'?  Schools are required to consider outside evaluations but they do need to have a copy of the report in order to consider it.  Schools can use an outside eval to change the disability category if they want to.  Also, if the school's eval wasn't accurate, you can ask for an IEE at school expense.  You might want to do the IEE rather than having the school do another eval.  Most districts will not do an eval if the last one was done within a year which is when an IEE at school expense comes into play.

Your child was reevaluated.  You paid for the neuropsych to do the reeval.  The school should be able to use this report to change the disability category.  There shouldn't be a need for a 3rd eval.

[Toni]

Yes I did provide the district with the eval and I was told they still want to do an additional evaluation.