ADHD/LD/CAPD services available?

Yes. He qualifies for assistance under 504,ADA,and or IDEA laws.
If he has a learning disability that affects his ability to progress academicly he should have an IEP. If he has a disability period, he qualifies for assistance under 504 laws. This law states that any disabled person should be given accomodations that would inable them to progress through the mainstream educational curriculum.Most schools mistakenly think that 504 is just a list of accomodations, on a peice of paper,which in actuality, it is a very comprehensive law,designed to prevent discrimination for being disabled.
If he qualifies under IDEA,he is also protected under 504 and ADA laws. If he qualifies under 504 he doesn’t necessarily qualified under IDEA.

Now that I have totally made things confusing,let me explain.

There is state criteria he must meet to qualify for an IEP,(individual educational plan)this is the plan under the IDEA law(individuals with disabilities education act)
§300.535 Procedures for determining eligibility and placement.

(a) In interpreting evaluation data for the purpose of determining if a child is a child with a disability under §300.7, and the educational needs of the child, each public agency shall—

(1) Draw upon information from a variety of sources, including aptitude and achievement tests, parent input, teacher recommendations, physical condition, social or cultural background, and adaptive behavior; and

(2) Ensure that information obtained from all of these sources is documented and carefully considered.

(b) If a determination is made that a child has a disability and needs special education and related services, an IEP must be developed for the child in accordance with §§300.340-300.350.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(6), 1414(b)(4))

now this is a section from the IDEA law that explains being eligible under IDEA for an IEP. Important consideration is the fact that YOU the parent is part of the team. Another very important part is section :
§300.541 Criteria for determining the existence of a specific learning disability.

(a) A team may determine that a child has a specific learning disability if—

(1) The child does not achieve commensurate with his or her age and ability levels in one or more of the areas listed in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, if provided with learning experiences appropriate for the child’s age and ability levels; and

(2) The team finds that a child has a severe discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability in one or more of the following areas:

(i) Oral expression.

(ii) Listening comprehension.

(iii) Written expression.

(iv) Basic reading skill.

(v) Reading comprehension.

(vi) Mathematics calculation.

(vii) Mathematics reasoning.

(b) The team may not identify a child as having a specific learning disability if the severe discrepancy between ability and achievement is primarily the result of—

(1) A visual, hearing, or motor impairment;

(2) Mental retardation;

(3) Emotional disturbance; or

(4) Environmental, cultural or economic disadvantage.

(Authority: Sec. 5(b), Pub. L. 94-142)

OKay so a team of people come together and determine whether your child is a child with a disability defined under IDEA. In need of special educational services and or related services. This means thay have to meet the criteria,not just simply be diagnosed as a learning disability.

Once this is determined he would recieve either an IEP,or a 504 plan. Either way he recieves addidtional help to achieve educational benefit.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for such a detailed explanation!!!!

I have SOME experience with IEP’s and such, as I was a Speech Pathology/Audiology major in college. …..but……
The problem with my step son, is that since this dianosis is so recent, and the fact that he’s currently enrolled in PRIVATE school, they refuse to cater to any of his needs. He would get full services if he were in public school, but we can’t get him in until next year…..
He is going to be 7 in January, and is going to finish of his Kindergarden year at this private school, and we’ll enroll him in a public school for the 2002-2003 school year so that he may take advantage of the services available to him.
But something I don’t understand is, how in the world private schools get away with not assisting these LD kids at all. That is really infuriating me. His father has told me that since they are private, they are not regulated at all by state laws. Is this really the case???
I’m trying to help him learn to read currently. He’s just showing interest in that……
Can anyone give me any pointers on how to make things stick with a kid that has CAPD, dysgraphia, and ADHD?? He currently has trouble with B and D (differentiating, which is common in kids just learning), H and N (in lower case..again, which is understandable…) I’m jumping at the fact that he’s interested in reading, but can anyone give me some tips on how to help him learn a little better? (he’s finally gotten frustrated that the younger kids in the class can read and he can’t…)
Thank you SO much in advance……I’m learning so much from this website already!!!
Best,
Traci

Go to Radio Shack and purchase an inexpensive personal FM system that he can use in the classroom. This will help him with both CAPD and ADD. I am a speech path intern. I am hearing impaired and I have used a personal FM system for quite a while. Check out lingui systems and get some of the Source books by Regina Richards and also see what they have to help you help him. Lindamood-Bell LiPS would be good for the auditory processing piece and teahcing him to read. LiPS is kind of like learning phonetics without all the technical labels. You would probably catch on to it right away. Also, in the Bay area Susan Barton of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia has a very user friendly program to teach reading. Just type in a search engine for Bright Solutions for Dyslexia or Susan Barton and you will pull up her program. She does trainings in the Bay Area quite frequently.

Under IDEA a private school child has the right to “child Find” once evaluated the public school must give him the opportunity to be provided services from the public school system. There is bascily a certain amount of funding that is to be used specificly for private school children. You might want to take a look at this section of IDEA. Some kids get a family service plan and the public school provides services for this child.

Also if the private school recieves any federal funding what so ever they must provide protection under 504. Not all kids ,but some do,check this out.

Pattim,

Do you know what the Radio Shack system is called exactly? I asked at one of my local stores and got a blank stare even when I described what I wanted.

Thanks

You would have to look in their catalogue, I just went on line and found them. I remember buying a soundfield PA system at Radio Shack about 15 years ago.e to assist in amplification when artists did demonstrations in front of large groups. It was about $150.00. It may be listed under a Public Address system. They also have another system that is kind of like a walkie talkie that we have used in the clinic. There is an ear loop that goes over one ear and the receiver is worn by the listener.

Traci, Don’t wait until next year to start with trying to access public school services. It can take several weeks to complete testing and get the IEP team together, etc. He should have the testing done before the end of this school year or early in the summer and an IEP in place before next school year starts. That way the teacher is fully informed and he can start off with whatever he needs in place from the start. He is eligible now for the testing services.

Mary,
Which testing services are you referring to? He’s been through a battery of testing already, which lead to the diagnosis..
I’m not sure how I can get things started unless he’s enrolled in the school….
Can I approach the school with the statement of intent to enroll for next year??
Thanks,
Traci

Traci,

I may have missed it, but if you are concerned about him needing services, why won’t you move him now? The public schools have to take him. But I will forwarn you, many of them do not know what to do about CAPD. You will likely have to educate yourself in order to get the best possible service. In what area did he qualify LD? If he is only in kindergarten, I am almost surprised they labelled him LD this soon. Are you familiar with the CAPD list?

Janis