here’s the gist of my problem-
My 11 year old daughter seems to have all the signs of dysgraphia-
I’ve been trying to get someone to notice since 2nd grade or earlier and it hasnt happend yet–she’s very gifted other wise accidemically getting all A’s in her challenge classes—she works hard to overcome her extreme spelling problems and with her computer and WORD can pull A’s on reports with alot of work—
The problem is there is no way she can pass the state assesment test with out some kind of accomidations like being able to use a dictionary(the WASL writting assesment grades 80% on spelling) and unless she passes this stupid test she cant get into the running start program in high school or even GRADUATE—even if she has a 4.0 gpa….
I am trying to get her an IEP for this-so she can use a dictionary and possibly have more time….
the school councelor and phycologist want her to go to a vision therapist
and be diagnost and given vision therapy–––-at 11 what good is this going to do, and who’s suppost to pay for this—we dont have insurance and dont qualify for assistance(DO NOT get me started on this subject…)
What do I do-
she just needs some “crutches” so to speak to help her with the spelling….I dont feel vision therapy is the answer-
Am I getting the run-around
what help are we entitled to?
Re: Help-the school wont
I can’t help with entitlements, but I can give you my outlines and suggestions for do-it-yourself teaching. Just ask at [email protected] if you are interested; I have outlines on handwriting and on spelling among others.
Spelling Problems
I can only point you in the direction of the Internal Eyescan Technique on www.edinburghstudies.co.uk
This technique, devised in the mid 80’s, has helped kids round the globe. The technique itself runs to about 7 simple pages but info on wholebrain learning, defence mechanisms, psychology of learning, parent/teacher/student notes and worksheets takes it to 105 A4 pages. Quite a bargain for les than $5.
Try it out.
Brian
Re: Help-the school wont
You might want to check out the book “Does Your Child Really Neeed Glasses? by Robrt A. Clark. He does give exercises in there and he explains that if your child won’t do the exercises with you, vision therapy would be the way to go. I just took my daughter back in to a vision therapist and she was about the same as last time 2 years ago and I never did vision therapy there because of expense and time. I had done the exercises a year back or so from the book and she had improved, but just like anything else you do it or lose it. So I will be trying it again and see if there is improvement. I have gone to WASL meetings and I was told recently at least in my school district that you get 5 chances on the 10th grade test and from what I remember that you could use a dictionary. You might check out the OSPI (www.k12.wa.us). They are very helpful and could probably tell you who heads the testing department in your school district to answer your questions.
Re: Help-the school wont
And now, back to your original question : getting her the accommodations she needs to pass the tests.
She doesn’t have an IEP, I assume? How about a 504? This is the “accommodations” oriented law — that says if you have a disability you have to be granted the tools to get access to the curriculum.
Have you formally requested an evaluation? AS in, in writing? Has one been done? If you make the request in writing, they’ve basically got to do more paperwork to justify not doing the testing than it would take to do the testing; they generally do it. If htey care about students passing these tests, they may be even more efficacious about doing it. If it’s spelling *and* handwriting, then there may be other LD issues happening that often “bloom” around middle school for the bright students who can compensate for them in the early years.
In the meantime, you’d do well to check out the things folks have mentioned. An IEP or 504 don’t mean they actually teach (especially the bright kiddos who they sometimes secretly feel don’t really “need” help as much as others).
I can’t help with entitlements, but I can give you my outlines and suggestions for do-it-yourself teaching. Just ask at [email protected] if you are interested; I have outlines on handwriting and on spelling among others.