My child has a written language disability. I want him to learn to write and spell. The IEP team won't write any IEP goals to address the written language deficits because they say "it is not serious enough". 

Do you have ideas I can use to help the IEP team understand that he needs to learn to write and spell? 

FROM SUE

A written language disability is not insigificant if a child intends to go to college, or may decide later to go to college, and his handwriting skills will negatively affect his ability to express himself in writing. 

The purpose of the IDEA changed with IDEA 2004. 

IDEA 97 said:

IDEA 2004 says:

Preparing Children for Further Education 

For many disabled children, preparation for further education means college. 

College means SATs. SATs have a written expression component. Your child needs to master the components of written expression - - handwriting, grammar, spelling,  mechanics of writing. 

You may believe he can use a computer instead of expressing himself by writing. Not necessarily so.

According to the College Board that administers the SAT, if a student wants to use a computer for the writing portion of the SAT, that student has to provide an evaluation documenting that he can't write. A history of using a computer as an accommodation is not sufficient documentation. 
 
http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/index.html
http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/prof/compaccom.html 

IDEA 04 also requires schools to provide transition services that address functional skills, xxx 

This means the IEP team needs to focus on improving his functional skills so he can make a smooth transition to "further education." 

Strategy

Write a letter that documents the IEP team's position - that the team will not write IEP goals that address his written language disability and teach him how to write and spell. You might add that this is your understanding of what the team told you. If you are mistaken, please advise.

Ask the private sector evaluator If you have not done so already,