If you think your child may be autistic, or your child has a medical diagnosis and the school is not sure what to do with it, an educational evaluation answers the question the IEP team has to decide: does your child need special education, and what kind?
Development, medical and school history, and a detailed interview with you.
Standardized autism and behavior rating scales from you and from teachers.
Your child in class and in unstructured times like lunch and recess, where social differences show up most.
Thinking skills, language, academics, daily living skills and social-emotional functioning.
A functional behavior assessment by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst when behavior is part of the picture.
A written report that says whether the evidence supports autism eligibility and which supports would help.
Email the school's special education office and ask for a special education assessment. Date it and keep a copy.
In California the school has 15 days to send an assessment plan, not counting breaks over five school days. Once you sign it, the evaluation and IEP meeting must happen within 60 days.
If you disagree with the school's evaluation, you can ask for an independent evaluation at the district's expense. How that works
A free phone call to talk through where you are and what makes sense next.
General information for families, not medical or legal advice. Dr. Valentine serves families outside Kern High School District.
A free phone call with Dr. Valentine is the first step.