| As parents of a 6 year old child with Sensory | | | | has spent the past 8 years fighting to get the best |
| Integration disorder and PDD, it seems like we have | | | | education possible for her daughter, and the advice |
| spent the last three years seeing different doctors, | | | | she gave me was as follows: |
| specialists, therapists and counselors, just to get an | | | | First, seek out a physician that specializes in PDD |
| idea of what exactly we are dealing with, and what | | | | conditions. Do not rely solely on the opinion of one |
| steps we can take to make sure that she has as | | | | medical professional, be they a pediatrician, neurologist, |
| bright a future as possible. Last year, when she | | | | etc. If you look hard enough you can find a medical |
| entered the public school system, we realized that we | | | | professional that specializes in the diagnosis and |
| were unprepared for the complexity and bureaucracy | | | | treatment of PDD conditions. Second, she urged that |
| that can be involved with getting a quality education for | | | | parents to get a firm diagnosis via an exhaustive set |
| a child with special needs. We had never heard of an | | | | of screening tests that will determine the nature of the |
| IEP, and we had no idea of what services the school | | | | child's disorder. Once you have that firm diagnosis, she |
| board could offer. The process was drawn out over | | | | urged that everyone with a PDD afflicted child learn |
| several months while our daughter struggled | | | | the ins and outs of IDEA 2004 (The Individuals with |
| emotionally in a crowded classroom with a teacher | | | | Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004) and |
| who was already overwhelmed. As we continued to | | | | determine what services and accommodations can be |
| make headway, naturally we found ourselves with | | | | made for your child's condition. |
| many questions. Did the people involved in this decision | | | | In short, IDEA 2004 seeks to ensure equity, |
| have the expertise to propose the best possible | | | | accountability and quality in education for over 6 million |
| solution for her educational needs? Should we just | | | | children with disabilities in the public school system. It |
| have faith that they are utilizing every tool and | | | | was signed into law by President George W. Bush in |
| exhausting every resource available? If we don't | | | | December 2004. It authorizes formula grants to states, |
| agree with the plan, what exactly can we do about | | | | discretionary grants for research, technology and |
| getting it changed? What we have learned though this | | | | training. The latest revision of IDEA became effective |
| process is that you shouldn't feel "guilty" in asking | | | | in October 2006. The law is very comprehensive, and |
| questions, seeking second opinions or even disagreeing | | | | can be a little intimidating to navigate on your own. |
| with the experts. | | | | Luckily, there are a number of resources on the |
| We received some very sage advice recently from a | | | | internet to assist you. |
| parent of a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome. She | | | | |