Schools and Advice for Severe Double Deficit Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia in 10 YO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will your current school let you finish the year? Get an ASDEC tutor now if so (screw what the school wants - they clearly can’t effectively educate your kid) and see if that allows enough progress to either stay or be in a better position to apply out.

If you need a school immediately for this year, that’s a whole other kettle of fish.

Op here. I hope they intend to let DC stay bc we have paid, but the emails have already started. I’m tending to agree that we get ASDEC involved anyway assuming the tutor is even still willing after all the BS that happened last year. Will reach out again.

On another note, I am starting to get deeply concerned about DC’s ability to have a future career or job if they are unable to learn to read/write. Even entry-level service jobs require basic literacy skills to communicate with customers, patients, superiors, clients etc. Does anyone else worry about this with their child? What if anything do you have planned? Maybe this is just my anxiety taking over, but we aren’t a trust fund family especially after spending all our money on private special Ed tuition that isn’t even helping.

[Anonymous]

OP, is this a question you could ask ASDEC staff? They should know which schools would work with them/allow push-in services. Your DC sounds awesome and deserves a supportive, social environment AND the learning support they need. I'm sorry your current private has been so resistant. Good luck to you and your family.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old ds has a similar profile op. I understand the anxiety but it’s not necessary especially about a career etc. dyslexia is in many ways a superpower and you have described your son as bright and curious. That’s great. He sounds like he has many strengths which will serve him well.

Direct your energy towards one thing right now - remediating his dyslexia and getting him on grade level or above. That’s it’s. Find a school that can do this. I’m not in the DC area but my ds attends a dyslexia specific school. Only dyslexics - no other learning profiles. He is making good progress towards remediation. This is my ds third school. Started local public then moved to an another public in district with a dyslexia program (did not move the needle for a profile of more severe double deficit dyslexia). Now our second year at a specific private for dyslexia. Yes it’s tough socially to move but I bet your ds will adapt quickly. Plus their confidence will skyrocket once they don’t feel stupid in the classroom - because they aren’t! They are quite bright but need a lot of support to get up the curve with reading and writing.

You are doing a good job. The road isn’t easy but it’s doable and your ds will be able to thrive.

[Anonymous]

Op can’t find quote but yeah, it’s expensive. It sucks. Many of us are in this very pricey shi&ty boat. We are now in public and still supplementing heavily. The answer is: you are going to have to do this yourself. With the level of deficits your son has, you’d have to do it yourself no matter what school he attends. Schools just can’t give him the intensive one on one instruction he needs. Also, where are you?? OG and ASDEC are similar enough every school I’ve talked to has said. Wtf? Just send your kid before or after school. And how you pay for it, that’s all of our question. But you’re right that there’s no future really if he simply cant read nor is that acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Schools should not have to do push ins and its really disruptive to other kids. I would put them in public and spend them money on a tutor for every day as you have to get them reading asap.

[Anonymous]

I can't figure out what school you are at - but not sure it matters.
Here is our journey....
in 3rd grade my child was 2 years behind in reading. After touring Siena, we loved the school but decided not to apply because my child was outside of their sweet spot. We decided that even thought they were right on the cusp - this is not what they target every day and we found a school where there was a much better match.

You need to really look at at what your child's needs are and ask the school for help with placement. They should not just be leaving it up to you as it does not appear that there are behavior issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will your current school let you finish the year? Get an ASDEC tutor now if so (screw what the school wants - they clearly can’t effectively educate your kid) and see if that allows enough progress to either stay or be in a better position to apply out.

If you need a school immediately for this year, that’s a whole other kettle of fish.

Op here. I hope they intend to let DC stay bc we have paid, but the emails have already started. I’m tending to agree that we get ASDEC involved anyway assuming the tutor is even still willing after all the BS that happened last year. Will reach out again.

On another note, I am starting to get deeply concerned about DC’s ability to have a future career or job if they are unable to learn to read/write. Even entry-level service jobs require basic literacy skills to communicate with customers, patients, superiors, clients etc. Does anyone else worry about this with their child? What if anything do you have planned? Maybe this is just my anxiety taking over, but we aren’t a trust fund family especially after spending all our money on private special Ed tuition that isn’t even helping.

Just do the tutor outside of school. I wouldn’t expect the school to cooperate - even if they should, they have shown they won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will your current school let you finish the year? Get an ASDEC tutor now if so (screw what the school wants - they clearly can’t effectively educate your kid) and see if that allows enough progress to either stay or be in a better position to apply out.

If you need a school immediately for this year, that’s a whole other kettle of fish.

Op here. I hope they intend to let DC stay bc we have paid, but the emails have already started. I’m tending to agree that we get ASDEC involved anyway assuming the tutor is even still willing after all the BS that happened last year. Will reach out again.

On another note, I am starting to get deeply concerned about DC’s ability to have a future career or job if they are unable to learn to read/write. Even entry-level service jobs require basic literacy skills to communicate with customers, patients, superiors, clients etc. Does anyone else worry about this with their child? What if anything do you have planned? Maybe this is just my anxiety taking over, but we aren’t a trust fund family especially after spending all our money on private special Ed tuition that isn’t even helping.

Call Asdec now, they will get him reading. See if you can get a tutor before or after school or even bring kid in late to school.

[Anonymous]

I just want to share our journey.
My child exited DC Public Schools after 3rd grade reading at an early 1st grade level.

It was really slow.
4th grade did not see a lot of movement. A lot of the energy was spent on re-establishing a sense of self.
5th grade started making some visible progress in reading.
6th grade confidence with reading and doing it for fun.
7th grade continuing to read for fun. All items on wish list are books (Yes D&D books count)
8th grade no longer in a reading instruction class.

In 3rd grade I had the same feelings - how will my child be able to order food from a menu or fill out a job application. Your child is very lucky to have a parent who is engaged in this process.
A few things - I read to my child each night probably through 5th grade. This was to help with the building vocabulary.
We used audio books a lot (note - audible and the library are much better than the free option through learning ally or speech to text versions)

I would see if there is another school that is a better fit that has space for your child this year. If the current school is planning to cut ties - just do it earlier. They should be willing to sever the contract.

[Anonymous]

How about an OG tutor, not ASDEC, who also uses strong phonological program? Ask your current OG tutor what they do for phonological training. That's often the missing piece - why OG doesn't work as well as it should. Kids really need OG PLUS strong phonological training. If your current tutor says they do a little of this and a little of that for the phonological piece, find an OG tutor with a really strong phonological program like Heggerty or Kilpatrick. Kids Up Reading Coaches has a really strong program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools should not have to do push ins and its really disruptive to other kids. I would put them in public and spend them money on a tutor for every day as you have to get them reading asap.

This is what we ultimately did after a private school “with OG” failed to help.

The ASDEC tutor was amazing and kid finally made progress.

[Anonymous]

What's your jurisdiction? I would spend my money on an advocate/lawyer combo and gun for a private placement. Kids with LDs are the best positioned to get these slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about an OG tutor, not ASDEC, who also uses strong phonological program? Ask your current OG tutor what they do for phonological training. That's often the missing piece - why OG doesn't work as well as it should. Kids really need OG PLUS strong phonological training. If your current tutor says they do a little of this and a little of that for the phonological piece, find an OG tutor with a really strong phonological program like Heggerty or Kilpatrick. Kids Up Reading Coaches has a really strong program.

You have no clue what you’re talking about. ASDEC uses OG and sounds and syllables. It’s the very best there is. It IS OG plus phonological work. Get the information before you opine.

[Anonymous]

Also, please call out the school if they boot you in September after you were already there some years. That's some crazy sh*t and some terrible administration and a total crap way to treat families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about an OG tutor, not ASDEC, who also uses strong phonological program? Ask your current OG tutor what they do for phonological training. That's often the missing piece - why OG doesn't work as well as it should. Kids really need OG PLUS strong phonological training. If your current tutor says they do a little of this and a little of that for the phonological piece, find an OG tutor with a really strong phonological program like Heggerty or Kilpatrick. Kids Up Reading Coaches has a really strong program.

You have no clue what you’re talking about. ASDEC uses OG and sounds and syllables. It’s the very best there is. It IS OG plus phonological work. Get the information before you opine.

DP - I'm relatively new to the dyslexia world (DS was diagnosed earlier this year), but have professional expertise in clinical psychology and clinical neuroscience. One thing that's abundantly clear is that there is no "best" approach to treating dyslexia, not for every kid. ASDEC may or may not be best for the OP's kid, but rigid adherence to one specific model of dyslexia remediation is, if nothing else, not supported by the published, peer-reviewed science.

Being rude to someone who is clearly trying to help a fellow parent isn't a great approach. And especially not when the data doesn't support your assertions.