We don’t Test for Dyslexia… Part III

Posted by Susan Epstein on September 14th, 2009 at 09:34am

Since school is pretty much in full swing throughout the country… the emails and phone calls have begun again. Parent’s are picking up where they left off in working with their child’s schools to insure that their child with special needs (or yet to be identified) is receiving the services that they are legally entitled to.
As parents continue on this journey they have been sharing with me some of the stupid things that schools are saying to them. I’ve received several based on the same theme…your child is too smart or their grades are too good to be eligible for special ED services.
Here’s a variation on the theme for a child with ADHD, executive function disorders, and slow processing speed. The mother asked that her daughter’s homework assignments be modified as part of the accommodations in her IEP. The school responded that they would not include that because she was too smart. It would be almost like saying that a child who is visually impaired didn’t need to use materials written in Braille because he was too smart.
Recently at a team meeting for a student entering middle school we asked that he have access to his homework assignments on line. He has ADHD, depression, anxiety, executive functioning disorder, and extremely slow processing abilities. The Special ED Team Chairperson explained to me that she cannot force teachers to put their assignments on line if they don’t want to do it. I looked back at her in bewilderment. I wouldn’t say that teachers should be forced to do anything, but since this child already has an IEP and this accommodation is necessary for him to access the curriculum all of his teachers will comply.
Learning disabilities affect children of all ability levels. Sometimes, learning disabilities are experienced by students who have above average abilities in academic areas. Schools cannot tell you that because your child is bright or is receiving passing grades that he/she is not eligible to be evaluated and/or to receive Special ED services.
The Special ED Law (IDEA) is on your side. The law requires the school to evaluate your child if you request testing. According to IDEA regulation 300.101(c), the school must provide special education to a child with a disability “even though the child has not failed or been retained in a course or grade, and is advancing from grade to grade.
If you have any “stupid statements” you’d like to share please email me at mindy@parentingpowers.com. The first five respondents will receive a free 45 minute strategic consult with me.