G.,
I think it is time to take a deep breath here and settle in to what you can do right now instead of focusing on your fear for the future.
I think you may have some of what is going on a little confused, social security is available to some children with disabilies but is not going to be providing services for your son to improve his skills. Have you been sent there to get payments? If he is on an IEP, is he attending a public preschool? If he is on an IEP he has an evaluation, what did it say? Does he have a diagnosis? What are they providing for in his IEP?
I wonder if maybe you meant to say that the preschool has suggested an IEP evaluation and that is what you mean by an appointment with social security? If so, the IEP team will be from your local school district instead of the federal government, and if you have not been through a process that includes evaluation with your local school district, you are missing a very important step for your son. The first step in this process is for you to meet with a team of intervention specialists from the local school district, and they will make a plan for how to evaluate him, and you will have to give your consent to do that and bring him to the evaluation. Within 45 school days, they must complete the evaluation and meet with you to tell you what the evaluation found, then if he meets the criteria for IDEA services, they will offer the services they think are appropirate for him through an IEP. Does that ring a bell with you? If not, you should write to your school district and get this process started now.
In addition to the school district, you need to get a private evaluation. If you cannot afford one, contact Easter Seals, they can help you with evaluation services that you can afford. Make the arriangements for this on Tuesday! Waiting is not a good idea when it comes to developmental issues. When you make appointements with either the school or a provider, do not try to ask for any specified evaluation (do not say, I think my child has a speech problem, or ADHD, or a learning disablilty) say that you want a comprehensive evaluation of his development because he is not meeting his milestones. Let them ask you the relevent questions because if you limit the scope of the evaluation yourself, you may miss big parts of the issue.
Last, take your self out of the picture. It is not about what you don't need. It is about your son and what he does need, and what he needs you to focus on today in the here and now. Get him evaluated, get him served appropriately, and know what is going on with your son so that you are certain he is getting all the intervention he needs.
If the process is overwhelming, hire an advocate. Go to www.wrightslaw.com and check the yellow pages for MN. You may find many resources that will help you cope like local support groups for your school district.
You son needs you to get him help now. Put your fear to good use and do what needs to be done to help him today.
M.