Requesting Services for Ages 3–5
Under federal law, public schools must look for, identify, and evaluate kids who need special education in the community. This is called Child Find, and it applies to kids from birth through age 21, including those who are homeschooled or in private schools, have immigrant status or are homeless.
If you or your child’s physician suspects that your child may have a disability, making them eligible for special education services, call the office of your home public school district and request an evaluation for your child. Before a child can receive special education and related services for the first time, a full and individual initial evaluation of the child must be conducted to see if the child has a disability and is eligible for special education. Put your request for a special education evaluation in writing and include your reasons for the request (i.e., “My child has a diagnosis of ASD,” or “My child is being evaluated for ASD,“ or “My child has been in the Early Intervention program, and it is suspected that he has a disability,“ or “He is 3 and has a speech delay“, etc.).
Note: Diagnosing autism involves two main components: medical diagnosis and educational diagnosis. These processes are typically carried out by different professionals and serve distinct purposes, yet they can complement each other in providing a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s needs.
Medical professionals involved: Pediatricians, child psychiatrists, neurologists, and developmental pediatricians are often involved in the medical diagnosis of Autism.
Focus: Medical diagnosis primarily focuses on assessing and identifying the clinical symptoms and developmental aspects associated with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods: This diagnosis involves a thorough examination of the individual’s medical and developmental history, behavioral observations, and standardized assessments, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).
Purpose: The purpose of medical diagnosis is to determine whether an individual meets the criteria for ASD based on recognized medical and psychiatric criteria, such as those outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
- Educational Diagnosis:
Educational professionals involved: School psychologists, special education teachers, and other educational specialists are typically involved in the educational diagnosis of Autism.
Focus: Educational diagnosis concentrates on assessing how Autism affects an individual’s learning and functioning within an educational setting. It aims to identify the specific educational needs and support required.
Methods: Educational diagnosis involves classroom observations, academic assessments, and evaluations of social and adaptive functioning within the educational context.
Purpose: Educational diagnosis is to determine the impact of Autism on learning and participation in an educational environment. It helps design individualized educational programs (IEPs) and accommodations to support the student’s academic and social success. While medical and educational diagnoses are distinct, they often overlap. Information gathered during medical diagnosis can inform educational strategies, and vice versa. Collaboration between medical and educational professionals is crucial to developing a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s strengths and challenges, leading to more effective support and intervention strategies. Integrated, multidisciplinary approaches can provide a more holistic view of the individual with Autism and contribute to better outcomes in both medical and educational settings.
An educational evaluation may include standardized tests and informal methods like observations, interviews, review of school records, and work samples. All public K-12 schools have evaluation systems.
Evaluations are conducted at least every three years after your child has been placed in special education. Reevaluations can also occur more frequently if conditions warrant or if you or your child’s teacher request a reevaluation. Informed parental consent is necessary for reevaluations.
Ask for a response to your evaluation request within 5 business days (though, by law, the district has 30 days to respond) and ask for a signed permission to evaluate your child as soon as possible. Give dates and times you are available to sign the paperwork. Special Education law includes timetables and once you sign permission to test, the clock starts ticking. The district has 60 days to complete the evaluation.
For preschool students ages 3 to 5, the school district will likely schedule a home-based, community-based or school-based visit to collect information from you. Later, the school district will schedule a play-based assessment where your child will interact with and be evaluated by a preschool teacher, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, and/or other professionals (school nurse, school psychologist, physical therapist, etc. if needed.) The team will then write a report about your child’s strengths and challenges and share this with you. Your child must qualify for services, meaning he must exhibit developmental delays that impede learning in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, and social or emotional development.
The presence of a disability doesn’t automatically guarantee a child will get services. To be eligible, the disability must affect how the child learns in a school environment.
