Hi maybe someone can tell me what is the schools obligations to a child who is dyslexic? My school refuses to label her dyslexic that word is not even in their vocab. there. They let me take her for test after test to only find out that they school knew she was dyslexic but she is only labeled as a child with a reading disablity Can anyone help or is that how all schools handle it? Thanks! Teresa
Re: dyslexic child
The schools have to use certain words included in their criteria for special ed. Dyslexia *is* a reading disability — so calling it one works. The schools have specific definitions for each kind of disability — but those definitions are, on purpose, not narrowed down because (hypothetically, anyway!) you figure out what the child needs based on looking at individual situations, scores & needs, not just matching a label wiht the services. (I know, it’s *hypothetical* — often there is a standard “this is what we offer” menu.)
Re: dyslexic child
I went through this last year with my son. The doctors that tested him verbally told me he has dyslexia but when he wrote up his report, they said he had a “marked reading disability” and suggested remedial reading. I contacted his doctor and come to find out my son didn’t fit the label “dyslexia” because he had an IQ of 102. at the time he was nine, and that was too high to qualify as dyslexic. The doctor did rewrite his report to meet the school’s requirements (my son is also dysgraphic and they refused to let him use the laptop I provided. Go figure.) so my son could get the remediation he needed and the laptop. Maybe you could try that too.
Good Luck!
Re: dyslexic child
Dear Crystal:
Unfortunately, your son’s doctor is not as knowledgeable about dyslexia as he thinks. Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. A person can be highly intelligent and still be dyslexic. Ted Hallowell(spelling?) is ADD and Dyslexic and a professor at Harvard. Intelligence is not a factor in determining dyslexia. Dyslexia literally is “difficulty with words” either spoken (auditory) or written (visual) or both. It is a problem in the language processing (not speech) area of the brain. It is only the schools who use IQ as a criteria for determining learning disabilities. Just needed to clear that up.
L. Starr
Re: dyslexic child
Glad to read your response, I was confused when I read Crystal’s response because everything I’ve read about dyslexia, says that they can have a very high IQ. Maybe you someone could answer something else. How exactly is an IQ test administered to a child who can’t read? My son’s MFE says he tested in the low average IQ range. Just wondering?
IQ tests don't involve reading
IQ tests of any value are delivered 1:1 and reading isn’t involved. Lots of language is — kids with auditory processing problems can have some difficulties.
There are some group screening kinds of tests but these are for screening — seeing if it’s worth doing the more time-consuming individual testing .
Re: dyslexic child
Crystal, When my daughter was tested her IQ was 120 so therefore that has nothing to do with how they are labeled Albert Einstein was a genius and he was dyslexic. My daughter was also 9 when she was tested last year.
So don’t let anyone tell you that because your child is smart they can’ t have dyslexia from research I’ve done it is usually the ones with the higher IQ’s that are dyslexic. Our school wrote her as the reading disablity and then I wasn’t satisfied with that answer so therefore I had her tested for auditory processing she passed that and then they said take her to have a psychology to have them evaulate and I never got past the first visit with them they were mad that the school had never told us that she was dsylexic. He looked at us point blank and said why are you here? It is here in black and white the school already knows she is. I set in meeting after meeting saying I was having her tested and they never said a word! Talk about a long ride home! We had went 3 hours away to talk to this doctor! The doctor wrote a letter to them and told them of my rights etc. and of course they danced around everything and I from that point on take a tape recorder and tape all conversation I have with them and I do no phone calls everything is in writing when I need something. With help tutors speech and some help from the resource teacher she has gone from C ‘s and D’s to Honor Roll this year and her goal for the last 9 weeks is Merit Honor Roll. Good Luck to you. Teresa
I have the same problem, and actually just posted that question on here a couple of weeks ago. The response was: it doesn’t matter what they call it, it’s still a disability. I do wonder why schools are so dead set against the word though?
Anyway, good luck!