Changes / new info on FCPS and dyslexia?

[Anonymous]

I heard there was a presentation given last week outlining some changes to how FCPS handles reading disabilities, e.g. dyslexia. Did anyone attend this? What's the news?

[Anonymous]

Does it have anything to do with "Standards Based" IEP goals that were unveiled last year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard there was a presentation given last week outlining some changes to how FCPS handles reading disabilities, e.g. dyslexia. Did anyone attend this? What's the news?

Was it this?

http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/resources/events/documents/Dyslexiaflyer-January2013.pdf

If so, it wasn't advertised and new things. It was advertised as a general " things you can do" for a child with dyslexia.

[Anonymous]

Please know that there is a big difference between what FCPS can do for a child with a learning disability and what they can do for a child with dyslexia. There are programs and speical ed teachers who can work in school with a child who is struggling with reading due to an identified learning issue. Dyslexia is classified as a neurological issue, and all FCPS will do is refer you to outside sources that may be able to help you.

[Anonymous]

My sister (a SpEd teacher in Fairfax County) just called to tell me that she just listened to the presentation on the new fairfax county recognition of dyslexia (e.g. the willingness to use that specific word on an IEP) and to include "phonological processing problems" in addition to the traditional auditory etc issues.

As a parent of a dyslexic child, albeit in Arlington, I'm thrilled that counties are at least recognizing that dyslexia is not the same as a "regular" reading delay.

Also, FWIW, I hope 1/16 11:34 is not right and that FCPS can do more than only refer you to outside sources. Arlington has done a good bit in terms of SpEd help (not working with the reading specialist, but using a program called SpellRead designed for dyslexic kids with decoding problems and problems understanding different phonemes in mind) for my son, to the point that he is finally reading now. Slowly, but reading. I'm hoping that FFX has the same for their dyslexic children and maybe teh PP simply ran into someone misinformed or unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

My DD has a diagnosis of dyslexia from a private veal. Can she now qualify for an IEP based on this? Would be great news.

[Anonymous]

Uh, private eval, not "veal." Autocorrect!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a diagnosis of dyslexia from a private veal. Can she now qualify for an IEP based on this? Would be great news.

It depends. A diagnosis of dyslexia does not automatically qualify a child for an IEP. They also have to be performing below grade level. 25th percentile on some things is the lower end of "average" and the 16th percentile is the lower end of "average" on others. So, if you have a bright child who scores well above average in intelligence, but is low average in reading, she would not neccessarily qualify for services that require an IEP. She may qualify for some accommodation in a 504 though. So for example, if a child scores in the 95th percentile for intelligence (say a 125 on an IQ test) but scores in the 30th percentile for reading, would not qualify -Even though the gap between intelligence and reading is large. This is one reason there are several private schools in the area that cater to this type of scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has a diagnosis of dyslexia from a private veal. Can she now qualify for an IEP based on this? Would be great news.

It depends. A diagnosis of dyslexia does not automatically qualify a child for an IEP. They also have to be performing below grade level. 25th percentile on some things is the lower end of "average" and the 16th percentile is the lower end of "average" on others. So, if you have a bright child who scores well above average in intelligence, but is low average in reading, she would not neccessarily qualify for services that require an IEP. She may qualify for some accommodation in a 504 though. So for example, if a child scores in the 95th percentile for intelligence (say a 125 on an IQ test) but scores in the 30th percentile for reading, would not qualify -Even though the gap between intelligence and reading is large. This is one reason there are several private schools in the area that cater to this type of scenario.

The bolded part is incorrect. A child does not have to be performing below grade level in order to qualify for an IEP. The child must be considered (note considered, not proven) to have a disability and that the disability negatively impacts the child's ability to access the curricula. Two of my kids have learning disabilities and are working at or above grade level. Yet, they also receive specialized instruction because without it, their learning disabilities interfere with their ability to learn in the general classroom. There also does NOT have to be a discrepancy between between aptitude and achievement. Intelligence testing can be used to better identify specific areas of need but it cannot be used determine eligibility. Eligibility is based upon disability that has an educational impact.

[Anonymous]

Not in my experience. The bolded part is my experience. We were told point blank that DS HAD to be performing BELOW grade level to initially qualify and receive services. In their opinion, if a child is performing at grade level without services/accommodation, then he/she does not have a problem accessing the curricula regardless of if he/she is performing at his/her intellectual potential. A child that is performing at or above grade level with additional services/ accommodations should already have an IEP or 504.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like people have had differing experiences with the issue of at/above/below grade level and IEP.

Does anyone know where to find an explicit written statement of the FCPS policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister (a SpEd teacher in Fairfax County) just called to tell me that she just listened to the presentation on the new fairfax county recognition of dyslexia (e.g. the willingness to use that specific word on an IEP) and to include "phonological processing problems" in addition to the traditional auditory etc issues.

As a parent of a dyslexic child, albeit in Arlington, I'm thrilled that counties are at least recognizing that dyslexia is not the same as a "regular" reading delay.

Also, FWIW, I hope 1/16 11:34 is not right and that FCPS can do more than only refer you to outside sources. Arlington has done a good bit in terms of SpEd help (not working with the reading specialist, but using a program called SpellRead designed for dyslexic kids with decoding problems and problems understanding different phonemes in mind) for my son, to the point that he is finally reading now. Slowly, but reading. I'm hoping that FFX has the same for their dyslexic children and maybe teh PP simply ran into someone misinformed or unhelpful.

Currently FCPS doesn't do anything regarding dyslexia for my DC. They simply offer Spec Ed services and hope that DC "gets it" eventually. Do you know of any programs designed for home use for the elementary age dyslexic child? I looked up SpellRead but it's designed for classrooms and costs thousands of dollars.

If you know of any programs or clinics that might help please share. My DC is very bright but two grade levels behind in reading and writing. Currently DC answers math, science, and history questions verbally and typically gets 100% correct, even above grade level in those areas. We've struggled to find the right outside support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister (a SpEd teacher in Fairfax County) just called to tell me that she just listened to the presentation on the new fairfax county recognition of dyslexia (e.g. the willingness to use that specific word on an IEP) and to include "phonological processing problems" in addition to the traditional auditory etc issues.

As a parent of a dyslexic child, albeit in Arlington, I'm thrilled that counties are at least recognizing that dyslexia is not the same as a "regular" reading delay.

Also, FWIW, I hope 1/16 11:34 is not right and that FCPS can do more than only refer you to outside sources. Arlington has done a good bit in terms of SpEd help (not working with the reading specialist, but using a program called SpellRead designed for dyslexic kids with decoding problems and problems understanding different phonemes in mind) for my son, to the point that he is finally reading now. Slowly, but reading. I'm hoping that FFX has the same for their dyslexic children and maybe teh PP simply ran into someone misinformed or unhelpful.

Currently FCPS doesn't do anything regarding dyslexia for my DC. They simply offer Spec Ed services and hope that DC "gets it" eventually. Do you know of any programs designed for home use for the elementary age dyslexic child? I looked up SpellRead but it's designed for classrooms and costs thousands of dollars.

If you know of any programs or clinics that might help please share. My DC is very bright but two grade levels behind in reading and writing. Currently DC answers math, science, and history questions verbally and typically gets 100% correct, even above grade level in those areas. We've struggled to find the right outside support.

I have heard the the Barton Method is a good home reading program/ method for dyslexia, it is an Orton-Gillingham type of method and it has been marketed for both teachers and parents. I do not know the cost. My DS is currently in 8th grade, but when he was in elementary school, they did the Wilson Program with him from 2nd grade to 6th. In the last three years it was daily, one on one for 30 minutues. We supplemented that with out of school (but actually with a FCPS reading specialist) 2-3 times a week for 60 minutes each during that time too. He currently is in a reading class, 8th grade, and is using Rewards with some Read Naturally. He has decoding, phomene and word retrieval issues as well as fluency, but scores very well on comprehension. Read Naturally did not work in the early years because they listen to reading segment, then read it over and over to try to increase fluency. However, he would memorize it the first time he heard it and would merely recite rather than actually read the text. Now that he is a more advanced reader, the text is much longer and harder to memorize, so it helps as long as he doesn't read it three or more times. He attends FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Currently FCPS doesn't do anything regarding dyslexia for my DC. They simply offer Spec Ed services and hope that DC "gets it" eventually. Do you know of any programs designed for home use for the elementary age dyslexic child? I looked up SpellRead but it's designed for classrooms and costs thousands of dollars.

If you know of any programs or clinics that might help please share. My DC is very bright but two grade levels behind in reading and writing. Currently DC answers math, science, and history questions verbally and typically gets 100% correct, even above grade level in those areas. We've struggled to find the right outside support.

I have heard the the Barton Method is a good home reading program/ method for dyslexia, it is an Orton-Gillingham type of method and it has been marketed for both teachers and parents. I do not know the cost. My DS is currently in 8th grade, but when he was in elementary school, they did the Wilson Program with him from 2nd grade to 6th. In the last three years it was daily, one on one for 30 minutues. We supplemented that with out of school (but actually with a FCPS reading specialist) 2-3 times a week for 60 minutes each during that time too. He currently is in a reading class, 8th grade, and is using Rewards with some Read Naturally. He has decoding, phomene and word retrieval issues as well as fluency, but scores very well on comprehension. Read Naturally did not work in the early years because they listen to reading segment, then read it over and over to try to increase fluency. However, he would memorize it the first time he heard it and would merely recite rather than actually read the text. Now that he is a more advanced reader, the text is much longer and harder to memorize, so it helps as long as he doesn't read it three or more times. He attends FCPS.

Thank you!

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in my experience. The bolded part is my experience. We were told point blank that DS HAD to be performing BELOW grade level to initially qualify and receive services. In their opinion, if a child is performing at grade level without services/accommodation, then he/she does not have a problem accessing the curricula regardless of if he/she is performing at his/her intellectual potential. A child that is performing at or above grade level with additional services/ accommodations should already have an IEP or 504.

It's not unusual to be told that a child doesn't qualify for an IEP because the child is working at/above grade level but there's nothing in the law that indicates that would be a disqualifying factor. The determining factors regarding eligibility are limited to disability and educational impact. A child must be considered to have a disability in two areas which negatively impacts his/her education. It's critical for parents to take the time to read and understand the law and be able to point out this falsehood.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/elig.sld.osep.felton.htm
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/elig.add.grades.htm