IEP Codes

[Anonymous]

DS attended county preschool and his code was 'Developmental Delay." Now he's 5 and the IEP team wants to meet to discuss changing the code to smth else. None of the other codes really fit him. He's not autistic or hearing impaired, etc. He's not intellectually disabled; in turn, his teachers think he's gifted. What code is most appropriate for a child exhibiting ADHD traits?

[Anonymous]

OHI - other health impairment.
ED - emotional disability

Not knowing more about your son, these are two that might fit. OHI is common where the traits are more ADHD like. ED is used sometimes if it looks like anxiety like traits.

[Anonymous]

I'd be wary of anyone who would give your son an ED label at age 5. Don't let them. OHI is the correct one for ADHD. Also, no need to change the DD label until 7 or 9 (7 being dc law and 9 the actual federal guideline ) so you can request this be put off unless there's a pressing reason to do it now. Signed an SLP in a public school

[Anonymous]

My son was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD at 6 after having received extensive county services from Infants and Toddlers for his developmental delays. His public school gave him an IEP under the OHI category (Other Health Impairment).

It's good that the school wants to change the code and not forego the IEP! Some schools illegally try to argue that because the child is not failing they do not need an IEP. Other schools do not understand that they can put ADHD under the OHI category.

Continue to push for this, as valuable classroom accommodations will be put in place every year as a result. The IEP will be modified at each annual meeting if necessary as your child grows and the curriculum presents new challenges for him. My son is given preferential seating in front of the class, the teacher repeats directions to him, in 3rd grade an aide helped him with his writing and he received time and a half on tests, we might ask for a reduced homework load in the future, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of anyone who would give your son an ED label at age 5. Don't let them. OHI is the correct one for ADHD. Also, no need to change the DD label until 7 or 9 (7 being dc law and 9 the actual federal guideline ) so you can request this be put off unless there's a pressing reason to do it now. Signed an SLP in a public school

+1. What county are you in? 5 is way to early to be pressured out of the Developmentally Delayed code. Several common disabilities like ADHD and Learning disabilities cannot really reliably be assessed via objective standardized testing until the 6-7 age range, and even that is early.

[Anonymous]

I'd be wary of anyone who would give your son an ED label at age 5. Don't let them. OHI is the correct one for ADHD. Also, no need to change the DD label until 7 or 9 (7 being dc law and 9 the actual federal guideline ) so you can request this be put off unless there's a pressing reason to do it now. Signed an SLP in a public school

I agree. I can't imagine what pressing need there would be to change the qualification criteria unless your DS is having other, significant issues.

[Anonymous]

LD=learning disability
OHI=other health impairmant (such as attention deficit)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OHI - other health impairment.
ED - emotional disability

Not knowing more about your son, these are two that might fit. OHI is common where the traits are more ADHD like. ED is used sometimes if it looks like anxiety like traits.

OP here. That's the thing - this kid doesn't get anxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My son was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD at 6 after having received extensive county services from Infants and Toddlers for his developmental delays. His public school gave him an IEP under the OHI category (Other Health Impairment).

It's good that the school wants to change the code and not forego the IEP! Some schools illegally try to argue that because the child is not failing they do not need an IEP. Other schools do not understand that they can put ADHD under the OHI category.

Continue to push for this, as valuable classroom accommodations will be put in place every year as a result. The IEP will be modified at each annual meeting if necessary as your child grows and the curriculum presents new challenges for him. My son is given preferential seating in front of the class, the teacher repeats directions to him, in 3rd grade an aide helped him with his writing and he received time and a half on tests, we might ask for a reduced homework load in the future, etc.

OP here. Thanks for the advice about OHI! Our school has been really good so far and most of our conversations start with "it's such a joy teaching him, he's so curious and knows about a lot of things. Here are the areas we need to work on...."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OHI - other health impairment.
ED - emotional disability

Not knowing more about your son, these are two that might fit. OHI is common where the traits are more ADHD like. ED is used sometimes if it looks like anxiety like traits.

OP here. That's the thing - this kid doesn't get anxious.

PP here. Then ED wouldn't likely fit. OHI is a very broad category and, as I and others mentioned, ADHD is often classified under OHI. Unlike others, I don't get what the big deal is to have the classification changed. My son's classification changed twice before he was eight. Initially it was DD. Then it was related to speech impairment. The third and current classification is OHI. The real issue is whether your child is getting the services, supports and accommodations to be successful and to effectively access the curriculum.

BTW, as an aside, "ability to access the curriculum" is the terminology that is used to justify my son's IEP. He is working above grade level and getting all As and Bs, but he needs the services, supports and accommodations to be successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OHI - other health impairment.
ED - emotional disability

Not knowing more about your son, these are two that might fit. OHI is common where the traits are more ADHD like. ED is used sometimes if it looks like anxiety like traits.

OP here. That's the thing - this kid doesn't get anxious.

PP here. Then ED wouldn't likely fit. OHI is a very broad category and, as I and others mentioned, ADHD is often classified under OHI. Unlike others, I don't get what the big deal is to have the classification changed. My son's classification changed twice before he was eight. Initially it was DD. Then it was related to speech impairment. The third and current classification is OHI. The real issue is whether your child is getting the services, supports and accommodations to be successful and to effectively access the curriculum.

BTW, as an aside, "ability to access the curriculum" is the terminology that is used to justify my son's IEP. He is working above grade level and getting all As and Bs, but he needs the services, supports and accommodations to be successful.

I agree. Our school changed the designation from DD to Autism (DS has ASD) when DS was 6. We are in DC. For us, it was all a bookkeeping issue since nothing changed in his IEP which we are very happy with.

[Anonymous]

I would tread carefully with this before agreeing to the change. Think about if the DD dx has gotten you anything in terms of funding or insurance. If it changes to the very non-specific OHI will there be repercussions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would tread carefully with this before agreeing to the change. Think about if the DD dx has gotten you anything in terms of funding or insurance. If it changes to the very non-specific OHI will there be repercussions?

These codes are for IEPs under IDEA and has NOTHING to do with "insurance" only accommodations and services at public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OHI - other health impairment.
ED - emotional disability

Not knowing more about your son, these are two that might fit. OHI is common where the traits are more ADHD like. ED is used sometimes if it looks like anxiety like traits.

I would not accept an ED label for an ADHD child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would tread carefully with this before agreeing to the change. Think about if the DD dx has gotten you anything in terms of funding or insurance. If it changes to the very non-specific OHI will there be repercussions?

These codes are for IEPs under IDEA and has NOTHING to do with "insurance" only accommodations and services at public schools.

Well our LISS funding has been dependent on the IEP that stated DD. OHI would probably not qualify. There are likely ohter similar scenarios.