I was almost not going to tell you all this, but oh well, I have to tell someone.:-)
On Saturday afternoon, I emailed an aquaintance who is a SLP in private practice in another city in NC. She specializes in reading disorders in addition to language. She has training in PG, some LB, and Language! among other things (knows APD). Anyway, I made an appointment for her to test my child in April as I just am not sure anyone has a handle on why her reading comprehension is so poor when word attack scores are at 116.
This lady is also a national trainer for the Language! program, which is similar to OG, etc. but includes written language, also. I asked her if she planned to do any trainings this summer in NC. She told me the Dept. of Public Instruction for our state was planning a couple of workshops but the details were not yet set. She gave me the email of the person to contact, who just happens to be the head of special education for the state!
So yes, in an impetuous moment Sat. night, I emailed the head of special ed. for my state and told him I had been in contact with the lady who recommended I contact him. I told him of my interest in Langauge! training and that I already knew PG.
You know what? A little while later on Sat. night I see a reply appear in my mailbox!!! That was very unexpected as I had emailed him at his work address. He was very nice and told me the dates had not yet been set but that they hope to have a site in the eastern and western part of the state. He then asked me several questions about PG and the training (which no one locally has ever done)! He said he has a friend who uses it. So, I emailed him back and told him some details in reply to his questions, and I also took the opportunity to tell him how teachers very much need training in effective methods if we are to EVER get kids remediated, out of special ed., and passing the state tests! He emailed me back and said, “I like what you say.” And he said he might visit our county in the spring, and he hoped we might get to meet!
Unreal. I know most people would think, big deal. But it was a pretty big deal for lowly little nobody me to get to tell the state head of special ed. just what I think we need to be doing! You sometimes think the higher up bureaucrats are pretty inaccessible, but I have to say, he was an exception!
Janis
Re: An interesting weekend...
That is fantastic! One person can make a difference.
I think he must really care about doing what is right. It is great to hear that someone in power cares about answers.
I had a very interesting conversation with the head of sped in my district. This despite the problems I have had at meetings. He cheered me on with what I am doing. He said he would do the same thing if it was his child.
I have considered contacting him again with some of my concerns/ideas. I was thinking of waiting until my son was fully remediated so that I can say, “See what can happen.”
He knows that I am doing this on my own. Perhaps he will interested on learning how it is done.
Re: An interesting weekend...
I think think this is wonderful. We can’t change the whole world but we can change our corner of it….and you may help change a whole state!!
Just think how Anna’s difficulties have changed you…..
Beth
Re: An interesting weekend...
Absolutely, by all means tell him once you’re done. We have to show the test results basically to prove there are things that work. Mayeb one day people in power will do something about this!
Janis
Re: An interesting weekend...
Beth, in an odd way, I have to say I am thankful for Anna’s problems because it has made me a better teacher. By the way, I made an appointment this weekend to have her evaluated in April…maybe I said that in the above post. I just want to be sure we are hitting at the root of her problems.
Janis
Re: An interesting weekend...
While I can’t say this is the life I would have chosen, I do think I have become a much better person as a result. Growing up as smart but uncool, I was quite the intellectual snob. I have grown to appreciate the variety of gifts people have and to see school as only one place to excell.
Beth
Re: An interesting weekend...
It is both my boys special needs that have guided me to my next career once I “graduate” the military, I would like to teach. It has truly been amazing to see the progress my boys make when they hook up with the right teacher. I feel I owe the teaching professionals something.
On an interesting side note my oldest sons cirle of friends at school consists of a number of “intellectually” gifted students. These kids are honor students and my son is just working is way out of special ed. This particular group of kids though seem to share a number of his interests. It helps that he is an American history buff, he eats that stuff up. It just seems odd for an “LD” student to be good friends with “gifted” students.
Re: An interesting weekend...
My son was on the bottom of the class academically in K. His best friend was the smartest kid in class. He was the only other child who knew the names of all the sharks. I still remembering buying a present for the boy’s birthday. My son insisted on a model of a Great White Shark. He said that was William’s favorite kind of shark.
LD kids often have quirky interests that overlap with gifted kids interests.
Beth
P.S. You will make a wonderful teacher
Re: An interesting weekend...
Let me add that I certainly would not choose for Anna to have these problems, Beth. Like you, I just have to look for the positives in an otherwise difficult situation.
Janis
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