Dyslexia in APS

[Anonymous]

If you have a child in APS who was identified as having dyslexia, can you please share some information?
How and when was the child identified? Did APS test the child, and if so, how was this arranged? If not, did you have your child tested elsewhere, then bring the results to APS?
Once the child was identified, what happened next concerning APS/extra support/an IEP/etc.?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Kid was tested privately in 5th grade after APS kept insisting they were on grade level. Having the kid learn at home during Covid, it became crystal clear something was wrong. Decided to not bang my head against a wall with APS and did everything privately. Took results back to APS and they finally agreed that something was wrong. Private testing showed dyslexia, dysgraphia and a math disability.

By that point we knew APS wasn't going to work for us and we didn't bother fighting with them to get an IEP. We went to private school.

APS will actively fight you to test and support dyslexic kids. They don't have the resources to support it so they try everything they can not to help you in hopes you leave.

[Anonymous]

APS will not diagnose dyslexia. They will test as part of special education eligibility testing but if you are found eligible the category is "specific learning disability". For a diagnosis, you need a private evaluation. Then bring the evaluation to APS and they will do their own testing to confirm or the psych will review the report.

Some schools offer OG and Wilson, others don't. What's your school OP.

[Anonymous]

Join [e-mail] . That's your best resource on this issue in Arlington. The people there are amazing.

[Anonymous]

also, for support, visit the special needs thread on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid was tested privately in 5th grade after APS kept insisting they were on grade level. Having the kid learn at home during Covid, it became crystal clear something was wrong. Decided to not bang my head against a wall with APS and did everything privately. Took results back to APS and they finally agreed that something was wrong. Private testing showed dyslexia, dysgraphia and a math disability.

By that point we knew APS wasn't going to work for us and we didn't bother fighting with them to get an IEP. We went to private school.

APS will actively fight you to test and support dyslexic kids. They don't have the resources to support it so they try everything they can not to help you in hopes you leave.

more or less the same except McK looked at the private results and said they were on grade level so a 504 for reduced assignments. No IEP, no services. Child was not expected to do anything in 3rd or 4th. Literally turned in no work and passed everything. Now in 5th, at a private school, spelling on 2nd grade level but actually doing actual work. YMMV depending on the school which is good and bad. Kids should be able to read, write, and do math. That's the least they should do when exiting 5th from public school. I'm getting all hostile again. need to meditate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join [e-mail] . That's your best resource on this issue in Arlington. The people there are amazing.

Just a warning that some ignorant APE types on now and polluting it with nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Join [e-mail] . That's your best resource on this issue in Arlington. The people there are amazing.

Just a warning that some ignorant APE types on now and polluting it with nonsense.

how so? I haven't seen any APE stuff. That list-serv is laser focused on reading issues and the parents there give the best tips on how to advocate APS for what your kids need. Sadly lots of horror stories on that list too, but better resources OP than you will ever get here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid was tested privately in 5th grade after APS kept insisting they were on grade level. Having the kid learn at home during Covid, it became crystal clear something was wrong. Decided to not bang my head against a wall with APS and did everything privately. Took results back to APS and they finally agreed that something was wrong. Private testing showed dyslexia, dysgraphia and a math disability.

By that point we knew APS wasn't going to work for us and we didn't bother fighting with them to get an IEP. We went to private school.

APS will actively fight you to test and support dyslexic kids. They don't have the resources to support it so they try everything they can not to help you in hopes you leave.

more or less the same except McK looked at the private results and said they were on grade level so a 504 for reduced assignments. No IEP, no services. Child was not expected to do anything in 3rd or 4th. Literally turned in no work and passed everything. Now in 5th, at a private school, spelling on 2nd grade level but actually doing actual work. YMMV depending on the school which is good and bad. Kids should be able to read, write, and do math. That's the least they should do when exiting 5th from public school. I'm getting all hostile again. need to meditate.

It varies by school.

The McK (soon Cardinal) principal is known for being hostile to IEP kids. Actively tries and succeeds at driving them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Join [e-mail] . That's your best resource on this issue in Arlington. The people there are amazing.

Just a warning that some ignorant APE types on now and polluting it with nonsense.

how so? I haven't seen any APE stuff. That list-serv is laser focused on reading issues and the parents there give the best tips on how to advocate APS for what your kids need. Sadly lots of horror stories on that list too, but better resources OP than you will ever get here.

They posted about the school board and look for any opportunity to crap on APS.

They should crawl back into their hole.

So vile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS will not diagnose dyslexia. They will test as part of special education eligibility testing but if you are found eligible the category is "specific learning disability". For a diagnosis, you need a private evaluation. Then bring the evaluation to APS and they will do their own testing to confirm or the psych will review the report.

Some schools offer OG and Wilson, others don't. What's your school OP.

Which schools offer Wilson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid was tested privately in 5th grade after APS kept insisting they were on grade level. Having the kid learn at home during Covid, it became crystal clear something was wrong. Decided to not bang my head against a wall with APS and did everything privately. Took results back to APS and they finally agreed that something was wrong. Private testing showed dyslexia, dysgraphia and a math disability.

By that point we knew APS wasn't going to work for us and we didn't bother fighting with them to get an IEP. We went to private school.

APS will actively fight you to test and support dyslexic kids. They don't have the resources to support it so they try everything they can not to help you in hopes you leave.

more or less the same except McK looked at the private results and said they were on grade level so a 504 for reduced assignments. No IEP, no services. Child was not expected to do anything in 3rd or 4th. Literally turned in no work and passed everything. Now in 5th, at a private school, spelling on 2nd grade level but actually doing actual work. YMMV depending on the school which is good and bad. Kids should be able to read, write, and do math. That's the least they should do when exiting 5th from public school. I'm getting all hostile again. need to meditate.

It varies by school.

The McK (soon Cardinal) principal is known for being hostile to IEP kids. Actively tries and succeeds at driving them out.

Yep. PP with a 5th grader. We were McK and I knew better to even try to get an IEP. We didn't even bother and went private.

Good luck if you're at McK. You're going to need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Join [e-mail] . That's your best resource on this issue in Arlington. The people there are amazing.

Just a warning that some ignorant APE types on now and polluting it with nonsense.

I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed. I was impressed by the group’s restraint when faced with people just trying to pick a fight. Knew we were in trouble when the one woman complained that her critics were “canceling” her. 🤦‍♀️These are smart experienced advocates within the Arlington dyslexia community. Great resource.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join [e-mail] . That's your best resource on this issue in Arlington. The people there are amazing.

Thank you. We aren’t at McKinley. One of the immersion schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid was tested privately in 5th grade after APS kept insisting they were on grade level. Having the kid learn at home during Covid, it became crystal clear something was wrong. Decided to not bang my head against a wall with APS and did everything privately. Took results back to APS and they finally agreed that something was wrong. Private testing showed dyslexia, dysgraphia and a math disability.

By that point we knew APS wasn't going to work for us and we didn't bother fighting with them to get an IEP. We went to private school.

APS will actively fight you to test and support dyslexic kids. They don't have the resources to support it so they try everything they can not to help you in hopes you leave.

more or less the same except McK looked at the private results and said they were on grade level so a 504 for reduced assignments. No IEP, no services. Child was not expected to do anything in 3rd or 4th. Literally turned in no work and passed everything. Now in 5th, at a private school, spelling on 2nd grade level but actually doing actual work. YMMV depending on the school which is good and bad. Kids should be able to read, write, and do math. That's the least they should do when exiting 5th from public school. I'm getting all hostile again. need to meditate.

It varies by school.

The McK (soon Cardinal) principal is known for being hostile to IEP kids. Actively tries and succeeds at driving them out.

Yep. PP with a 5th grader. We were McK and I knew better to even try to get an IEP. We didn't even bother and went private.

Good luck if you're at McK. You're going to need it.

CB is a mean-spirited bully! He’s yelled at me and other parents in public forums when disagreeing with our opinions. When I tried advocating for DS (teacher was no help) he called me into his office with current and former teachers and pitted me against them. I was only requesting minimal assistance for DS even before initiating IEP process. McK experience was a nightmare! DS caught up when we switched him to a private.