Dyslexia & FCPS

[Anonymous]

After 3 Psychological evaluations the unique nature of my child's issues were clearly identified as were reccommendations for FCPS. FCPS would not use one recommendation from any of the three reports in her IEP despite my urging. The arrogance that FCPS knows better and are "experts" on everything from soup to nuts is unreal. FCPS tried local home grown testing and intervention although not one person in contact with my child knew anything about dyslexia. How can FCPS dare to claim they are the experts? They referred me to the reading specialist who explained to me she knows nothing about dyslexia and that she mainly works with the GT students.
FCPS claims they are using peer reviewed strategies. There is no such thing. If a program is peer reviewed it is the program in it's entirety that is peer reviewed. One cannot take bits and pieces of a systematic, sequential peer reviewed and scientifically validated program and say that the bits and pieces seperate from the program are peer reviewed. It is the fact that the program requires data, has fidelity to a manual and requires certified teachers that it is scientifically validated and peer reviewed. When we asked for any data or the manual FCPS stated they do not keep data.
This was the only thing we asked for from the county- a scientifiaclly validated, peer reviewed program so that we could have data that supported my childs progress against her peer level taught with consistancy and validated to show progress. Having no Scientifically validated and peer reviewed program is akin to going to a doctor and the doctor takes a stab at what you might have as an ailment even though he has x-rays and other test results that he is refusing to look at or consider. That same doctor cannot tell you your chances of recovery since he is not quite sure what you have but he gives you a general therapeutic treatment. Would you ever go to a doctor like this? I sure would like to know what I have more specifically, what the correct treatment is and use the corrective measures meant for my specific ailment.
I am disgusted at FCPS wait to fail policy. They routinely fail to screen for dyslexia until third grade.
FCPS states they use the term "reading disability" and not dyslexia to avoid confusion. Who do they think they are fooling? Those of us with children diagnosed with dyslexia have in hand a report that we share typically with FCPS outlining exactly what our childrens issues are. There is no confusion. FCPS reframes any discussion about Reading disability with regard to referrals and inquires from parents so they can change the discussion from dyslexia to reading comprehension to get the parents to try to do the same and again lump their child in with all reading disordered children. They do not answer the question asked they answer the question they wanted you to have asked.
Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - My DD had trouble with reading in kindergarten. FCPS said wait; reading specialist said we won't know anything until 3rd grade. DD still had trouble in 1st grade. I asked for testing and school refused because her grades were too high. I got private testing with a diagnosis. School said we can't do anything until she is two grade levels behind - she must fail before we can help her. So we had to go to private school -- She just could not be writing book reports along with the rest of the 1st grade class without any help.

So maybe your school is unique, but the elementary school we attend has been horrible. None of the special ed teachers are trained in dyslexia, the reading specialist doesn't know one thing about it, and neither do the teachers. But I don't mean to sound like I am blaming them -- I blame the system and the schools that offer education degrees., The teachers who are open to learning about dyslexia are always shocked that they did not learn about it in school or in their continuing ed training, especially since it is so prevalent and treatable.

I have talked to FCPS administrators about this problem and they have done nothing to address it. Yet lots of other smaller school systems throughout the country formally recognize dyslexia and even routinely screen for it in kindergarten! From a cost perspective, this is much less expensive....and think about all of the ways kids can be helped through early identification.

Ditto at MCPS - private augmented with educational therapy by a person trained in dyslexia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree with 20:24. I have two dyslexic children and I have NEVER come across a single teacher or specialist or administrator in FCPS who knows anything about dyslexia. This is absolutely ridiculous. Our school even has a reading specialist who knows nothing about it. It boggles my mind since the research is out there, and the prevalence is so high. FCPS is one of the largest and wealthiest school systems in the entire United States. Take a look at all the administrative staff that our taxpayer dollars support -- all of the employees developing FCPS curriculum, teacher training, fancy FCPS brochures....and yet NOBODY is addressing an easily diagnosed, easily remediated, and very common learning disability. There was an article in the Fairfax Times two weeks ago on this very topic. http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=3101

In the article, there is mentioned a 6 weeks summer camp for dyslexia. Anyone who knows the name of the camp? I am interested to get my child into such a camp. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Asdec.org has one - prob not the one mentioned in the article but you could probably call and ask if they know about one in faifax.

[Anonymous]

My son attends elementary school in FCPS and recently was diagnosed with dyslexia. We had him evaluated privately because, after pressing the school for a year, the Local Screening Committee refused to consider it. Interestingly, my son's 2nd and 3rd grade teachers were the ones who continually raised their concerns about his reading, writing, and spelling issues. Once he was diagnosed an IEP was developed, and services will begin in September when he begins 4th grade.

I have significant concerns about the IEP. For example, no one in the Special Ed department is familiar with reading programs, such as the Orton--Gillingham programs and the Wilson Reading System, that are evidence-based and scientifically proven to help children with dyslexia. If they are not using programs proven to help, why ARE the FCPS schools wasting our children's precious time? And why, in a county long considered to have the best school system in the US, are their no dyslexia specialists or even teachers familiar with these programs? A first grade teacher I know outside Dallas, TX reported that HER SCHOOL has a dyslexia specialist! And Fairfax has none in the county???

I also wonder about the children whose parents cannot afford the significant fee for private testing and who never get identified by FCPS. These children are at risk of struggling with reading their entire lives! How does this "Leave NO Child Behind?

[Anonymous]

To the person who asked about camps that helps children who are dyslexic- My child attended a six week camp last summer run by the LindaMood Bell program out of DC.
It was held here in Fairfax. Just know that we spent almost $20,000 for this summer program out of our pocket. We were desperate. FCPS refused to reimburse us despite our notifying FCPS well in advance (a legal requirement to be reimbursed). We also filed state complaints and won to which FCPS also denied they had done anything wrong and refused to reimburse us or change anything about the way they were teaching our child. Blows us away!

[Anonymous]

PP, what does it mean that you "won" the state complaints? Did they force the county to reimburse you for the cost of the program?

Also, how much did your child progress during this 6 week period at the Lindamood bell program?

[Anonymous]

11:59 - This is just my opinion for what it's worth, but I would be VERY careful about your son's IEP for dyslexia. From my experience, untrained FCPS personnel do more harm than good. The lack of knowledge about dyslexia in Fairfax County is mind-boggling - even the best teachers don't know much about it. Getting services that do not properly remediate for dyslexia is far worse than getting no services at all. I would seriously reconsider what the school is offering and look into remediating privately. No, you shouldn't have to pay for something the school should be providing for free -- but please weigh that over the possible harm they could be doing, as well as the time delay in getting your child properly serviced.

[Anonymous]

I live in Michigan and I am appalled at the number of teachers I have come across who have no knowledge of dyslexia. This is a testament to their unprofessionalism. No excuses, sorry. It is unprofessional, period. If you are in the learning field and don't have a clue about an issue that affects learning, then you obviously went into the profession for the wrong reasons. You wish to keep your heads in the sand. It's the easy way out.

[Anonymous]

11:59 I have the same situation as you in MCPS. Dyslexic child with an IEP..but no one tranined in any of the recommended programs. A principal that has out right said nothing can be done aside from accomodations. We do everything privately. I worry for families that don't have the resources..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Michigan and I am appalled at the number of teachers I have come across who have no knowledge of dyslexia. This is a testament to their unprofessionalism. No excuses, sorry. It is unprofessional, period. If you are in the learning field and don't have a clue about an issue that affects learning, then you obviously went into the profession for the wrong reasons. You wish to keep your heads in the sand. It's the easy way out.

I took one special education class in my teacher training program. We briefly touched on different learning problems including dyslexia. Some people believe that there is no such thing as dyslexia and it is rather an issue with poor phonics training. What I mean is that the schools of education need to prepare regular ed teachers better for kids with special needs. One required class isn't enough. We read and talked about dyslexia for about 15 mins tops.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you PP about the poor teacher training. My sister has a Master's in special education. So when I first suspected dyslexia, I turned to her. Guess what? She knew NOTHING about it. She didn't even recall studying it in a well-respected Master's program in SPECIAL EDUCATION! So it is not just the general ed teachers that aren't informed, but the special education teachers as well.

So after years of trying, my dyslexic child finally has an IEP for writing. But the special ed teacher doesn't know what to do with her because she's so smart. So just because you might get an IEP, it means nothing if the teachers aren't qualified to give your child what they need. In the fall, I am refusing all services because I think they hurt more than they helped -- but can't stand to think about all of the time and money I wasted on a consultant fighting for a worthless IEP!

[Anonymous]

When we have to educate the educators, something is very wrong. It invites misunderstanding and the child suffers even more. The teacher then becomes a part of the problem. I have come across some excellent teachers who are not only knowledgeable about dyslexia, but who also have the compassion to deal with it in a way that helps, encourages and supports. Those are true professionals who are always striving to improve and be the best teacher they can be: the ones who chose the profession for the right reasons. They very likely picked up (themselves) where ignorant college programs left off. Unfortunately, they are few and far between and we are lucky to get them.

[Anonymous]

I am reading this and am astounded that FCPS is behind....DCPS!? My son was acknowledged in third grade as having a diagnosis of dyslexia (though it took a speech pathologist and neuropsych testing to confirm it.) It is an auditory dyslexia - though many people think dyslexia is a visual disorder only ( it can be). However, I believe the law requires dyslexia and several other disabilities to be listed as "Specific Learning Disability" in an IEP, but the reportd use the word dyslexia. That said, I got DCPS to pay for 3 weeks of Lindamood Bell training (we had evidence that previous LB training that had worked, but DC needed one-on-one intensive and had no one in the system to do it) and for the last 2 years, his SpecEd teacher has been using the Wilson Reading Program with him. This summer, he's also been given 6 weeks of FastForWord and is maintaining grade level reading skills - so he's reading at 6th grade level even though it has been a slog. He jumped from first to 4th grade reading with the LB program.

Please know that we hired a consultant and threatened to sue - or none of this would have happened.

[Anonymous]

I just read these listing and think it is all so sad.

We all have the same story. I raised concerns about my now 2nd grader from the second week of Kindergarten, after I got a DRA score. No one else seemed to think is reading problems were worrisome. Just read to him, he has to be 2 years behind....

During his first grade year we paid (>3K) for independent testing got the dyslexia dx, and now he has an IEP.

But, the teacher this year didn't even know he was dyslexic.

Whenever I raise the issue with the principle she says dyslexia is a broad term. I don't even know how to respond.

To make matters worse, our tutor quit, she found it too hard to work with him. Her "environment" wasn't good for him. So, school won't solve the problem (because they didn't think there was a problem), and independent tutor expert quits.... great start!

We have a new tutor now, whom I am confident will help, and an IEP. I only hope the IEP, with the new "Readwell" program will not do harm as the other post inferred.

Someone should print out this and show it to FCPS, but I wonder if it would make a difference.

I cannot imagine a school with a dyslexia expert!