Looking for a private school to accomodate dyslexia...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most will accommodate dyslexia, I think, but you will need to be in charge of the extra supports needed. And there will be extras, like tutoring. How old is your child, OP, and how new is the dx? Do go over to the Special Needs Forum for more info on dyslexia, if you are looking for it.

Dyslexia is very common, OP, and if your child is still very young (like K, 1st, 2nd) there is every reason to think your child would thrive at a mainstream school, with support. If your child is older and has been struggling for a few years, a more tailored learning environment might help a lot!

Good luck!

I posted earlier in the thread. I don't think any of us posting here are saying a child with dyslexia can't thrive in a mainstream school. But in my experience, many administrators and faculty in independent schools lack awareness of and information about how to best help kids with LDs. This means parents have to ask a lot of questions and do a lot more work, especially if the school doesn't have a learning specialist. It can be difficult at times, as several of us have noted in this thread. That's why I asked OP what kind of supports she seeks and how significant the dyslexia is.

As the parent to a kid with "stealth" dyslexia (i.e. fairly mild and able to be compensated for by high strengths in other areas) who finally moved DC from "mainstream" school to private SN school specializing in dyslexia and other language-based disabilities, I would not say that all kids with dyslexia can thrive in mainstream school. A kid with moderate to severe dyslexia will probably require at a minimum 1hr a day of specialized explicit phonetic instruction just to develop reading. This doesn't address the specialized instruction they will likely need in handwriting, spelling, and sometimes even math (developing fluency in facts, memorizing multi-step operations and decoding the "language" of math into symbolic math language).

On the other hand some kids with mild to moderate dyslexia that in that child is really a reading-only problem may be able to handle mainstream school quite well with some supports in and/or out of school.

It really depends on the components and degree of dyslexia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most will accommodate dyslexia, I think, but you will need to be in charge of the extra supports needed. And there will be extras, like tutoring. How old is your child, OP, and how new is the dx? Do go over to the Special Needs Forum for more info on dyslexia, if you are looking for it.

Dyslexia is very common, OP, and if your child is still very young (like K, 1st, 2nd) there is every reason to think your child would thrive at a mainstream school, with support. If your child is older and has been struggling for a few years, a more tailored learning environment might help a lot!

Good luck!

I posted earlier in the thread. I don't think any of us posting here are saying a child with dyslexia can't thrive in a mainstream school. But in my experience, many administrators and faculty in independent schools lack awareness of and information about how to best help kids with LDs. This means parents have to ask a lot of questions and do a lot more work, especially if the school doesn't have a learning specialist. It can be difficult at times, as several of us have noted in this thread. That's why I asked OP what kind of supports she seeks and how significant the dyslexia is.

As the parent to a kid with "stealth" dyslexia (i.e. fairly mild and able to be compensated for by high strengths in other areas) who finally moved DC from "mainstream" school to private SN school specializing in dyslexia and other language-based disabilities, I would not say that all kids with dyslexia can thrive in mainstream school. A kid with moderate to severe dyslexia will probably require at a minimum 1hr a day of specialized explicit phonetic instruction just to develop reading. This doesn't address the specialized instruction they will likely need in handwriting, spelling, and sometimes even math (developing fluency in facts, memorizing multi-step operations and decoding the "language" of math into symbolic math language).

On the other hand some kids with mild to moderate dyslexia that in that child is really a reading-only problem may be able to handle mainstream school quite well with some supports in and/or out of school.

It really depends on the components and degree of dyslexia.

That's what I was trying to say. Thanks for saying it better than I could. Your family probably experienced the same thing we did in terms of a mainstream school.

Not to derail the thread, but can you share the psychologist you used for your child's diagnosis? We need a new eval next year and would like to find someone local who's particularly good with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who said that the PP's child might thrive in a mainstream school. I agree with you both, and I have to work hard every week to make sure my dyslexic child is getting the tutoring he needs, and that the school working on learning strategies for him. But it does indeed work well, and the school is a good fit overall. I just didn't want the OP to think, if the child is 6 and just diagnosed, that the kid is definitely going to need a specialized school. She may, but she also may not. My kid has been seeing the school's reading specialist 4 times a week since k for specialized, explicit phonics instruction, and we add tutoring 2 times a week on top of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP who said that the PP's child might thrive in a mainstream school. I agree with you both, and I have to work hard every week to make sure my dyslexic child is getting the tutoring he needs, and that the school working on learning strategies for him. But it does indeed work well, and the school is a good fit overall. I just didn't want the OP to think, if the child is 6 and just diagnosed, that the kid is definitely going to need a specialized school. She may, but she also may not. My kid has been seeing the school's reading specialist 4 times a week since k for specialized, explicit phonics instruction, and we add tutoring 2 times a week on top of that.

Can you share which school this is? It's remarkable that a mainstream independent school gives your child individual specialized instruction four times a week. Ours offered no individualized or pull-out instruction at all (and I didn't expect it to). As DD has gotten older it's become progressively clear that she is falling behind on some things when compared to her classmates, and that this school just isn't meeting her needs any longer.

[Anonymous]

I just spoke with a Mom who sent her DD with dyslexia to WES. She's doing extremely well.

[Anonymous]

Another recommendation is to look into vision therapy. It took about 6 months and made all the difference to my mildly dyslexic DC.

[Anonymous]

Oakwood school in Annandale

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most will accommodate dyslexia, I think, but you will need to be in charge of the extra supports needed. And there will be extras, like tutoring. How old is your child, OP, and how new is the dx? Do go over to the Special Needs Forum for more info on dyslexia, if you are looking for it.

Dyslexia is very common, OP, and if your child is still very young (like K, 1st, 2nd) there is every reason to think your child would thrive at a mainstream school, with support. If your child is older and has been struggling for a few years, a more tailored learning environment might help a lot!

Good luck!

I posted earlier in the thread. I don't think any of us posting here are saying a child with dyslexia can't thrive in a mainstream school. But in my experience, many administrators and faculty in independent schools lack awareness of and information about how to best help kids with LDs. This means parents have to ask a lot of questions and do a lot more work, especially if the school doesn't have a learning specialist. It can be difficult at times, as several of us have noted in this thread. That's why I asked OP what kind of supports she seeks and how significant the dyslexia is.

As the parent to a kid with "stealth" dyslexia (i.e. fairly mild and able to be compensated for by high strengths in other areas) who finally moved DC from "mainstream" school to private SN school specializing in dyslexia and other language-based disabilities, I would not say that all kids with dyslexia can thrive in mainstream school. A kid with moderate to severe dyslexia will probably require at a minimum 1hr a day of specialized explicit phonetic instruction just to develop reading. This doesn't address the specialized instruction they will likely need in handwriting, spelling, and sometimes even math (developing fluency in facts, memorizing multi-step operations and decoding the "language" of math into symbolic math language).

On the other hand some kids with mild to moderate dyslexia that in that child is really a reading-only problem may be able to handle mainstream school quite well with some supports in and/or out of school.

It really depends on the components and degree of dyslexia.

That's what I was trying to say. Thanks for saying it better than I could. Your family probably experienced the same thing we did in terms of a mainstream school.

Not to derail the thread, but can you share the psychologist you used for your child's diagnosis? We need a new eval next year and would like to find someone local who's particularly good with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Thank you!

I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend the neuropsych tester I used. You should ask this question on the special needs thread. Also ask about schools there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! How religious is Woods Academy? We are not Catholic.

Very religious and conservative.

[Anonymous]

OP something to think about is going to public school, which is what we did. We were at a private and the struggle to get them to adjust their mindset about dyslexia/LD's was taking a toll on us and slowing down progress on DCs end.

We took the big leap and went to public. Public schools are required by federal law to make accommodations and give every child FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education). DC uses the Norton-Gillingham method of learning for reading/phonics, sees the dyslexia specialist at school 4 times a week, and goes to his tutor once a week. The results have been amazing.

I have thought about Lab and a few others, which are far out in VA, but we've been happy with the results. DC is happy and is making huge strides, which means I probably shouldn't change what we're doing right now.

Best of luck!
Link:http://ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/ld-rights/what-is-fape-what-can-it-mean-my-child

"A required component of IDEA, FAPE mandates that school districts provide access to general education and specialized educational services. It also requires that children with disabilities receive support free of charge as is provided to non-disabled students. It also provides access to general education services for children with disabilities by encouraging that support and related services be provided to children in their general education settings as much as possible."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP something to think about is going to public school, which is what we did. We were at a private and the struggle to get them to adjust their mindset about dyslexia/LD's was taking a toll on us and slowing down progress on DCs end.

We took the big leap and went to public. Public schools are required by federal law to make accommodations and give every child FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education). DC uses the Norton-Gillingham method of learning for reading/phonics, sees the dyslexia specialist at school 4 times a week, and goes to his tutor once a week. The results have been amazing.

I have thought about Lab and a few others, which are far out in VA, but we've been happy with the results. DC is happy and is making huge strides, which means I probably shouldn't change what we're doing right now.

Best of luck!
Link:http://ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/ld-rights/what-is-fape-what-can-it-mean-my-child

"A required component of IDEA, FAPE mandates that school districts provide access to general education and specialized educational services. It also requires that children with disabilities receive support free of charge as is provided to non-disabled students. It also provides access to general education services for children with disabilities by encouraging that support and related services be provided to children in their general education settings as much as possible."

Can you please share which public school has a dyslexia specialist and has Orton-Gillingham trained teachers? That's awesome.

[Anonymous]

For testing, we were happy with The Treatment and Learning Centers in Rockville. My child liked the testers, they took breaks in the OT room with a ball pit and little zip line thing, and overall my child thought it was not stressful. We liked the clarity of the report and thought the professionals were helpful and kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! How religious is Woods Academy? We are not Catholic.

Very religious and conservative.

This could not be further from the truth. We specifically chose Woods because it is NOT over-the-top religious or conservative. Aprox 40% of the student body is not Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP something to think about is going to public school, which is what we did. We were at a private and the struggle to get them to adjust their mindset about dyslexia/LD's was taking a toll on us and slowing down progress on DCs end.

We took the big leap and went to public. Public schools are required by federal law to make accommodations and give every child FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education). DC uses the Norton-Gillingham method of learning for reading/phonics, sees the dyslexia specialist at school 4 times a week, and goes to his tutor once a week. The results have been amazing.

I have thought about Lab and a few others, which are far out in VA, but we've been happy with the results. DC is happy and is making huge strides, which means I probably shouldn't change what we're doing right now.

Best of luck!
Link:http://ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/ld-rights/what-is-fape-what-can-it-mean-my-child

"A required component of IDEA, FAPE mandates that school districts provide access to general education and specialized educational services. It also requires that children with disabilities receive support free of charge as is provided to non-disabled students. It also provides access to general education services for children with disabilities by encouraging that support and related services be provided to children in their general education settings as much as possible."

Can you please share which public school has a dyslexia specialist and has Orton-Gillingham trained teachers? That's awesome.

Public schools with special education departments will have speech and language therapists. "Dyslexia specialists" don't really exist. Speech and language therapists have the training to work with dyslexia, as it is a very common issue. I think you should cold call public schools you're interested in to see if they offer O-G programs if that is what works best for your child.

[Anonymous]

We've been extraordinarily pleased with Commonwealth Academy (Alexandria). C/A takes dyslexia students on a case-by-case basis (one is in our carpool) but I don't know about mild/moderate/severe. Call the admissions director Josh Williams and ask. We couldn't be more pleased with our decision to switch to this school six years ago.