Christi Blunt

Thank you so much! This is great information. She has severe anxiety in the bathroom, so she takes a post it note to cover the automatic flush. At home, she struggles with wiping as well. She also has a condition where she can't also feel when she needs to void. So in the 504 plan, she is being told to go to the bathroom multiple times a day. The school will not give her an IEP and only 504. We are currently working on an IEE to get an IEP.

If a kindergarten student is on a 504 plan with diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, & Anxiety and has troubles getting herself clean after a bowl movement, is the school required (hands on) to help her wipe? The school informed us the nurse can coach her but not physical help her. Is this true? Is there a law or some kind of documentation I can provide the school? This is in the state of MO. Thank you so much for your help.

Okay, Great! Thank you!

Can a family deny a triennial reevaluation? If not, what would be the next steps?

Can a student be enrolled in school part time 2 days a week and receive aba therapy 3 days a week in MO? According to the school, they stated this can't happen.

Thank you all for your responses. The child is high functioning autism and high anxiety, and we are fighting for an IEP. I observed the child in her classroom. She needs an IEP but since she is in kindergarten, they don't think she needs one since it's play based. Next year it will be clear to the school. She has struggles with pragmatic language, social/emotional skills, and sensory needs. I'm trying to figure out the next step. The school only did an observation on pragmatic language but no testing. The assessments the school did showed she was functioning at a kindergarten grade level. However, no input from the parents on the assessments. UGH!! Very frustrating how school do not know how to handle high functioning kiddos.

Can language therapy be added to a 504 plan or does this need to be an IEP? This case is in Missouri.

Unfortunately, the mom is having health problems and also wants to go back to school. Dad works full time. The family was moved here for a job so I don't think they have family here. Mom tried to hire someone to transport but she stated that has been a nightmare.

Thank you all for your help. We are trying to get the school to provide transportation to ABA therapy at 1:00 each day but the school won't. I was trying to search all options to make this happen. I don't think we can win this unfortunately.

This kiddo is severely disabled so I’m not worried about the curriculum. We are more concerned about life skills, being able to write his name, using his AAC device, correct behaviors, etc.

What are the pros and cons of enrolling a special education student part time to attend ABA therapy? Also, is it easy to move them back to full time in a couple years once they graduate out of ABA therapy. This is a 3rd grader in Missouri. Thanks for all your help in advance. Christi

What is the best way to prove FAPE for a child who needs ABA therapy? The school will not provide transportation at 1:00 pm from school to ABA therapy. The school states FAPE is being provided but the pediatrician, myself (advocate), BCBA, and mom do not agree. UGH!! And this is in Missouri. Thank you so much in advance.

I have not but I will check out the link. This is sooooo helpful and grateful for you! Thank you!!

I am a special needs advocate and I have a client in MO trying to get transportation from school to ABA therapy at 12:50 every day. The child is in 3rd grade and has major behavior struggles, nonverbal, OCD, Autism, ADHD, anxiety. The school district says no they won't provide or pay for it. The ABA clinic is within the school district boundaries. Also, the school stated the child does not need the ABA therapy. We have a mediation meeting coming up. What should I present to get the school district to provide transportation? What legal leg do I have to stand on for this? Any and all help would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

If a child does not have an IEP but was told the school is drafting one, can a child with behavior issues be denied to go on a field trip with the rest of his kindergarten class?

I have a client in Missouri who wants to request an evaluation for an IEP. However, we are coming to the end of the school year. If she requests an evaluation this school year and moves to another school in the fall, will that school continue the evaluation from the previous school? So a total of 60 days from the old school to the new school to complete evaluation?

Okay, great to know. Thank you! This is in Kansas.

Okay, the parents do not want to provide an agenda. They do want the school to be caught off guard. The relationship between the parents and school is terrible.

I’m a special needs advocate. I have a client who called an IEP meeting. Does the parent legally have to provide an agenda prior to the meeting to the school? Thanks in advance.

A 15 year old was suspended from school with an IEP for 1.5 days. Can we legally request the video of the incident?

I just received an email for the school psychologist in Missouri stating she cannot send any documents of the child (PWN and RED) to any outside agencies/advocates in an email. The mother signed a release form from the school allowing myself access to all information. Is this true? We have a very heated 2 hr meeting yesterday. I just want to know if the psychologist is playing hard ball and making things more difficult. Thanks. Christi

Good morning, I have a case where the initial evaluation was started 4/28/2022 and completed 10/6/2022. The child didn't qualify for services even though most of his T-scores on the BASC3 was above 70 so in the clinically significant area. The child also has a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, and OCD. I was informed yesterday in a meeting we can no longer use the initial evaluation to try to get services. The school has to perform a whole new evaluation. This is in the state of Missouri. Is this true? The evaluation is not even a year old. Any suggestions? This was a very heated meeting with the Director of Special Education. I just don't want to be pushed around. Thanks, Christi

Great! Thank you! Another question about this case. If the school agrees to a reevaluation for an IEP, will the student get services while the reevaluation is happening? This is in Missouri and currently on a 504 plan. The student was denied services last school year. The teacher, behavior coach, and assistant principal all believe the student should be on an IEP. The counselor and psychologist does not believe the student needs an IEP.

No she wants them to take another look at the initial evaluation instead of conducting a whole new evaluation. Okay, this is all great information. The student has a 504 plan but poorly written. I will work on this as well. Thank you

We are going to request another evaluation. I did find out the psychologist was an intern last year at the school who conducted the evaluation. The school said the student was not eligible for services, but every example they gave showed behavior social and academic struggles. That’s why we are going to request a new eval. I’m trying to play nice and make them seem like we are working as a team. However, we might have to request an IEE. The PWN was poorly written as well as the evaluation. The mom asked if we could request to look at the evaluation again, but I told her we want a whole new evaluation instead. Any suggestions?