[NIFL-LD:3835] RE: NIFL-LD:3810 NO Support for phonetic

From: clifwillard (clifwillard@home.com)
Date: Tue Jan 15 2002 - 14:39:25 EST


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From: clifwillard <clifwillard@home.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-LD:3835] RE: NIFL-LD:3810 NO Support for phonetic
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Andrea,
I disagree. It is about the assumption that the cause of a reading 
disability is a lack of phonetic awareness. IT is about the idea that 
difficult in reading is a symptom of an underlying problem. There are 
several reasons why a person would exhibit the symptoms associated with a 
reading disability. A lack of phonetic awareness is only one. What about 
the others?? TBI is not a lack of phonetic awareness, it is an insult to 
brain tissue often requiring re-learning. OG+ is an effective method to 
treat that problem. That is not the case however for all situations where 
there is an apparent reading disability. Emotional problems, abuse, low 
functioning, perception deficit, FAS, and sundry other difficulties can 
cause the same "observed" difficulties. Phonetic awareness is only one and 
I do not believe a major one. It is therefore essential to know the cause, 
circumstances, and where the symptoms come from in order to responsible 
treat the disability.

Many educators do diagnosis. The problem is that they often use a 
discrepancy formula to diagnosis. A discrepancy formula does not diagnose 
anything. It is relative and at best only exposes symptoms. It often does 
not even do that. But it is in no way diagnostic. Many problems are caused 
by this error in diagnosis that would otherwise be avoided. Many are the 
very problems Art has presented. There are others however.

It is not about experience, it is about how understanding can lead to a 
positive experience for the students. That is the point.

\I tell my clients that, "I know things you do not know and you know things 
I do not know. We will trade and both benefit from the experience of each 
other." It is empowering and profoundly effective. It must be a two way street.

Clif

At 10:39 AM 1/15/02 -0500, you wrote:
>Clif:
>
>i am following this discussion with interest.
>
>It strikes me that you and Art are working with different populations and you
>are making conclusions from your own experiences, and he is doing the same.
>
>As to "qualifications" every teacher "diagnoses" even in the most informal
>way, you have to to plan a program for your students.
>
>There is a difference between projection and identification.  A skilled
>person can "identify" aspects of reality, be they different types of rocks,
>as in geology, or different learning problems, as in adult education.  Often
>one's own background is useful as a source of knowledge.
>
>Andrea



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