We don’t Test for Dyslexia… And Other Stupid Things School Say
Posted by Susan Epstein on June 22nd, 2009 at 12:42pm
Mindy Mazur-
Special Ed Parent Coach
Every time I think I’ve heard it all, someone in a school (usually a teacher) says something that makes my jaw drop. I don’t have any scientific proof but I would say that school year 2008-2009 was especially jaw dropping. I believe it could be attributed to the financial meltdown of our economy and the added stress it has caused. Cities and towns have even less resources to provide all essential services and a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) for our students. But this is not an excuse, it’s a possible explanation.
But I digress. “We don’t test for dyslexia” was an actual response a mother of a 14 year old was given when she shared the difficulties her daughter was having with reading. She also received two Fs on her final report card. The same mother was also told by another educator “that you are born with dyslexia so it would already be known by now if she had it.”
Even if they were correct, they offered no other solutions. They basically closed the door on investigating what was causing this student‘s reading difficulties. Not only were the statements incorrect, they were not in compliance with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal legislation. The state must identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities who need special education and related services. This is called Child Find. If a student is not making effective progress or has had difficulty learning a school professional may ask that a child be evaluated to see if he or she has a disability. Parents may also contact the child’s teacher or other school professionals to ask that their child be evaluated. Always put request in writing and if its hand delivered request a receipt. If sent through US postal service send it certified or registered. School personnel will have to sign for it in order to receive it.
I would love to hear any of the “stupid statements school say” you’ve heard. Please write back to my email mindy@parentingpowers.com . To make it more fun, the first five respondents will receive a free 30 minute special ed strategy session with me.
Tags: Dyslexia, Special Ed, Special Ed Parent Coach
Under Children+ Teens/Tweens
10 Comments for We don’t Test for Dyslexia… And Other Stupid Things School Say
1. Dan Prince | June 22nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I like your post. I agree with you, but I offer another potential reason why teachers and other school staff give parents ridiculous, if not unethical, responses. Parents are ignorant! Parents need to know their rights and their children’s rights. In addition, we need to demand that teachers that don’t cut the mustard, either in terms of teaching, or in identifying children with potential disabilities, get removed from the system.
I know we don’t pay teachers enough, but that is no reason for accepting mediocrity when it comes to our next generation’s education.
2. Samantha | June 23rd, 2009 at 5:16 am
I also agree that teachers can say some stupid things. However I am both a teacher and parent – so find myself in that difficult position of being the parent who does know their rights but can’t always force them as I teach at my daughters school.
In England we also do not test for dyslexia specifically, and it cannot be shown until the child is at least 7, but we can do lots of other tests that can give us indicators and then refer the children/parents to appropriate help.
I too find it disturbing that some teachers seem to just give up on certain children, and don’t want to give that extra support for them – in my recent class i have 6 children who were significantly behind their peers and I spent 3 lunchtimes a week giving them extra support, why? because I would hope that if my daughter was in the same position her teacher would do the same.
Teaching is meant to be a vocation not just a job.
3. Mindy | June 23rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
Hi Dan: Thanks for your post. You made some excellent points which I totally agree with. I agree that parents lack knowledge on special ed regs and laws. For some families being on top of this information is more than they are able to manage (working, other children etc.).
If parents lack special ed law knowledge I would suggest that they question authority always. I believe this is key to why schools get away with making stupid statements. Parents initially believe that they are speaking with professionals who probably know more than they do.
If what they say doesn’t sound right, then it is probably wrong.
Call a friend, go on line, or call someone like me to find out what the law says.
4. Melissa Allen | June 25th, 2009 at 6:07 am
My friend was told by a school pyschologist that her son’s brain was lick a bucket and it would only hold so much information and she needed to pick and choose what to put in there. What a ridiculous statement from an educator.
5. Mindy | June 30th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Hi Melissa:
Wow…and this is an educator who said that! Thanks for sharing. You are one of the five first respondents and you (or your friend) are entitled to a free 30 minute special ed strategic session.
Hope to hear back from you if you are interested,
Mindy
6. Sue | July 21st, 2009 at 8:29 am
Best one was “We can’t put goals and objectives into the IEP, if we do we are required to meet them.” Well duh….
7. Mindy | July 21st, 2009 at 11:04 am
Hi Sue:
Well… at least they are being upfront. Oy Vey!
8. Cindi | July 21st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Here’s the comment that I hear the most,” Our school does not offer OT, PT, tutoring, etc. therefore we cannot give your child that service.” If parents are not aware of their rights, meaning that if the school does not have the specialist deemed appropriate in the IEP, the school still is legally obligated to provide the service either by:
1. Transporting the child to another district that offers the service at the school’s expense.
2. Reinbursing the parents if they transport the child themselves to get the service.
3. Hire someone who indeed can service the child.
4. If the child is young enough, having the professional go to the child’s home and provide the service there.
Parents, please go to Wrightslaw.com to read in simple termonology what your rughts are; you owe this to your child.
9. WillG | October 21st, 2010 at 11:10 am
I know I am like a year late discovering this post, but yes I going through this right now, the school said they dont test for dyslexia because scientifically it is not considered a learning disability… UMmm WTH
10. Mindy Mazur | October 21st, 2010 at 11:40 am
Hi: Thanks for writing. All that you have been told is false. I provided some information below from a wonderful resource ldonline.org. You didn’t mention where you live, but if it’s in the US all states must follow the federal law: IDEA. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance
“Dyslexia is a language-based disability derived from differences in brain structure and brain function. Although dyslexia presents itself somewhat differently in each person, it has some common characteristics that can be determined through evaluation.
Individuals with dyslexia need special programs to learn to read, write, and spell. Traditional educational programs are not always effective for individuals with dyslexia.
Individuals with dyslexia require a structured language program. Direct instruction in the code of written language (the letter-sound system) is critical. This code must be taught bit by bit, in a sequential, cumulative way. There must be systematic teaching of the rules governing written language. This approach is called structured, or systematic language instruction.
Individuals with dyslexia require multisensory delivery of language content. Instruction that is multisensory employs all pathways of learning –at the same time, seeing, hearing, touching, writing, and speaking. Such delivery requires a teacher or therapist who is specifically trained in a program which research has documented to be effective for dyslexic individuals.
Under IDEA (federal special education law), a full and free individual educational evaluation may be requested from the public school district or public charter school at no cost to parents, if there is a suspicion of a disability and need for special education services. You should write to the director of special education in your school district with copies to your child’s teacher and the principal of your child’s school to request an educational evaluation.
Check with your state educational agency, school administrators, regional education service center, or state education agency for any rules that are specific to your state. For more detailed information, see http://www.nichcy.org/pubs1.htm.
Several different tests are used to make a diagnosis. The testing should include the following:
Testing of intelligence to determine:
* your child’s overall learning ability
Testing of reading to determine:
* word reading skills
* reading vocabulary
* reading comprehension – oral and silent
* phonological processing skills (awareness of speech sounds)
* rapid, automatic naming skills
Testing of writing to determine:
* understanding of sentence and paragraph structure
* level of mechanics – spelling, grammar, handwriting
* measure of content/ideas
Testing of oral language to determine:
* auditory processing and comprehension
* expressive language skills
* linguistic awareness skills
Testing of math to determine:
* basic computation skills
* basic concept understanding
* reasoning skills and application of skills”
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