Legal Responsibility

It sounds like your son needs to be on an IEP and he needs to be told that any failures he has had are due to having a learning disability which is not his fault. You should insist that he get counciling as well because of his self esteem. If the school does not provide it then you should insist that they pay for it. He should not be punished for having a disibility.

Get an advocate of some kind. Others will probably be able to give you more information on this.

I hope everything works out. Keep us posted.

Kathryn

I agree that the [url]www.wrightslaw.com [/url]site will be your best bet!

And don't let them retain you child again.

Why aren't the test results official?

If you do not agree with the test results, or they are not in your child's favor you have the right to request an independent evaluation at the school's expense.

Read your copy of the procedural safe-guards.

You will need to learn how to advocate for your child before this next school year starts.

He can get an IEP now this is very good thing to have because ANYTHING can be done through the IEP process.

You and your child are equal members of the IEP team don't let the school tell you different.

As far as getting even, I would focus on what's ahead for your child first. Get an IEP and accomodations (extended time for completion of assignments,counseling for low self esteem, and anything else you feel he may need). There is no limit to the ammount of accomodations your child is entitled to, he is entitled to anything that will help him receive an appropriate education.

The school is required to provide counseling services if it is found to be needed as part of his disability. Self esteem is often damaged because of a disability.

You can also receive Title I services, if you are in a Title I school.

I recommend that you get "From Emotions To Advocacy"
{the FETA book}
from [url]www.wrightslaw.com[/url]
it's a "HOW TO" advocate for your child book. A must have for ALL Parents.

The FETA book has a chapter that teaches you exactly what test scores really mean.

If you can get the "Special Education Law" book, the "IDEA 2004" book and the "No Child Left Behind" book you will have a enough knowledge to effectively advocate for your child, and receive ALL the services he needs, even without the aid of an advocate.

They are easy to understand books too.

I am a parent of 2 special needs kids.

[Modified by: speaker wire on August 14, 2007 05:15 AM]

[Modified by: speaker wire on August 14, 2007 12:55 PM]

FAPE- Free Appropriate Public Education (Section 1400 (d) (1) (A))

You may wish to watch a online video on classroom/homework accommodations. This video presentation was developed by Susan Barton. You can view this video on her website. Click on the link "Watch her other videos on dyslexia" then click on the link for "Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexic Students".
http://www.brightsolutions.us/

Here are some recommendations for some text-to-speech programs which will allow your computer to read to your student. A program that I often use on my computer is TextAloud, <http://www.nextup.com> ($50 with the voices). This program can read any text in any Windows program. It also comes with an Internet Explorer or Firefox plug-in which can help in read webpages. I find TextAloud is the best program for reading webpages.

I can also recommend that you might want to look at the software programs available from Premier Assistive, <http://www.readingmadeeasy.com> . Premier Assistive as an MP3 player/flash drive called "Key to Access" ($350). Key to access has about 10 different programs to assist students with reading and writing. Premier Assistive has excellent programs. In fact, Premier Assistive has a grant program that allows school districts get their software for free. So if your district says they have no money for software this is a good bet to help them get some assistive software for LD students.

The Cadillac of scanning and reading programs is Kurzweil 3000 ($1500). A number of school districts use this program. www.Kurzweiledu.com . The nice thing about Kurzweil 3000 is the page that is to be read looks exactly like the page in the book. It has study skills and a simple word processor.

You might also consider obtaining FREE audio books on CD from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) www.rfbd.org . They have both textbooks and trade books recorded as audio books. One borrows the audio books from their lending library. It takes a specially adapted CD player to read these audio books. You may wish to check if your school has a player. Players can also be purchased from RFB&D.

Jim -- Michigan

Jim -- Michigan www.geocities.com/jnuttallphd

Unfortunately districts mess up sometime. I am horrified that they didn't do proper testing to beging with. Make sure your son knows he is not stupid, he is LD. I myself was diagnosed in the 9th grade. They tested me before, but I only had regular ed interventions (remedial reading, remedial math, and a visual perceptive moter training program) in elementary. They knew I had difficulties, but in my case my twice exceptionality masked the LD... that and the fact that they applied the discrepancy formula wrong. To them, it was discrepancy between grade level I was in and functioning there, but it should have been IQ/ability and how I was functioning. Anyhow, now that he is diagnosed, be a strong advocate of getting him into the resourse room and possibly some special ed classes for those subjects in which he struggles the most. Even at the late date of diagnosis, progress can be made with special education help. It makes a big difference.

"Never give up, never surrender" -Galaxy Quest

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity” -Albert Einstein

“Be not afraid of growing slowly; Be afraid only of standing still” -Chinese proverb