Dear Ms. Scarbrough:

There are several options here that may be useful to explore.

First, if multiple evaluations have already been performed then
perhaps a consult and records review will be sufficient?

Second option, we typically evaluate children for possible ASDs and do
NOT need to conduct neuropsychological testing. I know many Advocates
seem to present the case the neuropsychs can somehow walk on water and
see around corners but Autism diagnostics have little to do with
traditional neuropsychological testing and very much to do with good
old fashioned observations, interviews, and direct assessment using
appropriate tools like the ADI-R to collect parent information and the
ADOS for interacting directly with the child coupled with broad
cognitive and language measures. Traditional psychological testing is
$1575 flat fee at our clinic when self-paid and many of our parents
with insurance have been able to recover significant portions of that
by submitting to their insurer for reimbursement under their plan. We
are happy to provide the forms completed for doing so.

Third, RTI is NOT the only way to qualify for SpEd eligibility
regardless of what any school official said to you or implied. Old
fashioned testing still can qualify a child - particularly one that is
pre-school age and we have loads of experience in helping make that
happen when appropriate.

Fourth, you do NOT have to "prove their eval was not appropriate".
This is where an advocate and/or an attorney can guide you with more
assurance. However, I have conducted dozens of IEEs and in no
instance did the family have to "prove" that the eval was not appropriate.

I'll be happy to discuss this with you in greater detail,

-Robert W. Montgomery, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Board Certified Behavior Analyst

--- In opengaautism@yahoogroups.com, "Lisa H Scarbrough"
<riliscarbrough008@...> wrote:
>
> Because of her birthday, she will still be in preschool for another
year before she can be eligible for pre-k. Dr. Dunbar was hesitant to
diagnose her last year, but said we should do floortime. We also took
her for an OT eval to Mili Cordero, recommended by Dunbar. We just
couldn't afford to take her to Mili so frequently since they don't
take insurance.. Fayette county schools did a full psychological at my
request, but they also are one of the first counties to use the
"RTI..response to intervention model. Maggie does not meet
requirements under their testing for autism, although all the testing
was done one on one which she prefers adults. She is compliant in her
classroom and not disruptive, but does not interact at the same level
of her peers. They did observe in her classroom and didn't notice any
sensory issues, but that was one snapshot in time and not a
representation of her true behaviors. They told me to request a
private eval paid by the school system I would have to prove that
their eval was not appropriate and I am not sure how I would do that.
We are hoping to save up some money and take her for a full neuropsych
eval and diagnostic eval by Dr. Robert Montgomery . His fee is
2500.00, so this is not easy to do without insurance coverage and the
school system can leave you feeling powerless. She needs more than
just speech twice a week.
> Any ideas?
> Lisa H. Scarbrough