Services
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner not employed by the public agency (school district) responsible for the child’s education. An IEE can encompass any skill or area of concern related to your child’s education such as behavior, social skills, cognitive, and academic skills. An IEE may be obtained by parents at their own expense or at public expense.
Per federal regulations, parents are entitled to attain an IEE (at public cost) via signed letter request if they disagree with the school district’s findings or recommendations (i.e., psychoeducational report, IEP, 504 plan). Typically, the school district has 15 days to respond, schedule a meeting to address concerns/disagreements, and calendar a due process hearing (if necessary). If the school is unable to demonstrate their evaluation adequately addressed the student’s needs, a new evaluation is referred out to an independent provider at public expense.
Sometimes, a school district will innate an IEE request because they lack the personnel or expertise to conduct a particular type of evaluation. A school district may also seek an IEE when parents are concerned with the fairness or accuracy of an evaluation. An Independent educational evaluation can be a valuable tool for parents and school staff interested in accurately determine a child’s needs.
Calpsychworks Provides IEEs for the Following Assessment types:
- Psychoeducational assessment
- Neuro-psychoeducational assessment
- Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS)
- Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
- Transition and Vocational assessments
We are Proud to Offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) Throughout Southern California and Beyond!
Psychoeducational Evaluations
A psychoeducational evaluation determines whether a child has a learning disability and other issues which might negatively impact his or her academic success. Psychoeducational evaluations consist of assessment procedures administered to gain information about the child’s development, cognition, academics, behavior, physical and emotional health. Depending on the concerns, the assessment may also include professionals who can assess areas related to special needs such as physical therapy, speech and language, or behavioral specialists. Psycho-educational assessment can be provided to individuals of all ages. However, IEP assessment is administered to school-age children and adolescents, while 504 Plan assessment is provided to college students under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to determine the need for school accommodations.
If you suspect your child has a disability affecting his or her education, you may request a psychoeducational evaluation to be completed by the school district.
We are proud to offer Psychoeducational Evaluations throughout Southern California and Beyond!
Neuro-Psychoeducational Evaluations
Neuro-Psychoeducational Evaluations (NPEs) incorporate many assessment techniques found in traditional psychoeducation evaluations but place a greater emphasis on the in-depth analysis of an individual’s unique learning profile (pattern of strengths and weakness) using specific neuropsychological tools which link brain function to cognitive/academic performance. Based on the referral question, this includes tools measuring intellectual ability, attention, learning, memory, visual-spatial skills, visual-motor integration, language, motor coordination, behavior, and executive functioning skills.
Traditionally, NPEs were used in instances when a known or suspected neurological condition exists such as a Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, or Brain Tumor. Nowadays, NPEs are increasingly conducted when previous testing efforts have failed to properly address the conditions underlying a child’s academic, social-emotional, or behavioral difficulties.
NPEs are extremely effective in identifying the best evidence-based interventions and treatment protocols for a specific individual, which ultimately results in greater gains. As such, NPEs have become popular in the diagnosing of other learning disabilities including reading disorders (dyslexia) writing disorders (dysgraphia), math disorders (dyscalculia), executive functioning disorders (i.e., ADHD), and sensory processing disorders (i.e., autism).
A neuro-psychoeducational evaluation can only be conducted by a qualified provider from an approved professional board such as the American Board of School Neuropsychology, National Academy of Neuropsychology, or American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.
We are proud to offer Neuro-Psychoeducational Evaluations throughout Southern California and Beyond!
Functional Behavior Assessments
A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)is an evaluation focused on behavior. It is an effective ABA based tool for identifying problem behaviors and developing interventions to improve or eliminate those behaviors. The basic ideas being (1) all behavior serves a purpose; (2) Behavior has a communicative intent. Whether children realize it or not, they act in certain ways for specific reasons. If schools and families know what’s causing a particularly challenging behavior, they can find ways to reduce or eliminate it.
Below are the steps taken during an FBA:
1. Define the challenging behavior.
An FBA starts by defining the child’s behavior in a specific and objective way. For example, instead of saying the child’s “defiant,” the BCBA may describe the behavior as, “yells and runs around the room when asked to sit down and begin reading.”
2. Gather and analyze information.
Once the challenging behavior is defined, information is gathered via observations, interviews, surveys and informal testing to better understand the nature of reoccurring behavior. The data is collected and analyzed to determine the antecedents preceding the behavior, as well as the frequency, intensity, and duration of the challenging behavior.
3. Function of the behavior
Using the data in the previous step, the function or “why” of the behavior is hypothesized. For example, “the child is engaging in the challenging behavior to escape or avoid reading, a task they find tedious and overwhelming.”
4. Create and implement a plan.
With the function of the behavior now determined, appropriate alternative behaviors are identified and recommended as “functionally equivalent” replacement behaviors. A detailed report summarizing the findings is created and presented to the team. Led by the BCBA, the team creates a Behavior Support Plan (BSP) to teach/encourage the replacement behavior and monitor the child’s progress.
FBAs are frequently used in determining the nature and scope of special education services and supports a child receives. As such, FBAs are an important tool in determining whether a child presents with a true disability or not.
Calpsychworks is proud to offer accurate cutting-edge FBAs throughout Southern California and Beyond!
Behavior Consultation/Parent Coaching
While ABA is most frequently used in clinical and other formalized settings, core ABA principles can be applied in non-clinical settings with great success. Calpsychworks is unique in that it combines elements of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help parents or providers
address specific problems at home
Some of the issues we can help out with include:
· Develop effective parenting styles (build skills and confidence as a parent)
· Reduce tantrums and aggressive hitting
· Reduce oppositional defiant behaviors in children and teens
· Reducing separation anxiety/panic attacks
· Develop effective communication skills with your child (no scream discipline)
· Increase compliant behavior
· Reduce attention-getting and demanding behaviors
· Reduce avoidance behaviors (homework battles)
· Identify underlying issues leading to behavior problems
Why Choose Calpsychworks....
Calpsychworks has earned a reputation for providing cutting edge state of science psycho-educational, behavior consultation, and follow-up support services throughout southern California. Contact us today for more information.