School for child with dysgraphia and anxiety

[Anonymous]

DC has a diagnosis of dysgraphia and some anxiety but is a strong reader with no dyslexia or ADD. The anxiety plays out in school as aversiveness to academic risk taking and a lack of confidence. What schools would you suggest for middle elementary and beyond? We need to address the dysgraphia but also find a school that encourages academic risk taking and helps kids develop to their full potential. Thanks for any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Does your DC have word prediction software on his/her computer? That has helped the most with my DC. He is trying to get Dragon Naturally Speaking to work, but it is very frustrating. He uses Kurzweil and has used Co-writer. Both help. I don't think a child needs a special school for that.

Does your DC see a therapist for anxiety? What kind of strategies do they recommend that can be included into your DC's IEP? What kind of accommodations do they recommend?

[Anonymous]

My first thought was to suggest McLean, because they do have methods of dealing with dysgraphia and they are very focused on making the students feel good about themselves, particularly in the lower school. However, as I read your facts, I would not encourage McLean for your DC bc up until now, McLean has been behind the curve when it comes to pushing academically, even though they do believe that they teach at both high and low levels. I hear with all the new personnel there now they are going to be looking at strengthening curriculum, but that shift is still an unknown.

[Anonymous]

8:13, thanks so much. We have considered McLean but the diagnosing psychologist said the same thing you did. What about Siena? The psychologist said it might not be the place for kids who read well but I'd like to hear from others in the community.

6:35, thank you. DC is supposed to have a number of accommodations in place, including use of Dragon, but the current school doesn't necessarily follow through with them. That's why we are considering alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Lab School of Washington

Dysgraphia is a language based learning disability and that's their specialty. They can also deal with anxiety even if there's no ADHD.

[Anonymous]

I would also say Lab, or Siena or there is another school in Annapolis that I can't think of right now. They specialize in language based learning disabilities, not just dyslexia. You really want a school that specializes if the learning issue is so great that it is causing anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Jemicy
http://www.jemicyschool.org/

The Harbour School
http://www.harbourschool.org/

Chelsea & Kingsbury too

[Anonymous]

Hi , There are three resources that deal with dysgraphia and anxietyby Jason Alster MSc - " Anyone Can Improve Their Own Handwriting" Being In Control: Natural Solutions for ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety; and Creative Painting for the Young Artist ( helps people with dysgraphia become creative artists) . www.jasonalster.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first thought was to suggest McLean, because they do have methods of dealing with dysgraphia and they are very focused on making the students feel good about themselves, particularly in the lower school. However, as I read your facts, I would not encourage McLean for your DC bc up until now, McLean has been behind the curve when it comes to pushing academically, even though they do believe that they teach at both high and low levels. I hear with all the new personnel there now they are going to be looking at strengthening curriculum, but that shift is still an unknown.

+1 Would suggest Lab poss Kingsbury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also say Lab, or Siena or there is another school in Annapolis that I can't think of right now. They specialize in language based learning disabilities, not just dyslexia. You really want a school that specializes if the learning issue is so great that it is causing anxiety.

I think the school this PP might be thinking of is Summit, which is a little to the south of Annapolis.

I would look at Sienna, which specializes in language-based learning disabilities in general, not just dyslexia. My impression of it is that the kids are bit higher functioning than Lab and that the kids at Lab are more globally affected by their language-based learning disabilities. But, that is just my impression, I encourage you to look at both and compare for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also say Lab, or Siena or there is another school in Annapolis that I can't think of right now. They specialize in language based learning disabilities, not just dyslexia. You really want a school that specializes if the learning issue is so great that it is causing anxiety.

I think the school this PP might be thinking of is Summit, which is a little to the south of Annapolis.

I would look at Sienna, which specializes in language-based learning disabilities in general, not just dyslexia. My impression of it is that the kids are bit higher functioning than Lab and that the kids at Lab are more globally affected by their language-based learning disabilities. But, that is just my impression, I encourage you to look at both and compare for yourself.

Thank you, PP. do you have any idea of how Siena is with GTLD kids?

[Anonymous]

A word to the wise - I am a Sp Ed teacher and have taught at McLean. McLean does academically push children, but when children have anxiety it is a delicate balance between asking them to push themselves and asking too much of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A word to the wise - I am a Sp Ed teacher and have taught at McLean. McLean does academically push children, but when children have anxiety it is a delicate balance between asking them to push themselves and asking too much of them.

OP here. Thanks for noting this important point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also say Lab, or Siena or there is another school in Annapolis that I can't think of right now. They specialize in language based learning disabilities, not just dyslexia. You really want a school that specializes if the learning issue is so great that it is causing anxiety.

I think the school this PP might be thinking of is Summit, which is a little to the south of Annapolis.

I would look at Sienna, which specializes in language-based learning disabilities in general, not just dyslexia. My impression of it is that the kids are bit higher functioning than Lab and that the kids at Lab are more globally affected by their language-based learning disabilities. But, that is just my impression, I encourage you to look at both and compare for yourself.

Thank you, PP. do you have any idea of how Siena is with GTLD kids?

I have visited there and spoken with parents and others and heard very good things about GT/LD kids there, but I don't have a student there, so I really don't have any personal experience to share. I think whether it would be appropriate for a GT/LD kid and if so, for how long ( a few years or until graduation) would depend very much on the individual profile, both academic and personal.

I am a little confused by your post. Your DC is a strong reader -- is that true for all components of reading? Decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension including inference, etc. ? Can you be more specific about the dysgraphia? Is it mainly a handwriting/coordination issue? Spelling? Or are there also language components -- difficulty getting thoughts out, difficulty responding on point, difficulty organizing thoughts on paper, etc. Is your DC currently in public or private? Have you thought about asking for a 504 plan or an IEP? The former would provide dysgraphia accommodations like access to a computer for writing, spell check programs, Dragon Dictation, graphic organizers, extra time, access to a human scribe, and accommodations for anxiety, etc. The latter (IEP) can provide special instruction on top of accommodations so that other methods of writing teaching can be providing -- using more phonic/systematic spelling programs, teaching how to use graphic organizers, teaching systems for editing, etc.

If your DC's main problem is really just the dysgraphia and they are GT as well, then you might explore whether more support in the current school via an IEP or 504 plan together with specific tutors outside of school for handwriting, systematic spelling and using technology to compensate.

If you are in MoCo, there is a special program for GT/LD kids (which includes dysgraphia) called the Wings program that is specifically designed to bolster failing self-esteem, a common problem for those with LDs. Kids meet with a mentor once a week to do special self-selected research project of their choice and present to the class and at a special evening program. Call Marisa Stemple in MCPS if interested. Also, in MoCo you can ask for a consult by HIAT (High Incidence Assistive Technology Unit or something like that). They will send a tech person to the classroom to meet with student, teacher, parent, etc. to interview everyone and make suggestions for technology use that could help (word processor, assistive spelling, dragon dictation, graphic organizers, mind mapping programs, etc.)