Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    TwoBees is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    7,017

    Default Feeling overwhelmed and looking for dyslexia resources

    DD1 (age 8.5) recently underwent a full ADHD eval through the ADHD management center of the children's hospital, which confirmed the diagnosis of ADHD combined type and also provided a diagnosis of dyslexia. I have suspected dyslexia for a few years now but having the actual diagnosis with a breakdown of the areas in which she struggles has left me overwhelmed. She has not previously been identified in the classroom as needing a lot of pull-out reading support, just extra help now and then, and participation in small-group, in-class reading groups. She compensates well, apparently. In any case, I requested a meeting with her IEP team to provide them with the results of the report and discuss strategies and accommodations for the upcoming school year. Except I have no idea what to ask for other than what was recommended in the report. What specific strategies should be added to her IEP? What do I need to keep an eye out for, and how will I know if what the school suggests is a good idea? What type of research should I do before the meeting? I am fairly good at advocating for my kids but I really do feel lost with the dyslexia piece because reading was always so easy for me. I honestly have a hard time wrapping my head around it even though I know her brain is processing the information differently.
    Mom to a spirited, red-headed, former 28-weeker 10/2009 and a more mellow monkey 12/2013.

  2. #2
    m4nash is offline Silver level (200+ posts)
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    371

    Default

    Honestly, if she is doing well in school and doesn't already have an IEP, I wouldn't expect the school to offer to do anything new and IME if you want anything new you will have to fight for it. That has been our experience in Maryland with a 7 year old diagnosed with dyslexia. My child gets pulled out 3 x's a week with a reading specialist in a small group to work on phonics and phonemic awareness and has since kindergarten (she starts 3rd grade this fall), but we do not have an IEP or even a 504 as the school has refused multiple times even though test were showing she was not making enough progress to keep up with her peers. Since the school pull out was not enough for my child, we also started private Orton-Gillingham tutoring twice a week outside of school last year. The extra tutoring has helped her make progress and she is catching up. We don't have the money or time to fight the school system or to consider private options at this time. Hopefully your school is more helpful.

  3. #3
    hillview's Avatar
    hillview is offline Blue Diamond level (20,000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    21,532

    Default

    Dyslexia is complicated (I have it as does DS1). It really depends on the details of the neuropsych. DS1 is a great reader (is in 8th grade and reads at 12th grade level) but he struggles with writing (getting his ideas down on paper) and spelling. DS1 goes to a school that only has kids with dyslexia in it. in 9th grade he will move to public. At public I expect he will have accommodations (likely a 504 not an IEP as he is very very bright). The accommodations I expect he will get are
    - being allowed to use a laptop for assignments
    - having assignments and class notes provided to him in writing
    - allowing him to use speech to type for assignments
    - using a calculator in math
    - getting extra time on essay style written exams

    He has had orton-gillingham tutoring daily since 5th grade. He has also had extensive intervention with writing and been taught to use graphic planners etc. There is a good facebook group for parents of kids with dyslexia. There are also a lot of great books. Don't worry and just read up. I would be happy to hop on a call with you if you'd like!
    DS #1 Summer 05
    DS #2 Summer 07

  4. #4
    ArizonaGirl is offline Sapphire level (2000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    2,126

    Default

    From the mom of an autistic 4th grader that is finally getting and IEP and an autistic classroom.

    Hire and advocate, sooner rather than later.

    It is worth every penny.
    Lindsey

    Married to DH June 2005 gave birth to Shawn December 2008 and Lilian August 2012




  5. #5
    Percycat is offline Platinum level (1000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    .
    Posts
    1,555

    Default

    We are going through a similar process ... maybe a little further down the road. My DD was diagnosed with a visual processing disorder when she was in K and that affected reading and math, but the school kept telling us she was performing. We tried to get various supports, and they were either denied or were ineffective -- all the time with the school either telling us that she was performing or her lack of performance was due to ADD or lack of home support/readiness for school. DD eventually tanked in 4th and 5th grade when students were no longer "learning to read" but expected to "read to learn". Not only did academics suffer, but self esteem and friendships suffered. It was heartbreaking. We chose to send her to a private school that focuses on remediating children with dyslexic type learning disabilities. It was very expensive and required a lot of sacrifice in more ways than $ for our family, but we think it was worth it. Her confidence has returned. She understands her disability and understands because of her disability she will have to work harder than everyone else. She also knows how she learns and how to advocate to get what she needs to learn effectively. She will go to traditional 8th grade middle school this year --- I pray she is prepared and successful.

    All this to say, that I have learned a few things. I believe you need to request reading instruction using an Orton-Gillingham method. My DD's school used Wilson, but Barton and Spire are also OG curriculums. I understand to be effective, a student needs private or small group OG instruction AT LEAST 3 times a week for AT LEAST 45 minutes per session in order to create the neurological pathways that lead to automacy. My daughter's school provided 50 minutes one-on-one tutoring 5 days a week. We will be meeting with the IEP staff shortly after school begins and among our requests will be access to audio books and early access to reading and writing assignment so she can work ahead.

    If you are on Facebook, look for and consider joining "St. Louis Parent and Professional Support" group and "Understood" and "Dyslexia Inspired" pages -- each of these groups/pages provide great information related to IEP development and student advocacy related to dyslexia type learning issues. The St. Louis group obviously includes posts that are specifically relevant to St. Louis students, but the group is very active and members share resources found from across multiple facebook groups and sites -- which might lead you to a group that is more situated to your needs.

    Best wishes

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah.
    Posts
    8,996

    Default

    Grab the Everything Dyslexia book--great practical ideas. Ditto on the OG tutoring--DS had a Wilson trained tutor. He started with 50 mins 1:1 4-5 days a week, then that eventually dropped to 2-3 days a week. He didn't need it by the 4th grade (so 3 years of tutoring, starting in 1st grade). Then he needed math tutoring and had that 2x a week in a small group and that worked really well.

    Girls are often diagnosed late--they compensate very well.
    Mom to:
    DS '02
    DS '05
    Percy--the wild furry child!!! 2022----
    Simon--the first King Charles cutie 2009-2022
    RIP Andy, the furry first child, 1996-2012

    "The task of any religion is not to tell us who we are entitled to hate but to teach us who we are required to love."

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •