Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for there to be disagreement between a school district's findings and the findings of an independent mental or physical health evaluator outside of the school. To a certain extent, the school district personnel are correct. They do not have to cooperate with the findings of the independent evaluation, but your friend does have options.

Per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the school district is required to provide your friend with information about next steps if she does not agree with the findings of the school district. If they have not provided this information, your friend should ask for it, and they will pass it along. Although these steps should be a last resort, your friend can file for mediation (your friend and school personnel sit down with an impartial third person), due process (your friend and school personnel present evidence before an impartial third person), or your friend can file a complaint with the State Education Agency (SEA).

Good luck to your friend!

L. Compian, Ph.D.
Education.com Team

My child also has tourettes along with other co-morbities( add, dyslexia, dysgraphia) and the school wanted to drag their feet and deny many services. You have a right to disagree with the IEP and to request a new one at any time. I had to do this and requested that my neurologist be present for the IEP along with my childs general practicioner. I also requested that any personell involved with my childs evaluation be present. this made the scheduling dificult but all team players were present and accounted for and all stated that they were acting on behalf of the best interest of the child. different types of testing were discussed and each person was requested to state on record there area of expertese and list educational and medical doctorates ,degrees and qualifications. My team happend to be slightly (lol) more qualified than the schools and they agreed to all services 2days later. Hope all turns out for your child with tourettes. also there is a tourettes website that gives information about dealing with education and IEP'S good luck.

This happened to my son 5 years ago. Since age 2 he has been in counseling, his elementary school told me to have him undergo formal testing by a state certified psychologist, then a formal diagnoses by a child/adolescent phsyciatrist M.D. He had a multi diagnoses. He was in therapy with another psychologist that specialized in his diagnoses along with his pediatrician who sat on the mental health board for the state. Upon his qualifying meeting for an IEP the school social worker and teachers agreed he needed support. The school psychologist, however, did not agree with the diagnoses. We used protection and advocacy and the local advocacy group but the school psychologist had the final say. Your friend might have better luck.
It went to gov.ed and file a complaint, it is very easy, make sure you follow through though, I dropped the ball and got tired of advocating and focused on my sons needs. We spent 3 years battling with this school they found loop holes with everything, filed two more times with gov.ed, followed through but never heard back. We moved out of that district to solve the problem. Our son and our family paid a terrible price and now he is in inpatient care.
I recommend your friend educate herself about disabilities and rights, go to NICHCY for information and find local advocacy groups have them help, make sure school receive everything in writing, all doctors letters have them give the mother a copy and not just send one to the school (my son's school lost their copies). Your friend will have to advocate that is how IDEA works, nothing changes unless the parents insist on the change but there is support and have the advocate present every school meeting. You can file on the child's behalf with gov.ed just find the link. Good luck to your friend and especially the child.