Hi Maureen
This is also my first posting. My son had similar learning difficulties. At
age 12 he was diagnosed with Developmental Dyspraxia. He has organisational
problems, visual /spatial /auditory problems, reading processing and
phonological awareness problems. He had an above average IQ (has not been
tested since) and his expressive language was above average.(His friends
would tell him not to use such big words)  He did not read until he was 13
and the first book he read was Lord of The Rings. It took a year and he must
have made up all the names. He hasn't stopped reading since. He still can
not spell but has attempted to write his own novel using his laptop and
assistive technology. (Dragon Naturally Speaking).  He still spends all his
money on Science fiction books.
 
It was my frustration in getting schools to recognise and help him that lead
me to study towards a Teaching Degree. Here in New Zealand, between 1998 to
2000, Learning Difficulties was not covered as part of the Degree study. I
then completed a Diploma in Specific Learning Disabilities and Certificate
in Adult Teaching, these gave me the tools to support him. 
 
He is now 21 and works as a Commis Chef. He has had to learn strategies to
deal with his issues. Working as a Chef is not the ideal profession for
someone with organisational problems, He has had some disastrous jobs, In
his first job, after he completed his studies, the business closed after 6
weeks. He then worked in a small restaurant  where he was expected to run
the kitchen at times, he would make a lot of errors and it was suggested he
should write the order of instructions. He was too embarassed to let them
know he could not write enough to follow his own instructions. He resigned
and then worked in a large Tourist resort ( 8 hours drive from home) for a
summer season as breakfast chef, this job was monotonous but gave him his
confidence again. He now works in another tourist resort (4 hours drive from
home) he has regained his confidence and runs his own section. He still
makes mistakes, forgets the order sometimes, but is learning strategies to
deal with this. He still does not want to learn to drive, he says he has
enough to worry about without the extra stress. We still support him and
travel to see him regularly, I do worry about him. How is he coping? Is he
organised enough to ensure he has enough clean uniforms? I have helped him
set routines in place for these tasks. As it is when he works in the kitchen
it is the routines that help set the brain patterns to help him remember.  I
also often remind him that he is doing well and we are proud of him.
 
It is an advantage if you can be an advocate for your own children. Here in
New Zealand schools are now better equipped to deal with children with
Learning Disabilities. There are still many adults who have never had that
support.
 
The skills I had to learn to help him, have helped me in my career where I
now work as an Academic Manager in an Adult Learning Centre. We focus on
teaching literacy and second chance education to adults. We help many adults
with leaning disabilities. I am also on the Executive of the Adult Literacy
Practitioners' Association here in New Zealand.
 
thanks
 
Miriam

-----Original Message-----
From: postmaster at rees.com [mailto:postmaster at rees.com]On Behalf Of maureen
Sent: Thursday, 2 November 2006 1:49 p.m.
To: The Learning Disabilities Discussion List
Subject: [LearningDisabilities 751] Re: new member


Joshua,
Thank you so much for your reply.  My son is maintaining grade level
performance because he is very bright.  His full scale IQ was considered
inaccurate because of the difference between his verbal and performance
skills (his initial testing 3 years ago had a 42 point difference with
verbal at 138.)  Recent testing did not even assign him IQ numbers.  These
results aren't just the result of the ED but also due to the visual spatial
LD. 
My major concern is his inability to read and process what he is reading. 
He has no problem decoding; he can read as well as I can (almost.)  But he
has no idea what he's read about.  His IEP does not address this as a goal,
and there's only one or two accommodations which address this problem. 
Aren't public schools required to teach a child to read?  Or is it OK that
he's bright enough to absorb what he hears to make passing grades?
I've already requested an additional meeting.  I'm ready to partially reject
his IEP after the fourth draft by the school's sped. teacher; they will not
add reading as a second goal.  The only goal listed involves the
organizational problems.
I think I will be in touch with taalliance.  Thanks so much for the info. 
By the way, I live in Mass.  My son is due to attend a very large regional
high school (5 towns, over 2,000 students) next year, and I'm trying to do
whatever I can this year to help him transition (if indeed that's where he
ends up.)
Maureen
Thanks to all of you who have responded.  I feel much less alone with
this!!!  I met with an advocate yesterday at the tune of $175 who wants a
deposit of $1,200 with an approximate total of $2,500.  She wanted to review
all records, observe my son without his knowing, and "tighten up" his IEP. 
Seems like a lot of money for what she's offering (realizing this is
following an over $2,000 neuropsych. testing battery completed last June.) 
What does anyone think of that?  Is it exorbitant or not?  What does one
expect from an advocate?

----- Original Message -----
From: HYPERLINK "mailto:jhayes at searchproject.org"Joshua Hayes
To: HYPERLINK "mailto:learningdisabilities at nifl.gov"The Learning
Disabilities Discussion List
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 9:41 AM
Subject: [LearningDisabilities 742] Re: new member


Maureen,

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon problem.  Perhaps you could describe
what measures are being taken in his IEP.  Remember too that you are a
member of the committee and you must consent to the plans presented in the
IEP.  That is a fundamental difference between IDEA and Sec 504.  When
seeking an advocate, I recommend a three step process.

1.	Give you concerns in writing to the members of the entire committee and
request an additional meeting.  Ask for copies of everything and request
minutes of the meeting.  Bring along other friends or family members
involved with the child's life.
2.	If that doesn't get what you need, then notify Technical Assistance
Alliance for Parent Centers at HYPERLINK
"http://www.taalliance.org/"http://www.taalliance.org/.  They have resource
offices in every state that do help with your problem specifically.
3.	If you still can't get traction, notify OCR of the Dept of Ed.

 

I doubt seriously that you would need a private attorney.  By the time TAAPC
gets involved, the wheels should start moving.

And a final concern, remember that all these things are negotiations.  The
law requires that a student be educated in the least restricted environment
with appropriate and reasonable accommodations.  This is not the same thing
as being educated to their full potential.  If the student is making
acceptable progress in the regular curriculum, most of the schools
obligations are met.  Your only resource beyond that would be to investigate
whether your son might qualify for gifted and talented programs.  Twice
exceptional children (GT & LD) are guaranteed access to those enrichment
programs if they otherwise qualify.  This usually requires an IQ of 140 or
above.

Good luck and please let us know if you have any other questions we might be
able to assist you with.

 

Josh

 


   _____


From: learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:learningdisabilities-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of maureen
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 2:18 PM
To: Learning Disabilities
Subject: [LearningDisabilities 736] new member

 

Hi,

This is my first time posting a message here.  I'm not sure I'm in the right
place.  I have a 13 yo boy who has executive dysfunction and a reading
comprehension/processing problem.  He also has a visual spatial learning
disability.  Expressive language is way above average both speaking and
writing.  His school IEP is not addressing his reading difficulties.  Please
if anyone knows how to access help for him, leave me a message.  I'm also
looking into getting an advocate.

ttttttttthanks,

Maureen


   _____




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