I would do a letter-typed-dated and sent to counselor, head of Special Education and Principal. You should be able to find these names on the school website. Have a CC on your letter so everyone knows who you have contacted
You dont want information on IEPs-you want testing. I would find the law giving the number of days they have to do this testing after your official request-Im guessing 60 SCHOOL days but that is a guess-look it up.
Count those days out-it will be forever with holidays, half days, etc and make it clear you expect testing to be done by that date. If they are unable to test her with their resources, they must fund outside testing. You dont need to SAY that-the point is you are letting them know that you have read your rights
Dont be nice-dont use humor(Im the same way with the humor to 'diffuse' things). They will take you more seriously if you have read your rights and are businesslike
There are parent advocates who specialize in this sort of thing but Im not sure how to find them. You could google for your area of course. The other things would be to contact an organization in your area for a certain disability, like autism. They will likely have those names available(and they wont only serve kids with autism-its just an easy way to get that info)
Sorry to hear of the problems your dd is having in school. A thorough evaluation cannot hurt. It will likely verify what you've been thinking all along,that she's dyslexic, but it may also uncover other problems and identifying them is the first step in ameliorating them.
It sounds like your dd may have a working memory deficit and I remember reading that there are exercises one can do for that. A good neuropsyochologist or psychologist should be able to help, as well as make recommendations for her dyslexia. I suggest going to a community psych over a school psych, only because I've seen too many kids denied special ed (quality special instruction) because of the schools' narrow definitions and budget restrictions. Also, if she DOES decide to go to college someday, the results of the evaluation would be helpful to counselors and to get accomodations. Often medical insurance covers these pricey evaluations--call ahead to be sure. And ask around to find a good one. One that we used to refer clients to is dyslexic, himself.
Another reason I recommend a non-school psych is that I believe they do a more thorough evaluation with regard to emotional disorders and so many LD kids, after years of stressful schooling and feeling "different", develop them.
It's funny you mention that she wants to be an ultrasound tech. At the center where I used to work, we had a 23 yo young woman come in seeking tutoring. She had received Orton-Gillingham (O-G)tutoring as a 3rd/4th grader, and then stopped because her family moved. She now drives 45 miles, one way, for tutoring because both she and her mom know that O-G based tutoring works. She remembers being told from first grade on that she was lazy. She had a rollercoaster of a life--diagnosed & medicated for bipolar, gained tons of weight as a young teen, in and out of hospitals, had a baby around age 18. She said she does not remember being in a regular classroom, for a full year of school since about 7th grade. She communicates very well and she, also, wants to be an ultrasound tech. I volunteered (the center does not officially tutor in math)to help her with math, while another tutor did the O-G tutoring. She had a great attitude was making slow, steady progress.
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Thanks Sue - Sadly every year seems to be like this and I hate that I've been so easily persuaded that "she's fine" and brushed off.
The thing that gets me with dd, is once you get her fired up about something she can argue with the best of them!!
Thanks Sue for that tip - I had no idea!
I would do a letter-typed-dated and sent to counselor, head of Special Education and Principal. You should be able to find these names on the school website. Have a CC on your letter so everyone knows who you have contacted
You dont want information on IEPs-you want testing. I would find the law giving the number of days they have to do this testing after your official request-Im guessing 60 SCHOOL days but that is a guess-look it up.
Count those days out-it will be forever with holidays, half days, etc and make it clear you expect testing to be done by that date. If they are unable to test her with their resources, they must fund outside testing. You dont need to SAY that-the point is you are letting them know that you have read your rights
Dont be nice-dont use humor(Im the same way with the humor to 'diffuse' things). They will take you more seriously if you have read your rights and are businesslike
There are parent advocates who specialize in this sort of thing but Im not sure how to find them. You could google for your area of course. The other things would be to contact an organization in your area for a certain disability, like autism. They will likely have those names available(and they wont only serve kids with autism-its just an easy way to get that info)
Sorry to hear of the problems your dd is having in school. A thorough evaluation cannot hurt. It will likely verify what you've been thinking all along,that she's dyslexic, but it may also uncover other problems and identifying them is the first step in ameliorating them.
It sounds like your dd may have a working memory deficit and I remember reading that there are exercises one can do for that. A good neuropsyochologist or psychologist should be able to help, as well as make recommendations for her dyslexia. I suggest going to a community psych over a school psych, only because I've seen too many kids denied special ed (quality special instruction) because of the schools' narrow definitions and budget restrictions. Also, if she DOES decide to go to college someday, the results of the evaluation would be helpful to counselors and to get accomodations. Often medical insurance covers these pricey evaluations--call ahead to be sure. And ask around to find a good one. One that we used to refer clients to is dyslexic, himself.
Another reason I recommend a non-school psych is that I believe they do a more thorough evaluation with regard to emotional disorders and so many LD kids, after years of stressful schooling and feeling "different", develop them.
It's funny you mention that she wants to be an ultrasound tech. At the center where I used to work, we had a 23 yo young woman come in seeking tutoring. She had received Orton-Gillingham (O-G)tutoring as a 3rd/4th grader, and then stopped because her family moved. She now drives 45 miles, one way, for tutoring because both she and her mom know that O-G based tutoring works. She remembers being told from first grade on that she was lazy. She had a rollercoaster of a life--diagnosed & medicated for bipolar, gained tons of weight as a young teen, in and out of hospitals, had a baby around age 18. She said she does not remember being in a regular classroom, for a full year of school since about 7th grade. She communicates very well and she, also, wants to be an ultrasound tech. I volunteered (the center does not officially tutor in math)to help her with math, while another tutor did the O-G tutoring. She had a great attitude was making slow, steady progress.
I hope things improve soon for your dd.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM
Thanks,
Thanks Janet, I had never heard of the O-G and went and did some research and read through all the dyslexia stuff.
Let me know if you get anywhere with that.
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