Dianne--

You have to keep pushing, even if it sometimes seems impossible.  Last 
year in my school district (Cambridge) two parents kept pushing (or was 
it three?) and they got their children a placement in a special school 
because the teachers in the school were simply not educated enough 
about teaching children with dyslexia.  So also check the teachers' 
certifications, or have your representative/advocate do it.

Andrea
On Dec 27, 2006, at 12:27 PM, Maureen Carro wrote:


> Hi Dianne,

> I hear your concern for your daughter, and your frustration as a parent

> not knowing how to help her!  I agree that the laws look good on paper,

> but often there is a disconnect about how various aspects of the law

> are implemented in schools.  Even if schools have adopted "response to

> intervention" models, and "research-based curriculum"  , they often

> have not put forth the money to adequately train teachers to implement

> them.  It is sad, but true!  Right now, you are pouring your financial

> resources into a legal advocate to help you get what you need for your

> daughter.  Unfortunately, unless your advocate has a good chance of

> securing an "out of district placement" in a private school that has

> the appropriate program for your daughter, what is currently being

> offered in school will not likely change.  The school will provide what

> they have to your daughter, but the intensity, duration, and skilled

> teaching that will be needed for her to "close the gap" may not be

> adequate for her progress.

>

> There are a number of things that go into diagnosing a learning

> disability.  What the school district offers in terms of assessment, is

> usually cursory, at best.  I would suggest that you present your case

> to your daughter's pediatrician and ask for a referral for a

> neuro-psychological evaluation through the pediatric department of a

> hospital participating in your HMO   that does such evaluations.

> Sometimes your medical insurance will pay for this with the proper

> referral from your doctor.  With that accomplished ( if it has not

> already been done), you will have a clearer picture of the intervention

> your child requires.

>

> You did not say where in Massachusetts you live, but the Boston area

> has many resources available.  Once a proper diagnosis has been

> secured, I would seek the services of an educational therapist.  Curry

> College in Boston, offers a post graduate certification in Educational

> Therapy, and can be a good resource for you to secure the services of

> such a professional.  In addition to evaluating and providing

> intervention for your child, they can provide advocacy within the

> school system.  Some offer "sliding scale fee structures".

>

> If you visit aetonline.org, ( Association of Educational Therapists)

> you can learn more about what an educational therapist does, and the

> site also has a referral service.  They can give you names of

> professionals practicing in your area.

>

> As far as the legal advocacy, a website called wrightslaw.com, is a

> good source of information for special education law, how to interpret

> test scores, etc. There is much you can learn for yourself on this

> website!

>

> Hope some of this helps you... good luck!

>

> Maureen

>

>

>

> On Dec 26, 2006, at 3:39 PM, dianne brakey wrote:

>

>> I have a ten year old that is reading at the first grade level with no

>> progress being made in the school system.The new laws in

>> Massachusetts" The no child left behind Act" Looks so good on paper

>> but there are sooo many loop holes that  the school system just keeps 

>> going with out any cares in the world.they could care less if my

>> daughter learns to read. I am now just getting the hang on how this

>> system works. I am also having to  pay big bucks (that I don't have)

>> to have an advocate fight for the right for my daughter to learn to

>> read. Any suggestions would be helpful.

>>

>>

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