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The Evaluation Tightrope
Let me preface this post by saying that I am truly thankful for the behavioral health services we have access to in our state, and that I generally try to focus on the positive. With that being said, here are my top seven recommendations when going into a psychological re-evaluation:
- Do not speak glowingly about how amazingly well your child is doing and how you can't believe the incredible progress he has made, or they may conclude that he no longer needs as much help and cut back his hours.
- Do not lament at how little progress your child is making and how things are still just as difficult as ever, or they may conclude that the services are not of benefit to him and cut them out completely.
- Do not hope and pray that your child behaves appropriately and maturely with the evaluator. This is the day it is okay (actually, preferable) to have a meltdown!
- Do not forget to request a copy of the evaluation be sent to you and to make them give you the necessary forms to be granted permission to view your child's file, or it may take several months to track down a copy later.
- Do not do anything rash when you finally get your copy of the evaluation and it has a secondary diagnosis on it that no one ever mentioned to you. And – please – don't hurt anyone when you find out that this diagnosis is only on the evaluation because it "must have been on the template in the computer that we used to type up your child's evaluation" and doesn't really have anything to do with him.
- Do not assume that any corrections to the previous evaluation (which took months to get filed with the insurance company) have been carefully marked in your child's file so that the current evaluator will have all the updated information.
- Do not forget to ask the evaluator to recommend that services be authorized for a twelve-month period (since that has been the standard for kids with autism for only, what, the last 3 years!) or you will have to do this all over again in 3 months.
Oh, and I have one more as a bonus, but I'm sure none of you would be silly enough to do this:
- Whatever you do, do not take your big 3-ring binder with your only copies of every evaluation and treatment plan since your child started receiving services 3 years ago and leave it in the playroom at the office. Because when you call, they will tell you that no one has seen it. What they won't tell you (even when they call you again 2 months later to say that they have your binder and ask when you are going to come pick it up), is that no one has seen it because no one actually ever looked for it.
Photo by Krypto
Trish can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Friday in addition to hosting Try This Tuesday. You can also find Trish at her blog, Another Piece of the Puzzle.
Filed under Advocacy, Laughing Through The Tears, Trish by
Comments on The Evaluation Tightrope »
Falling Off the Tightrope | Another Piece of the Puzzle @ 9:05 am
[...] to let it all out for a minute. So if you enjoy a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, head on over to 5 Minutes for Special Needs [...]
Goldie @ 9:37 am
Oh I hate all the red tape and endless meetings!!!!
this post is quite helpful, and made me laugh too!
my son has an eligibility eval in 2 weeks for preschool special ed.
"Do not hope and pray that your child behaves appropriately and maturely with the evaluator. This is the day it is okay (actually, preferable) to have a meltdown!" ROFL!!! I can so relate.
my son's appointment is at 1pm, and at first I said it was a bad time, being so close to naptime. Then I said, "Ohhh, never mind, that time works out great!" I hope he is really cranky so they don't see him at his best, or else he might be deemed too "high-functioning" and they assume he is that way all the time (which he is not).
keep your fingers crossed for me!
Becky @ 9:51 am
So Trish, with Sara Palin possibly taking on the VP role in a few months(meaning if elected) does that give you any hope for Families with Special Needs kids with all this red tape crap? Or doesn't it matter to you when deciding on your candidate? I have been thinking about this lately with the elections coming up.
Maddy @ 10:05 am
Ah, yes indeedy. I would appear that you have skipped an essential step. The bungee cord and padlock to keep the binder chained to your personage.
Cheers
Barbara @ 10:16 am
You provide an exact representation of real life.
elizabeth channel @ 10:45 am
Such good advice! Particularly about the binder. That's the type of thing I would do!
Melody @ 12:57 pm
How right on the money you are, Trish. Please forgive me for giggling a bit, you know, because of the "I have so been there goofed that" factor.
Michelle @ 1:19 pm
Hate to admit this, but I have done that EXACT same thing with the binder — and the irreplaceable stuffed lavender puppy who is essential to bedtime routines. And I unfortunately got the same answer. We got both of them back because I was suspicious enough to go back the same evening and take a peek for myself. They were sitting on the end of the counter next to the lady who answers the phone and is paid to say, "Nope, haven't seen 'em." *sigh*
Ecki @ 1:41 pm
I'm so paranoid about losing stuff that I recently spent $30 and 1 hour at Staples making an entire copy of Kayla's file!
I do have a piece of advice about copying the file — make sure all the d*mn staples are out before placing stack of papers in the paper feed tray!
Meg Beverly @ 3:57 pm
Oh ouch! This struck waaaayyyyy too close to home! It's good we all have a sense of humor, right? RIGHT???
Off to go check my filing cabinet….
Alicia @ Experiencing Each Moment @ 6:44 pm
This was good! I needed to hear it!
Danette @ 6:50 am
Well said, very good points! Glad you got your binder back, yikes! I had a similar experience with a sippy cup (which my kids were extremely attached to). I called and got the same response, luckily I was in the parking garage still, so as much as I hated to do it (b/c we had made it that far w/o a meltdown and I had told my son we were going bye-bye and I was afraid of what he'd do if we turned around and went back!) I turned around, went all the way back up to the dr's office and insisted on hunting around myself until I found it. Right there in the exam room we'd been in, in plain enough sight that it was obvious no one had actually looked. Aah!!
My Autism Insights @ 6:55 am
I can empathize with your suggestions, and the tightrope analogy is so perfect.
Trish @ 9:45 am
I'm sorry to hear that so many people could identify with this post! And I have the bungee cord and padlock on my shopping list!!
Now, we just all need to remember that the follow up question to, "Have you seen my [fill in the blank]?" is, "Have you looked for my [fill in the blank]?" Ha!
katy (aka funny girl) @ 1:19 pm
Amen to "this is the day to have a meltdown"!!
Story of my life.