My child has autism; why don’t they qualify for an IEP? There is a difference between a medical diagnosis and an educational diagnosis , and the educational diagnosis is what is required eligibility for special education services. In many cases, if a child has a medical diagnosis: they qualify for an IEP.
However, there are situations where different rules apply as every situation and child is unique. If your child is having a difficult time in school, but your school district says your child is not eligible for special education, you can (and should) advocate for more.
A common situation is: a child has received a medical diagnosis of autism (or other health conditions) and—despite going through the school district’s special education evaluation process—the school may declare during the IEP that the child will not qualify for services. This can be justified by an excuse such as the student’s academics are “too good,” their behavior skills are “too normal,” or the child is “too capable.” This excuse can be made even if the school district acknowledges the child doesn’t have those same social skills as neurotypical children and has been observed having difficulty approaching a variety of social settings. Essentially, the school is trying to say that even though your child has a documented disability, they’ve been successful in school and don’t require special education services. There are times when that is true, but generally this is not the case.
When we think about eligibility for special education services, we take the perspective of a child and their entire educational experience. While a child may succeed in many areas of their scholastic career, they may require significant aid in other areas. Special education services can help a child close the gap in their areas of weakness and better give them the free, appropriate, public education to which they are entitled.
If an IEP team attempts to block access to eligibility areas saying that your child does not qualify for such as Specific Learning Disability, Autism, or Speech Language Impairment, we advise you to ask the team about the Other Health Impairment eligibility. Other Health Impairment is an eligibility for Special Education Services that students with a medical diagnosis can most frequently qualify for to ensure that they receive the necessary supports for success in school.
The other very important thing to remember, just like all other aspects of an IEP, eligibility is a team decision! You are a very important part of the IEP team! If you disagree with the proposed eligibility, you need to let the team know that and a larger conversation needs to be had about what other options are available for your child.
If at the end of an entire assessment process and team meeting, it is fully determined that your child does not qualify for Special Education Services, talk to the school about a 504 Plan. A 504 plan is not the same as an IEP and your child won’t get direct services, but it is a document that is similar to an IEP and can provide accommodations and modifications to help your child be successful with their medically documented disability or health condition.
If you’re having trouble understanding the convoluted process that is special education and advocating for your child, reach out to a trained advocate at Aspire Advocacy today! Together, we can help you get your child’s education on the right track.
For help at your child’s next IEP meeting, more information about our special education advocacy services, or for a FREE 20-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit for you, call or email today!
As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.