Comments on: All Parents with Kids in Special Ed Need to See This Video

By: Morning

Morning — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:30:46 +0000

One of my friends, instead of fighting with the school about an IEE, paid for one on her own via her insurance and the school accepted the report and implemented the recommendations. She found an open door and she got help for her child.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:34:43 +0000

Patricia: You can opt to get an outside reading test from a professional at public expense if you are unsatisfied with the testing results of the school. We did that with our dyslexic son. The results and recommendations from the outside professional were excellent and the school implemented them. There is a good book called “overcoming dyslexia” that is extremely helpful.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:21:42 +0000

I hope and pray that a wonderful ending will happen to our 6th grade son here in GA.

He’s still struggling with reading, just had a Retest by a reading specialist. The special education teacher seems not to understand dyslexia and at IEP meetings, refers to all of her students when asked about specific strategies, AT, and resources for our son. He repeatedly describes what is it like when he reads and can’t remember and comprehend what he have read.
We keep in touch, ask to meet and discuss problems in his subjects, yet surprisingly, fails science even though his mid quarter progress reports, emails, and meetings had no indications.
Per our request, we will meet with the reading specialist again to explain the second reading (Retest) because she can only give results off the top of her head the first time. HELP!

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:36:26 +0000

My son has dyslexia. I requested from two different school districts to test him and I was told by both that they did not test for dyslexia. So I had him tested privately.

Why did both schools lie to me??? This does need to stop.

By: Bob C

Bob C — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:12:37 +0000

Thanks for the post. My sister-in-law just published an article about the Orton-Gillingham method that does a good job of explaining how it works – http://www.thesmartbean.com/magazine/special-needs/orton-gillingham-method/

By: Wrightslaw

Wrightslaw — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:11:26 +0000

Once in college, your child must self-identify a disability and self-advocate for accommodations. Has your daughter contacted the disability support office at the school? Usually, the disability support office can recommend getting waivers of requirements. If your daughter had an IEP in high school, these IDEA rights do not follow her into college. But Section 504 provides protections after she leaves public school.

At some universities, students enhance their chances of getting waivers of requirements if they have a history of meeting the requirements for a learning disability in high school, had an accommodation plan in high school, and bring this documentation with them when they meet with staff at the university.

You’ll find helpful information and resources on these pages
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/college.index.htm
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/parent-20070316.pdf
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.college.accoms.brown.htm
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1155&Itemid=64

More about self-advocacy – http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.selfadvo.nancy.james.htm

By: radine

radine — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:41:34 +0000

i need information on my child in college which is considered a special education child and the professor she asked for help said that he doesnt have time to help her . What as a parent can i do? she is trying to be a hygienest and is in her last year in college, it taken her 3 years in stead of 2.

By: Susan B

Susan B — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:25:02 +0000

Jack: The term learning disability does not always imply dyslexia. Is it a non verbal LD? Is it dyscalculia, auditory processing disorder, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, visual processing disorder, what???? In order for us to make a IEP individualized we must put a name on the face of the enemy. What type of LD? Surely the same type of instruction would not address all of these. They don’t all suffer from dyslexia. What type of individualized instruction does they child need in order to progress and participate in the general education curriculum?

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:17:13 +0000

Fortunately, TX law requires schools to have a dyslexia program that is not part of the special ed program. I understand that a few other states have similar laws. If parent groups would work together, perhaps this could be achieved in other states.

By: Pam Wright

Pam Wright — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Jack: You make a good point. IMO “learning disability” is a generic term that doesn’t provide enough information about the child’s problems and needs. Since the IDEA lists “dyslexia” as a learning disability, those of us who are not educators think it’s odd that schools refuse to use the term.

The law includes “visual impairment” – that term covers a huge amount of ground too. Imagine what would happen if a school provided the same educational program to all kids with visual impairments – from astigmatism to cortical blindness.

It’s impossible to create an educational program that is tailored to a child’s unique needs unless you clearly define those needs.