Emphatize with the struggles. Understand, though, the district's strategy is to stress you out and wear you out. As intelligent and diligent as we are, trained attorneys go to special education attorneys for this fight - IT IS A FIGHT - make no mistake. Find a knowledgeable attorney willing to ATTEND ALL IEP meetings as well as go to Due Process. Suggest you do not use an RC advocate or agency associated with your RC and for goodness sake stay away from the SELPA! They are useless. Special ed attorney at an IEP meeting is worth the money. Some special ed attorneys will advise it is best to keep a good relationship with the district - turn and run! District personnel are not your friend and have no interest in your child other than to throw useless services somewhere in their directtion. Remember, this is a fight. Sorry if I sould preachy - I'm looking at a load of letters from the district and just hired an attorney.

IEP's are written for both behavior and academics. If you have to, get a lawyer and/or advocate or both, and fight for your son. I have learned that the squeaky wheel really does get the oil. Call the head of special education in your district and tell him/her your needs.

I say be persistent and go over her head to the school district special education office if you have too....

I am a teacher and also a mom of a 4 yr. old with PDD. Fight for what your son needs. Don't let the district or anyone else talk you out of anything. You know your son. If necessary, go to the school superintendent. Don't give up.

You can just look up Advocates in your local area, but you may also try to contact your states department of developmental services and they will help you. You can also apply for services through them, and if you qualify sometimes the case worker can get you approved for payment for an advocate. We got $500 for one when we needed one and when we contacted the advocate the suggested she took what they paid them and not a penny more.