My DS has an IEP for LD related to reading, and clearly has dyslexia - but the interventions are based on the need, not the diagnosis per se -- so getting the new diagnosis label may not lead the school to change anything. Dyslexia can range significantly across individuals (I have it myself). As a previous poster noted O-G is a type of approach. Wilson and parts of Fundations are based in O-G. So if they are doing Fundations or Wilson already, the new diagnosis may not lead to any change in their approach. The biggest thing I found in working with the school on the IEP is to keep pushing the purpose is to help kids based on their ability. So keeping careful track of what works or doesn't work with my kid has been important.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, did you sign the IEP document? It should have the hours and goals spelled out. They have to provide services during the school day for the regular school year and, if your child is eligible, Extended School Year (summer).

Have they explained placement vs Location of Services (LOS)? If the services and hours you agree on in the IEP cannot be met at your school, DCPS will offer a LOS at another school with transportation. For example, a kid at Stoddert with a reading disorder could be transferred to the Specific Learning Support LOS at Murch and DCPS would be in compliance.

Thus doesn't have to be a fight, but to some extent the principal and teachers' hands are tied on what they can specify. Buzzwords are less important than descriptions and licatoon of sevices.

Thank you for your feedback. The IEP is based on a 'learning disability specific to reading' and not on dyslexia specifically so the daily pull-out that he gets has not been targeted enough. We are only now introducing the school with the dyslexia diagnosis so not sure if that will change the IEP. My understanding is that he needs some sort of OG or Wilson method of instruction that I just want to know if I have the right to ask for.

Thanks again!

You have the right to ask for a reading program that has been proven in peer-reviewed studies. Schools will usually resist naming the program because then they have to make sure they have staff trained in xyz program.

Orton-Gillingham isn't a specific probram; it is a multi-sensory approach to teaching reading. The Wilson program is based on OG principles; so is Barton and Lindamood Bell. Just to make it more confusing, some school districts use a reading program called "Fundations" for all students. IT is also a Wilson program and pretty well regarded, but it is not designed for children with learning differences.

Thank you so much! Not sure where else I would find this information. His school uses Fundations so, if I am understanding correctly, I can request a different reading program based on OG principles (e.g. Wilson).

You can. They may not agree it is needed -- or that their specialists will use an approach that draws from multiple sources, or some such.

Yes! You should request an OG-based program.

Specific learning disability in reading is the DSM-5 approved term for dyslexia, though. Just FYI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, did you sign the IEP document? It should have the hours and goals spelled out. They have to provide services during the school day for the regular school year and, if your child is eligible, Extended School Year (summer).

Have they explained placement vs Location of Services (LOS)? If the services and hours you agree on in the IEP cannot be met at your school, DCPS will offer a LOS at another school with transportation. For example, a kid at Stoddert with a reading disorder could be transferred to the Specific Learning Support LOS at Murch and DCPS would be in compliance.

Thus doesn't have to be a fight, but to some extent the principal and teachers' hands are tied on what they can specify. Buzzwords are less important than descriptions and licatoon of sevices.

Thank you for your feedback. The IEP is based on a 'learning disability specific to reading' and not on dyslexia specifically so the daily pull-out that he gets has not been targeted enough. We are only now introducing the school with the dyslexia diagnosis so not sure if that will change the IEP. My understanding is that he needs some sort of OG or Wilson method of instruction that I just want to know if I have the right to ask for.

Thanks again!

You have the right to ask for a reading program that has been proven in peer-reviewed studies. Schools will usually resist naming the program because then they have to make sure they have staff trained in xyz program.

Orton-Gillingham isn't a specific probram; it is a multi-sensory approach to teaching reading. The Wilson program is based on OG principles; so is Barton and Lindamood Bell. Just to make it more confusing, some school districts use a reading program called "Fundations" for all students. IT is also a Wilson program and pretty well regarded, but it is not designed for children with learning differences.

Thank you so much! Not sure where else I would find this information. His school uses Fundations so, if I am understanding correctly, I can request a different reading program based on OG principles (e.g. Wilson).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, did you sign the IEP document? It should have the hours and goals spelled out. They have to provide services during the school day for the regular school year and, if your child is eligible, Extended School Year (summer).

Have they explained placement vs Location of Services (LOS)? If the services and hours you agree on in the IEP cannot be met at your school, DCPS will offer a LOS at another school with transportation. For example, a kid at Stoddert with a reading disorder could be transferred to the Specific Learning Support LOS at Murch and DCPS would be in compliance.

Thus doesn't have to be a fight, but to some extent the principal and teachers' hands are tied on what they can specify. Buzzwords are less important than descriptions and licatoon of sevices.

Thank you for your feedback. The IEP is based on a 'learning disability specific to reading' and not on dyslexia specifically so the daily pull-out that he gets has not been targeted enough. We are only now introducing the school with the dyslexia diagnosis so not sure if that will change the IEP. My understanding is that he needs some sort of OG or Wilson method of instruction that I just want to know if I have the right to ask for.

Thanks again!

You have the right to ask for a reading program that has been proven in peer-reviewed studies. Schools will usually resist naming the program because then they have to make sure they have staff trained in xyz program.

Orton-Gillingham isn't a specific probram; it is a multi-sensory approach to teaching reading. The Wilson program is based on OG principles; so is Barton and Lindamood Bell. Just to make it more confusing, some school districts use a reading program called "Fundations" for all students. IT is also a Wilson program and pretty well regarded, but it is not designed for children with learning differences.

Anonymous wrote:OP, did you sign the IEP document? It should have the hours and goals spelled out. They have to provide services during the school day for the regular school year and, if your child is eligible, Extended School Year (summer).

Have they explained placement vs Location of Services (LOS)? If the services and hours you agree on in the IEP cannot be met at your school, DCPS will offer a LOS at another school with transportation. For example, a kid at Stoddert with a reading disorder could be transferred to the Specific Learning Support LOS at Murch and DCPS would be in compliance.

Thus doesn't have to be a fight, but to some extent the principal and teachers' hands are tied on what they can specify. Buzzwords are less important than descriptions and licatoon of sevices.

Thank you for your feedback. The IEP is based on a 'learning disability specific to reading' and not on dyslexia specifically so the daily pull-out that he gets has not been targeted enough. We are only now introducing the school with the dyslexia diagnosis so not sure if that will change the IEP. My understanding is that he needs some sort of OG or Wilson method of instruction that I just want to know if I have the right to ask for.

Thanks again!

Typos- sorry

OP, did you sign the IEP document? It should have the hours and goals spelled out. They have to provide services during the school day for the regular school year and, if your child is eligible, Extended School Year (summer).

Have they explained placement vs Location of Services (LOS)? If the services and hours you agree on in the IEP cannot be met at your school, DCPS will offer a LOS at another school with transportation. For example, a kid at Stoddert with a reading disorder could be transferred to the Specific Learning Support LOS at Murch and DCPS would be in compliance.

Thus doesn't have to be a fight, but to some extent the principal and teachers' hands are tied on what they can specify. Buzzwords are less important than descriptions and licatoon of sevices.

I would look into extensive outside tutoring and possibly switching to a school specializing in dyslexia. Some great facebook groups in dyslexia and maybe try ASDEC.

OP,

Push to get the hours in during the school day.

In addition, i’d also recommend you might consider purchasing an OG based reading curriculum for home use instead of adding additional tutoring hours. If you don’t work late into the evening doing something like All About Reading or Barton (for severe dyslexia) may get make more sense. It’s not complicated to do at home, you could do it in increments of 30-45 minutes a couple of times a week or daily for 20 minutes rather than spending the time driving to a therapist. I’d ask for decreased school homework load in exchange. I’m a somewhat non-traditional teacher, but the argument can easily be made that 30 minutes a day of intervention as “homework” is more productive than an hour of homework, which is sometimes just busywork, at a level well above where your child is reading. Research does not support homework at the elementary school level anyway.

Thank you for your feedback.

The current IEP in place is for a 'learning disability specific to reading' so the issue is the same, except the school has not been calling it dyslexia. With the recent results from the neuropsychological test and his reading consistently a full grade level behind (if not more), I would hope we can all be on the same page now. The report is still being written so I don't have specific recommendations yet but I understand the buzz words for proper dyslexia intervention are 'Orton-Ghillingham' or 'Wilson,' correct? I don't think the school has someone certified in either so wonder what my options are as I prepare to meet with the principal and fight this battle. Cost aside, I really, really, really want this intervention to happen during the school day as to not overburden my DS who already has plenty of homework and sports to do in the afternoon.

I would appreciate any advice you could provide. Thank you.

OP, does your child have an IEP for other disabilities or is this your first time with the IEP process? DCPS puts dyslexia under Specific Learning Support or SLS.

from DCPS guide: Instruction is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, the DCPS Scope and Sequence, and students’ IEP goals.
Students benefit from reading and math programs such as SpellRead, System 44, and Read 180.
Students in the SLS program are monitored in reading and math with their non-disabled peers. Students in the SLS
program participate in the standard state assessment with accommodations according to their IEP. It is uncommon for
an SLS student to be found eligible for the alternate state assessment.

Also check Understood.org It has lots of templates, articles, videos, etc. on how to create and manage IEPs for learning disabilities. You can search by age, disability, content format, etc.

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/ieps/staying-on-top-of-your-childs-iep

Few DCPS schools have fully trained staff who can handle significant dyslexia. They won't use the "d" word because it's a trigger for specific interventions that DC just can't promise because of lack of resources.

Anonymous wrote:My son was just diagnosed with dyslexia (following a neuropsychological test). He is in 3rd grade at a DCPS and with an IEP in place. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START. Push the school to change their IEP plan to be more targeted/frequent now that we have a clear diagnosis? Aside from cost, it pains me to have to think of hiring a tutor before/after school when he has sports/downtime/homework and is exhausted. Is it realistic to hope that the school will step it up and help?

I'd also like to be better versed on what the right 'dyslexia intervention tools' are. Orton-Ghillingham? Special reading programs/apps?

Thank you for your advice.

What were the recommendations in the report?

The problem we had with mcps is that the special ed teacher picked pieces she liked out of each reading intervention. A bit from o-g here and a bit from Wilson there. The programs aren’t designed to be done like that. It wasn’t until we started with a tutor and she started on page one of Wilson and followed it page by page and chapter by chapter that we finally started seeing progress.

How much the school will do greatly depends on How below grade level he is. Just having the diagnosis doesn’t get you the help showing educational impact will.

Good luck!

My son was just diagnosed with dyslexia (following a neuropsychological test). He is in 3rd grade at a DCPS and with an IEP in place. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START. Push the school to change their IEP plan to be more targeted/frequent now that we have a clear diagnosis? Aside from cost, it pains me to have to think of hiring a tutor before/after school when he has sports/downtime/homework and is exhausted. Is it realistic to hope that the school will step it up and help?

I'd also like to be better versed on what the right 'dyslexia intervention tools' are. Orton-Ghillingham? Special reading programs/apps?

Thank you for your advice.