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Does your State recognize CAPD as a LD? Florida doesn't.

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I find it hard to believe that my child is the only child in the State of Florida not getting the accomodations she needs in class. I’ve had two counties in the State of Florida tell me that they do not recognize CAPD (APD) as a learning disability.

She’s going into 11th grade. Must have 2.0 to move to next grade, her GPA last year was 2.2.

Failed FCAT tests that are manditory for graduation.

She is very frustrated and I fear she will drop out due to sheer frustration.

Funny thing….she just started at Walt Disney World and they are accomodating her disability.

Does your CAPD child/teenager receive accomodations at school?

Submitted by pattim on Sat, 07/30/2005 - 2:11 AM

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I am sorry to say that CAPD is not a state recognized disability. My daughter was diagnosed with CAPD but she also has a severe hearing loss which is what causes the CAPD. So she qualifies as hearing impaired and not with CAPD.

Your child would have to be tested for an LD to find a discrepancy between her IQ and performance, the other thought is request a thorough speech and language eval including written language and she may qualify that way..

Patti

Submitted by des on Sat, 07/30/2005 - 2:36 AM

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Am I wrong, but most state, I think, do not recognize any named learning disabilities. You could be ld but not dyslexic, dysgraphic, dyscalculic, NVLD, etc etc. IF you can show that the CAPD affects learning in some way, then its a “covered ld”. If not for an IEP, then at least for 504 accommodations. I think that states are wary of medical (or medically sounding) terms.

I wonder about the term CAPD applied to a hearing impaired child. In most cases, ime, kids with hearing impairments show CAPD type traits. At what point are they “central” and at what point are they at the source (ie ears). Also many kids have sensori-neural loss anyway, which implies some deeper involvement. The inner ear is awfully close to the brain.
Maybe Patti or Janis could clarify. I took classes in deaf education a really long time ago, the term CAPD didn’t exist then.

—des

Submitted by Sue on Tue, 08/02/2005 - 4:25 PM

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Des is right tho’ - most states have their own terminology so sometimes it is “merely” a matter of getting a translation of a more medical term to a more educatinal one. THis can mean getting the school to do their testing which is difficult in upper grades, but can be done even if they tell you otherwise, and they **are** required to do it in the same timelines as with younger students. (One of the advocate folks owuld have more specific info on this and Socks would have a great handle on Florida issues :-))
This could mean accommodations on those FCATS - you’ll also want to cruise the news for other folks in similar boats. I seem to remember reading many stories about hard-working, able students coming to terms with the tests - there may be power in numbers. Heck, I’d consider homeschooling too.

Submitted by Beth from FL on Tue, 08/02/2005 - 8:44 PM

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The logic Florida uses I think (and my child has been diagnosed with CAPD) is that it doesn’t matter, if it doesn’t cause a significant discrepancy in academic areas. It was never an issue for my son because he qualified as having a specific language disability.

Like Patti suggests, I would try speech and language evaluations, if she doesn’t qualify by academic subjects. Writing is often poor for kids with various sorts of issues so maybe a writing evaluation would be a way to go as well.

Beth

Submitted by samsavmom on Fri, 09/02/2005 - 8:28 PM

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I work for a school school district in Florida (2 different school districts since she was in 7th grade). My mistake was in signing the IEP releasing her from ESE due to her “allegedly” passing a speech/language test.

Her CAPD was always secondary, but they would accommodate her CAPD until 8th grade.

When I asked how she was going to accommodated for the CAPD, I was told it was another department’s problem. I’ve yet to find that “Other Department”.

On a better side of this story:

I did have another conference 2 wks ago at her high school. They are finally realizing that she has fallen through multiple cracks and are looking into Section 504.

I worry because the other county in Florida denied her for 504 when she was in 8th grade.

I just keep the fingers crossed and fight for my child’s rights.

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