Read prior to any IEP, know the federal laws;

http://www.livestrong.com/article/14755-federal...

http://www.ped-onc.org/cfissues/backtoschool/ie...

http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Fou...

The oft quoted rule for IEPs is that "needs drive services". So in a perfect world it shouldn't matter what the diagnosis is and your daughter would get whatever she needs from the school.

All that said, did the school do its own evaluation? Did you provide outside assessments that contained your daughter's diagnosis? Is there something in particular that your feel your daughter needs that she is not getting?

The Wrights Law website is an excellent resource that may provide you with some options on how to handle this.

If she is on the Autism Spectrum then she needs to be coded that way, but medical person must give the diagnosis if you do not have one. If not have,your pediatrician give you a referral for testing and once presented to school they have to enter the appropriate code. Sad to say in most school systems, it is better to have a specific diagnosis rather than a general one. Also, Autism has great advocacy orgs that you can call on. In our school system (Montgomery County, MD), there is even an Autism Office within the Spec Ed Department which helps schools and staff work better with children on the spectrum.

don't give up the fight, learn the laws.

SweetpeasMom, did you say you are in PA? You know that an Axis I diagnosis, which Autism Spectrum, PDD-NOS and Aspergers all fall under, guarantees you to Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania, regardless of income.

I moved from the Philly area last year. MA gives you ALL SORTS of supports at home, and out in the community. And,if your school district balks and your child is needing that support at school, they'll support your child at school, with TSS hours and wraparound support. Also, your school district can bill MA directly for Sweetpea's OT and ST hours. Which means they just have to have the OT and ST on staff, which it sounds like they do--they just don't want to offer the services to Sweetpea, which is so weird.

But, I do know that girls with autism often have a tougher time of it getting supports, since they present so different from boys with autism in a lot of cases. I think it's that they are viewed more often as being "willful" and "defiant" by teachers and districts instead of understanding that, no--this really is autism; it just looks and acts a little different with girls. Could that be part of the problem here?

I need you hook you up with some folks that know the law in PA that can help you out. Why don't you email me directly and I can get you some names with contact info. nomadicnun at aol dot com.

I had the best BSC (Behavior Specialist Consultant) who was paid through MA for 4 hours a week. Because she was a former Special Ed Director, I would ask her to come to my boys' IEP meetings. Although I loved my school district, it was just so nice having someone there who knew the law and made sure they were following it. I found that having a good BSC was key to getting good services, though.

I am mean. I would demand the addition or inform them I will be filing for mediation.