Hi teri from timmy dr you get addational sevice in add to autsim
Their was a few other item that might been geared to adult service I forgot
Hope this help
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-----Original Message-----
From: "Teri Steinberg" <teri_steinberg@...>

Date: Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:46:05
To:LCASG@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LCASG] Autism and the MR diagnosis


My case manager at Community Alternatives Unlimited told me to get an
MR from a licensed psychologist so that my son can get more
services. Can anyone tell me other than at school, what would be the
downside? Why shouldn't I?

TERI

Alice,
The article in Newsweek, August 20-27. 2007, entitled "The Puzzle of
Hidden Ability," by Sharon Begley, reports on that "hidden
intelligence" of children with autism spectrum disorders.
I couldn't agree more with some of the things others have said in
this thread . There is no reliable way to measure IQ in most children
with ASD, and scientists are increasingly recognizing that the
previous assumption that 75% of children with autism also have MR is
a *myth*. Children with autism cannot successfully participate (or
sometimes can't participate at all) in the IQ testing,a nd they have
trouble communicating what they know.
It is very disturbing that some schools are so eager to label
children with ASD as having MR. What happened to the *least dangerous
assumptions* ? Some schools are very eager to write children off, and
its is extremely sad that this continues to happen in the 21st
century. As Laurent Morton (who led the Montreal study quoted in
Newsweek) has said, "If we label these children as below-normal
intelligence, that is how they are going to be treated." Note also
that an MR label connotes relatively permanent cognitive deficits, so
you can see what a negative impact this may have on a child's
education.

Good luck!_______ _________ _________ _________ ___

To: ASA-NV@yahoogroups. comFrom: hatteralice@ yahoo.comDate: Fri, 1
Feb 2008 14:44:17 -0800Subject: Re: [ASA-NV] Re: Autism and Mental
Retardation Label

Hi,
Just my opinion, but I do not believe you should accept the mental
retardation label. As you asserted the IQ test given to kids with
autism does not accurately measure their intellectual ability.
Moreover, we all know how quickly a kids IQ can change with early
intervention aba programs.

I would be concerned that later on this label may come back to haunt
you as your child might not be eligible to participate in autism
programs. The ciruculums and classroom methodologies are different
for children with mental retardation than those with autism (or at
least they should be). Moreover, kids with autism generally need
inclusion not exclusion (like classes for kids that have mental
retardation -especially for social skills. Also, the whole label of
mental retardation should ring all kinds of alarm bells. As far as I
know there has never been a comprehensive and accurate intelligence
assessment for kids with autism
and/or a body of cutting edge research to support it.
Lastly, there was an article last year (group members help me here)
in which an alternative form of intelligence testing was given to
individuals with autism and they all scored within normal or better.
Try to find this, read it and if you think it is worthy use it.
What do you think , what is your gut instinct- is your child mentally
retarded?
Never sign an IEP if you do not agree with it.

AliceTricia <fivesense99@ yahoo.com> wrote:

Have you requested an independent evaluation. Stafford has to pay for
it if you disagree with their findings. Do not sign the IEP if you do
not agree to their labels. --- In ASA-NV@yahoogroups.
com, "valombardo" <valombardo@ ...> wrote:>> Our school system
(stafford) has been insisting on a dual diagnosis for > our son's
eligibilty.. .autism and mental retardation. They base this >
position both on an IQ test and our son's low scores on self help and
> life skills assessments. I can make arguements against the IQ test
> easily enough just by addressing the folly of administering a test
with > strong communication requirements to a child with core
deficits in > communication, but, when they counter that the decision
also reflects > his low self maintenance and self advocacy skills,
I'm not sure how to > respond.> > DSM IV does not address
developmental delays relative to ASD. The CDC > seperates these as
well, indicating any developmental delays > demonstrated by a person
with ASD indicate a companion disability such > as MR. Our school
psychologist referenced a CDC estimate that as many > as 8 in 10
children with ASD also have some form of intellectual > disability.>
> I have been told to leave the MR label on as this will potentially
open > the door to more services as he gets older. Others have
countered that > allowing this label to stand will impact his
placement and academic > pursuits and make it possible for him to be
excluded from autism > programs. He is already a VAAP student (as of
this year).> > Has anyone else been faced with this? How did you
proceed? I have been > arguing that ASD is a a big enough umbrella to
contain all of our son's > issues, but, as I read the DSM IV
criteria, I am not so sure.> > Stefanie>