I talked with someone from Lab last week who told me not to apply with an ASD/Aspergers diagnosis.

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

+1, We have an autism diagnosis and its clearly false. It carries with him and people treat him differently. It may not be a big deal to have a false diagnosis to OP but its huge for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

Lab.

FYI, that wording is no longer on their website. They will give more weight to your neuropsychological evaluation and kid's play date than what they know is standard procedure at the public school.

When we applied to lab with an ASD diagnosis (and dyslexia), our neuropsych called to talk to them about how DC was a good fit for Lab despite the ASD diagnosis. Nevertheless, we were rejected without even the opportunity for a playdate.

You might not have been rejected solely on the diagnosis. A few years ago, Lab used to get 50 applications per every 1 slot. I don't know the exact number now, but it's been steadily on the rise They also consider the balance of a class. They can't accept every kid with ADHD who applies for example. These days Lab also have a better balance of girls and boys vs. than at most SN schools. In short, most applicants don't get a play date b/c they have way too many applications.

I had a kid rejected from Lab too; no play date and no ASD diagnosis. That's just sometimes how it goes.

That's why figuring what supports you need while your kid is still in public is so important.

The head of admissions called me and told me that the rejection was because of the diagnosis. Maybe he was lying, but I don't see any reason that he would. He invited us to apply again if DC's autism diagnosis became merely "historical," whatever that means.

In retrospect, I don't think Lab would have been a good place for DC, but not because it couldn't have met his social needs; I know several kids there whose equivalent/similar social needs are met through pragmatic language groups, etc. But it's really disappointing that a school as good as Lab makes decisions based merely on a specific label, without looking at the individual needs of those kids and whether Lab can meet those individual needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

Lab.

FYI, that wording is no longer on their website. They will give more weight to your neuropsychological evaluation and kid's play date than what they know is standard procedure at the public school.

When we applied to lab with an ASD diagnosis (and dyslexia), our neuropsych called to talk to them about how DC was a good fit for Lab despite the ASD diagnosis. Nevertheless, we were rejected without even the opportunity for a playdate.

You might not have been rejected solely on the diagnosis. A few years ago, Lab used to get 50 applications per every 1 slot. I don't know the exact number now, but it's been steadily on the rise They also consider the balance of a class. They can't accept every kid with ADHD who applies for example. These days Lab also have a better balance of girls and boys vs. than at most SN schools. In short, most applicants don't get a play date b/c they have way too many applications.

I had a kid rejected from Lab too; no play date and no ASD diagnosis. That's just sometimes how it goes.

That's why figuring what supports you need while your kid is still in public is so important.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

There are SO many discussions on this board regarding private schools, and the "type of child" or "diagnosis" they absolutely will not take. Lab and McLean are the first two that come to mind. And just because Lab has removed that language from their website doesn't mean that they don't still follow this practice. And I am sure that there are many more out there besides Lab and McLean.

McLean absolutely takes kids with ASD (and who disclose the ASD at application).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

There are SO many discussions on this board regarding private schools, and the "type of child" or "diagnosis" they absolutely will not take. Lab and McLean are the first two that come to mind. And just because Lab has removed that language from their website doesn't mean that they don't still follow this practice. And I am sure that there are many more out there besides Lab and McLean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

Lab.

FYI, that wording is no longer on their website. They will give more weight to your neuropsychological evaluation and kid's play date than what they know is standard procedure at the public school.

When we applied to lab with an ASD diagnosis (and dyslexia), our neuropsych called to talk to them about how DC was a good fit for Lab despite the ASD diagnosis. Nevertheless, we were rejected without even the opportunity for a playdate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

Lab.

FYI, that wording is no longer on their website. They will give more weight to your neuropsychological evaluation and kid's play date than what they know is standard procedure at the public school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

Lab.

Anonymous wrote:".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Which school would that be? Feel free to be specific.

".....So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,:..."

Except when you want apply to a school that very clearly states that they don't take children with ASD, yet you went ahead and allowed the school to add it to your child's IEP and school records so that he could get accommodations! There is no way in hell I'm allowing any label to be attached to my child and his school records for the next 10 years because "its just a public school label".

Anonymous wrote:

Now focus, focus, focus—what help does my kid need and how do I get it? Labels don’t matter. Substance does.

ITA, OP. One of the ways I prepare for IEP meetings is to make a list of what it's going to take to make my son successful in school. I could care less about labels so long as he gets the services and accommodations he needs.

Fitting my kid's various diagnoses into a checkbox is like fitting my hips into spanx. Damn uncomfortable, but sometimes necessary. It's all about getting the right support.

Now focus, focus, focus—what help does my kid need and how do I get it? Labels don’t matter. Substance does.

ITA, OP. One of the ways I prepare for IEP meetings is to make a list of what it's going to take to make my son successful in school. I could care less about labels so long as he gets the services and accommodations he needs.

What a fun post, OP. Thanks for reminding us of the end goal.

Parents, to be your kid’s best advocate, remember it’s an extremely imprecise numbers game. Don’t get hung up in the IEP meeting, “But my kid’s not autistic!” It may be true, but focus on the end game—what help does your kid need to function and succeed at school.

There are 3 categories of 504:
http://www.kidslegal.org/section-504-what-does-it-mean
The purpose of Section 504 is not about getting special education services for your kid rather about preventing discrimination.

There are 13 categories of disability listed under IDEA:
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/wp-content/uploads/repo_items/gr3.pdf

Lawmakers defined and wrote these in the 1970s: http://dredf.org/advocacy/comparison.html

(It’s not a secret that Congress is slow to respond and fraught with partisan politics that it doesn’t get much done. Our current 113th Congress and the 112th enacted fewer laws than any other Congress in modern history, so at least we have something: http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/113th-congress-not-least-productive-modern-history-n276216)

There are over 300 codes in the DSM and it is published by the American Psychiatric Association so there is standard langue in classifying mental disorders. It’s on it’s 5th edition since 1952. Not perfect, but again what we have.

Doctors use ICD codes (International Classification of Diseases) to specify diagnoses. Insurance companies use these codes to determine coverage of services and reimbursement. In the ICD 9 which established in the 1970s, the are about 4,000 codes. In the proposed ICD 10, there will be 72,000 codes: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/04/10/300976034/doctors-billing-system-stays-stuck-in-the-1970s-for-now

(Just for fun, here is a list of where ICD and DSM codes cross-over: http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/dsm5a.html)

To make it more fun, ICD codes don’t need to match insurance billing codes for neuropsychological testing (NPT or CPT). Many insurance companies don’t consider neuropsych testing medically necessary for educational purposes b/c ha, ha, ha it’s “usually provided by school systems under applicable state and federal rules.” Schools aren't required to test, they can't legally suggest that you test your child, and do not have to accept independent testing you do.

CPT codes used in neuropsych evals are “time based codes for billing.” http://www.codapedia.com/topicOpen.cfm?id=B19F9E03-8CA3-48DE-85F96AA3F38CC8D5 As an FYI, here’s a list of CPT codes: https://www.theaacn.org/userdocuments/neuropsychology_model_lcd-1.pdf

Have I lost you? Is your head spinning yet? The point is that, a medical diagnosis is not the same thing as an educational designation at all. It may not have any bearing on what insurance coverage for services you receive, if your child is eligible for an IEP or 504, or what will be offered on an IEP/504.

In a nutshell, out of a potential 72,000 possible diagnoses and treatments and the 300 of them could possibly apply to your child, and the dozens of codes the insurance company will use to deem it medically or non-medically necessary, the public school needs to put your kid in 1 of 16 categories. That's it. Ta Da!

So, don’t get hung up on the public school “label” on your kid’s 504 or IEP—designations created nearly half a century ago. Ask yourself what accommodations and modifications does my kid need? e.g.,: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/fape.accoms.mods.pdf

Now focus, focus, focus—what help does my kid need and how do I get it? Labels don’t matter. Substance does.

Good luck and Godspeed.