Why are so many UMC average students "Learning Disabled"?

[Anonymous]

It seems to be "the thing" now, that when you see an UMC kid who is a mediocre student, they will almost invariably have a diagnosis of having a learning disability or ADHD. Is there no such thing as a C student any more? Whatever happened to the idea that some kids just aren't great at school? Is that notion only acceptable for working class kids but not affluent kids?

[Anonymous]

I would also ask Jeff not to move this to the special needs board. I specifically posted here because I thought the answers on the SN board would be too biased.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/792189.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/792189.page

I'm familiar with that thread, which is what inspired this one, But the difference is that this isn't just kids who are gifted and learning disabled. I know lots of UMC who are just labeled as LD.

[Anonymous]

It cost $3000 to have a qualified doctor do the testing for accommodations and you have to do it every 3 years to get accommodations.

[Anonymous]

15% of the population are dyslexic but 35% of company owners are dyslexic.

[Anonymous]

So sorry your above average kid is being surpassed by LD kids. They are smarter than your and will do better in life because they have parents who were willing to sacrifice to get them the supports they need to achieve to their potential--which is clearly higher than that of your own kids. So sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]It cost $3000 to have a qualified doctor do the testing for accommodations and you have to do it every 3 years to get accommodations.[/b]

Ok, so if every C student had the ability to get private testing by a doctor, would they all come out with some sort of label? My guess is yes. At a minimum they would get adhd-inattentive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So sorry your above average kid is being surpassed by LD kids. They are smarter than your and will do better in life because they have parents who were willing to sacrifice to get them the supports they need to achieve to their potential--which is clearly higher than that of your own kids. So sorry.[/quote]



Actually, I have a daughter who is struggling in school and we have will most likely have her tested, and know that she will be probably be given a label of some sorts. However, even though we are part of "the problem", I fully realize the silliness of it all. A few decades ago, she would just be thought of as someone who was flightly, and struggled in certain areas. And truthfully, that's probably the way it should be. But we live in the world that we live in, and if we can get her a more socially acceptable label (like everyone else that meets her profile gets now) we will do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]It cost $3000 to have a qualified doctor do the testing for accommodations and you have to do it every 3 years to get accommodations.[/b]

Ok, so if every C student had the ability to get private testing by a doctor, would they all come out with some sort of label? My guess is yes. At a minimum they would get adhd-inattentive.

No. I tutor and many kids don't have LDs after the testing

[Anonymous]

Teachers and school systems can't teach to the wide range of normal

If the kid is labed, they have an out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So sorry your above average kid is being surpassed by LD kids. They are smarter than your and will do better in life because they have parents who were willing to sacrifice to get them the supports they need to achieve to their potential--which is clearly higher than that of your own kids. So sorry.[/quote]



Actually, I have a daughter who is struggling in school and we have will most likely have her tested, and know that she will be probably be given a label of some sorts. However, even though we are part of "the problem", I fully realize the silliness of it all. A few decades ago, she would just be thought of as someone who was flightly, and struggled in certain areas. And truthfully, that's probably the way it should be. But we live in the world that we live in, and if we can get her a more socially acceptable label (like everyone else that meets her profile gets now) we will do it.

The test will have about 30 areas tested. Most testers stay away from labels and look at the subscores to help teachers and tutors teach the child coping strategies.

[Anonymous]

^ re: meeting curriculum benchmarks, state testing, evaluation of how the teacher/school is performing.

[Anonymous]

Because we are more advanced now and can recognize LDSs? I bet you plenty of MC kids are LD, as are lower income kids. To a mom of two LD kids, both who are doing relatively ok in school, I voiced my opinion on the other thread, changes in maturity demands and different life styles. I do find this question ignorant. LD are more diagnosed today because society is advancing at a rapid pace and so is medical research. This is on par with asking how come there is more testing for strep or viruses or bacterial infections today. Or, why are people today having more Lyme Disease than 100 years ago? They always had it, just didn't know about it. It is called progress. We now have more means to meet different needs, so why shouldn't we? I know kids who score low on WISC because they can't stop their mind from running and overthinking everything. Let's just revert to calling such kids dumb, slow, not quite there, right?
I know these slow kids from my elementary school, looking back it is clean one had Selective Mutism, one needed help due to reading issues. But, they were just C students and system failed them.

[Anonymous]

It makes the parents feel better about having a rather stupid child.