APS & diagnosing learning disabilities

[Anonymous]

We sent our child (current 5th grader) to a private school last year after the horrendous handling of COVID by APS

The new school has uncovered that he has significant learning disabilities and desperately needed an IEP and extra support. They are shocked this was not diagnosed in earlier school years at APS. I've always had concerns but the teachers consistently reassured me he was doing fine. At this age, it is increasingly difficult to help him catch up. We are livid at their ignorance.

Just a warning - for any APS families with concerns regarding potential learning disabilities, do not take the teacher's word for it. Get a private assessment and lawyer if the school refuses to help.

[Anonymous]

from what I've heard, APS is not a good system for learning disabilities. It is not in their best interest to diagnose a disability, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

This is really common across all the public school systems in NOVA. It happens regularly. Many teachers just don't have the experience or knowledge to really recognize learning disabilities. Also they can't diagnose a child which makes them very hesitant to even suggest there might be a need for an evaluation.

So sadly you are in good company and really you did catch early because some kids make it all the way to high school without getting a diagnosis or help.

[Anonymous]

If you request that they evaluate your kid for a learning disability, they are legally obligated to do an evaluation. But yeah, in general, public schools are not forthcoming about that unless you know to ask.

[Anonymous]

This is true everywhere. Teachers are not trained/qualified to make diagnoses.

If your kid has any trouble with reading/writing/math after 2nd grade, get your kid evaluated. If you can, privately. If not, then push it with the school.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately APS' parent disability groups (ASEAC and SEPTA) are dominated by closed schoolers and forced child maskers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately APS' parent disability groups (ASEAC and SEPTA) are dominated by closed schoolers and forced child maskers

Infuriating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is true everywhere. Teachers are not trained/qualified to make diagnoses.

If your kid has any trouble with reading/writing/math after 2nd grade, get your kid evaluated. If you can, privately. If not, then push it with the school.

And unfortunately, 3rd grade was 90% remote so everything was brushed off due to covid closings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really common across all the public school systems in NOVA. It happens regularly. Many teachers just don't have the experience or knowledge to really recognize learning disabilities. Also they can't diagnose a child which makes them very hesitant to even suggest there might be a need for an evaluation.

So sadly you are in good company and really you did catch early because some kids make it all the way to high school without getting a diagnosis or help.

This issue is common in schools across this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really common across all the public school systems in NOVA. It happens regularly. Many teachers just don't have the experience or knowledge to really recognize learning disabilities. Also they can't diagnose a child which makes them very hesitant to even suggest there might be a need for an evaluation.

So sadly you are in good company and really you did catch early because some kids make it all the way to high school without getting a diagnosis or help.

This issue is common in schools across this country.

Sad..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately APS' parent disability groups (ASEAC and SEPTA) are dominated by closed schoolers and forced child maskers

Here come the APE trolls attacking the disability groups now. Have you no shame?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We sent our child (current 5th grader) to a private school last year after the horrendous handling of COVID by APS

The new school has uncovered that he has significant learning disabilities and desperately needed an IEP and extra support. They are shocked this was not diagnosed in earlier school years at APS. I've always had concerns but the teachers consistently reassured me he was doing fine. At this age, it is increasingly difficult to help him catch up. We are livid at their ignorance.

Just a warning - for any APS families with concerns regarding potential learning disabilities, do not take the teacher's word for it. Get a private assessment and lawyer if the school refuses to help.

This has been going on in APS for years. Go tell the School Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately APS' parent disability groups (ASEAC and SEPTA) are dominated by closed schoolers and forced child maskers

Here come the APE trolls attacking the disability groups now. Have you no shame?

Yup, it's clearly the APEs. They're the only ones who talk like that. Those nutjobs are just awful. No wonder everyone in APS hates them and their school board candidate tanked.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry your child's learning disabilities weren't identified earlier and it's great he is now getting the support he needs. That said, I would be surprised if most parents (who are lucky enough to have the resources to do so) didn't already know how important private testing can be. You blame APS and you are so "livid at their ignorance" that you are warning other parents to "lawyer up" but perhaps deep down you are angry at your own ignorance and failure to advocate for your child as strongly as you could have. Teachers aren't diagnosticians who can tease out every special need, as much as we wish this were the case. Given your own concerns, you should have requested an evaluation from the school, which they would have been required to do. Without that, you don't know if and how they could have accommodated your child. I know schools can and often should do better but I don't think it's fair or helpful to lay blame in thie way that OP has done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately APS' parent disability groups (ASEAC and SEPTA) are dominated by closed schoolers and forced child maskers

Go away. Rational people are talking.