Should we wait until the fall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect my child has dyslexia. He is in 1st grade in FCPS. He has been making progress, but it's been slow and he HATES reading, which has me concerned. The school has him in a small group with some of the lower readers.
We met with his school team and the psychologist and special education teacher there said that they do suspect a disability is possible and that they don't want him to hate reading, but they'd like to finish up the quarter with interventions and come back together when he is in second grade. The reasons they gave are 1) he hasn't been in their interventions very long and does not have the highest level of intervention, 2) he is young for his grade ( I admit, his birthday isn't until late August when he turns 7), and finally 3, which I suspect is the real reason they pushed away from testing 3) they'd only have one month to complete the testing when they normally have two months and may not be able to do the most thorough evaluation compared to if they start next year and wait for him to be seven (something about how some tests can't be given until that age). I actually really respected the team's honesty and I felt like they probably do want my child to succeed but I am nervous that if we wait until the fall he will just keep falling behind. Right now I am thinking about finding some tutoring for the weekends as he will be in camp this summer. What would you folks do?

I would listen to your sped team. They clearly have your child’s best interest at heart, are providing interventions, and were very honest. They are professionals and know your child. The fact that parents come on this forum and tell other parents to ignore the sped teams recommendation, while clearly being confused and inexperienced and often resentful, is so disturbing.

Okay, so let's look at the timeline.

The sped team waits until the fall. Best case scenario, they start the testing in September. They do the testing and then turn around the results in...what...one month? Two months? Then they meet again. Then they decide which interventions to use. If it is a pull-out, is the pull-out a small group taught with sequentially and the lessons build upon each other? If so, can a student be added after months have passed?

The sped team may be professionals and they may have children's best interest at heart, in general. Of course. But I know more about dyslexia than the average sped teacher in ES. Because they don't specialize in it. They have a lot of different factors to consider and a lot of different diagnosis's.

I have a kid in HS now and just had the millionth IEP meeting. Great teacher of record for my kid. She didn't even know my kid has dyslexia because the school doesn't transfer records properly from MS to HS. My DS has had a dyslexia diagnosis since he was 6 years old. She thought he had a learning disability in math. He doesn't have a learning disability in math. Dyslexia impacts him in math.

Don't blindly listen to the schools. I wish you could but you simply cannot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you postpone the testing until next year, it will be January before any support is in place. If you start now and he qualifies, he'll have services on day 1. The statutory timelines don't stop over the summer.

It's specifically against the law to postpone evaluations in order to do more interventions, if you are requesting them.

This. I would not wait, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you postpone the testing until next year, it will be January before any support is in place. If you start now and he qualifies, he'll have services on day 1. The statutory timelines don't stop over the summer.

It's specifically against the law to postpone evaluations in order to do more interventions, if you are requesting them.

This. I would not wait, OP.

Not accurate at all. So much inaccurate, negative information shared on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Oh you are so right….such great educational outcomes for all our kids with learning differences how can we not just trust you. Maybe then they will be literate by the time they are 16, if ever. Throw in a math issue and you guys just nail it. We are so lucky to have you.

[Anonymous]

Late august bday? You should have held him back in K, but not too late to repeat 1st. Repeat 1st and get the testing started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Oh you are so right….such great educational outcomes for all our kids with learning differences how can we not just trust you. Maybe then they will be literate by the time they are 16, if ever. Throw in a math issue and you guys just nail it. We are so lucky to have you.[/quote

You hate sped staff yet you insist on sped services?? Sure you are credible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you postpone the testing until next year, it will be January before any support is in place. If you start now and he qualifies, he'll have services on day 1. The statutory timelines don't stop over the summer.

It's specifically against the law to postpone evaluations in order to do more interventions, if you are requesting them.

That’s not accurate at all.

The only thing that’s against the law is to refuse to meet. Parents don’t have the right to demand evaluations, only to request that the team consider them.

The team can deny evaluations if they don't suspect a disability. Clearly, that's not the case here. They cannot deny evaluations because they want to complete the RTI process.

[Anonymous]

Put it in writing and submit the request tomorrow morning. He's almost 7, he's almost done with first grade, time is ticking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Oh you are so right….such great educational outcomes for all our kids with learning differences how can we not just trust you. Maybe then they will be literate by the time they are 16, if ever. Throw in a math issue and you guys just nail it. We are so lucky to have you.[/quote

You hate sped staff yet you insist on sped services?? Sure you are credible.

My child is in private after seeing what public does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Oh you are so right….such great educational outcomes for all our kids with learning differences how can we not just trust you. Maybe then they will be literate by the time they are 16, if ever. Throw in a math issue and you guys just nail it. We are so lucky to have you.[/quote

You hate sped staff yet you insist on sped services?? Sure you are credible.

My child is in private after seeing what public does.

Oh and I really detest the administrators and central office, they are typically the worst.

[Anonymous]

I would request testing this year. You can also get this done in the private sector if you want quicker answers and are willing to pay out of pocket.

In the meantime while you wait for testing, if you can afford it, start getting tutoring from a tutor who specializes in Orton Gillingham. You need a structured literacy plan. It won’t hurt your kid if it turns out to not be dyslexia. Kids with dyslexia don’t really progress without structured legacy/with regular interventions.

With dyslexia, starting with the tutoring earlier is best. My son is dyslexic. I suspected in first grade and he didn’t get diagnosed until summer before third grade. He lost a lot of time that could have closed the gap if we’d known sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School psych here! If we get a referral now, we are expected to complete it before the end of the school year. Referrals received after June2 go to summer team. I currently have 14 kids to finish testing, so your son would be number 15. I will assess all area of suspected disability but if I have extra time and am curious about something that I saw in the scores , I will give additional tests or do additional observations or interviews. However, it’s not really possible to do that if the referral is received so late. Testing a child in May is hard because they usually have to miss fun activities in their classroom.. Also, one of my favorite tests to assess surface dyslexia, test of orthographic competence, can’t be given until a child is 7, and intelligence isn’t considered “stable” until age 7 so scores are never as valid when I evaluate younger students. I tell parents all of this and they frequently don’t trust me and think that I am trying to gate keep their child’s right for an IEP- but sometimes they do trust me, and I always evaluate their child the following year and frankly, do a better job because the law is one thing and the actuality of what is possible during the last 23 days of schools when I have fourteen other kids to test…is another. Parents, I recommend referring your child early, and not waiting until late April/ May.

So there are certain tests for dyslexia that require a child to be 7?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Your post makes no sense. The sped teams at the multiple schools my kids have been in have all been dedicated teachers. But there are about four of them in these massive schools. There is no way they can give one child the support needed to move the dial on dyslexia. And often they know little about dyslexia to begin with- maybe a seminar one weekend.

For those of us who can, get the evaluation and get private tutoring. Do not rely on the public schools. They simply cannot do it. Not because they don’t want to but because they don’t have the resources.