PSA if your kid is having trouble with letters and reading, don't rely on MCPS to suggest dyslexia

[Anonymous]

My kid's paraeducator says she knew he had dyslexia but was not allowed to suggest that in the 504 meeting. They ended up recommending audiology treatment even though he has no hearing problem. He's actually got very severe dyslexia and ADHD. I finally figured it out myself after years of him not progressing. And then got him private testing and tutoring and later a special ed school. So if you are worried about your kid's reading progress, definitely get them tested!

[Anonymous]

Yes this is correct. Never rely on mcps to identify or treat a learning disability

-an mcps special ediucstor

[Anonymous]

All public school actively try not to diagnose dyslexia despite obvious cases.

Kid made it to 5th grade before we had him tested. “He’s on grade level” every year. Online learning during Covid made it glaringly obvious he was dyslexic. Unless they’re a nuisance in class they just get pushed along.

[Anonymous]

Dyslexia is a diagnosis. Teachers do not have enough information nor expertise to make a diagnosis as they are not Clinicians. They can however suggest evaluation and even make a referral once able to note other interventions that have been tried and things observed.

[Anonymous]

OP - what were the signs or issues? My third grader struggles with reading but she is “on grade level.” We have asked if she can get help from the treading specialist, but was told unless she’s a full grade or two below level, she’s “fine.”

[Anonymous]

This is why we started DD in private school from kindergarten. She got diagnosed with dyslexia at the beginning of 1st grade and is receiving great support and accommodations.

This myth that private schools don’t accommodate SN kids is just that — a myth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - what were the signs or issues? My third grader struggles with reading but she is “on grade level.” We have asked if she can get help from the treading specialist, but was told unless she’s a full grade or two below level, she’s “fine.”

Not OP but do not trust MCPS saying she is on grade level. Get her tested. They have every incentive to pretend that everything is fine. If she is struggling, she needs help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why we started DD in private school from kindergarten. She got diagnosed with dyslexia at the beginning of 1st grade and is receiving great support and accommodations.

This myth that private schools don’t accommodate SN kids is just that — a myth.

This answer is not helpful. This is the MCPS forum. OP is in -- you guessed it -- MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we started DD in private school from kindergarten. She got diagnosed with dyslexia at the beginning of 1st grade and is receiving great support and accommodations.

This myth that private schools don’t accommodate SN kids is just that — a myth.

This answer is not helpful. This is the MCPS forum. OP is in -- you guessed it -- MCPS.

It’s helpful for people who are considering options and are wondering if private schools are better for kids with dyslexia.

If MCPS has problems — and it does — then discussing alternatives is absolutely relevant.

[Anonymous]

Does Montgomery county have free resources or low cost services for kids with dyslexia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - what were the signs or issues? My third grader struggles with reading but she is “on grade level.” We have asked if she can get help from the treading specialist, but was told unless she’s a full grade or two below level, she’s “fine.”

NP, I found this list helpful for my own DC who eventually received dyslexia diagnosis. From [url]https://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia/
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Signs of Dyslexia - Second Grade through High School

Reading
-Very slow in acquiring reading skills. Reading is slow and awkward
-Trouble reading unfamiliar words, often making wild guesses because he cannot sound out the word
-Doesn’t seem to have a strategy for reading new words
-Avoids reading out loud

Speaking
-Searches for a specific word and ends up using vague language, such as “stuff” or “thing,” without naming the object
-Pauses, hesitates, and/or uses lots of “um’s” when speaking
-Confuses words that sound alike, such as saying “tornado” for “volcano,” substituting “lotion” for “ocean”
-Mispronunciation of long, unfamiliar or complicated words
-Seems to need extra time to respond to questions

School and Life
-Trouble remembering dates, names, telephone numbers, random lists
-Struggles to finish tests on time
-Extreme difficulty learning a foreign language
-Poor spelling
-Messy handwriting
-Low self-esteem that may not be immediately visible

Strengths
-Excellent thinking skills: conceptualization, reasoning, imagination, abstraction
-Learning that is accomplished best through meaning rather than rote memorization
-Ability to get the “big picture”
-A high level of understanding of what is read aloud
-The ability to read and to understand at a high level overlearned (or highly practiced) words in a special area of interest; for example, if he or she loves cooking they may be able to read food magazines and cookbooks
-Improvement as an area of interest becomes more specialized and focused—and a miniature vocabulary is developed that allows for reading in that subject area
-A surprisingly sophisticated listening vocabulary
-Excels in areas not dependent on reading, such as math, computers and visual arts, or in more conceptual (versus fact-driven) subjects, including philosophy, biology, social studies, neuroscience and creative writing

[Anonymous]

You could just write "Don't Rely on MCPS' because that is an umbrella statement that's also true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Montgomery county have free resources or low cost services for kids with dyslexia?

Once a child has been diagnosed, they are required to provide "appropriate" services (for free). But they are slow to identify/diagnose and the services they deem appropriate may not be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dyslexia is a diagnosis. Teachers do not have enough information nor expertise to make a diagnosis as they are not Clinicians. They can however suggest evaluation and even make a referral once able to note other interventions that have been tried and things observed.

They do not have to wait for gen ed interventions to fail. Neither do parents -- it explicitly violates IDEA to retire postponing evaluations to wait on response to interventions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's paraeducator says she knew he had dyslexia but was not allowed to suggest that in the 504 meeting. They ended up recommending audiology treatment even though he has no hearing problem. He's actually got very severe dyslexia and ADHD. I finally figured it out myself after years of him not progressing. And then got him private testing and tutoring and later a special ed school. So if you are worried about your kid's reading progress, definitely get them tested!

Just several years ago, schools would not diagnose or provide support for dyslexia since it’s considered a brain based disorder and fell under medical. Since you left, MCPS has trained hundreds of teachers in programs that support students with dyslexia.

I definitely recommend getting a full neuropsych done if you and the teachers are seeing significant learning or developmental delays. At minimum, discuss your concerns with your doctor.