- Understanding the Referral and Evaluation Process:
- Who can refer a child for evaluation: Anyone! At younger ages it is typically a hospital, pediatrician, preschool or parent. School aged children are typically “picked up” by classroom teachers for referral.
- Evaluation Process:
- Once a child is referred, a social worker (typically) or someone from the district will meet with the parents, teachers or referring agency to determine the specific concerns and determine the appropriate evaluations needed to determine eligibility.
- Standard Evaluations:
- Social History: typically completed by a social worker. This includes information about the child’s home life, birth history, medical complications, and any other pertinent information
- Psychological Testing: typically completed by a school psychologist or neuro-psychologist. This is a cognitive / intellectual and developmental assessment of the child’s skills
- Educational Testing (typically for school-aged children): Typically done by a special education teacher.
- Typical Additional Evaluations: other evaluations may be included depending on the nature or severity of the child’s needs:
- Speech & Language: typically completed by a certified speech language therapist. Assesses the child for developmental language and acquisition including receptive, expressive, articulation, and pragmatic language skills. In some cases, evaluations may also include oral motor skills and adaptive communication skills (AAC).
- Physical Therapy: typically completed by a certified physical therapist who will assess the gross motor functioning the child. Gross motor can include (but not limited to): balance, strength, coordination, gait, etc. This might include activities such as ascending / descending stairs, walking, running, jumping, crawling, etc.
- Occupational Therapy: typically completed by a certified occupational therapist who assess fine motor and overall sensory motor integration. Fine motor varies by age, however can include (but is not limited to): eating, puzzles, writing, typing, visual – motor integration, self-care, etc.
- Legal Requirements for Time Lines (15 – 45 – 30):
- Districts have 15 days post referral to get parental consent to begin evaluation(s)
- Districts have 30 days to get parental consent and 60 school days to evaluate, hold a meeting and offer a placement for the student