My son (12, 7th gr) has recently had a private evaluation (paid by medical insurance) from which the following dx were made: 1. ADHD, 2. Adjustment disorder with anxious mood, 3. Learning disabilities in reading, writing, and math.
The tester explained to me that medical insurance does not cover testing of LDs, as they (insurers) believe it is up to the schools to find what specific LDs are involved.
We’ve already had an IEP for 4 years, based on the pediatrician’s dx of ADHD, but I had a feeling there was more, so I did this testing.
So now I’m at a loss — what testing needs to be done? I need to know specifics of what to ask of the school system so they do the appropriate things, but LD is foreign to me. I have a daughter who is Asperger’s & GT with SpecEd supports, so this world is not foreign at all, but I’ve never learned about LDs before. I presume that we need to find out what LDs he has (i.e., the only labels I know of - dysgraphia, dyslexia) in order to get him the appropriate supports.
If it would help to know his scores - basics: WISC verbal 102, performance 127. Perceptual Organizational abilities 135. Freedom from Distractability index 81, Processing Speed 96. WRAT scores in Reading, spelling, and arithemetic were in 13-19 percentile, 4th grade.
Quite frankly we even had no idea he was so intelligent! He is highly frustrated with homework, but tries soooo hard to do it, it’s heartbreaking. He didn’t read his first word until 3rd grade, in the same week he began taking Ritalin.
Please direct me to what to read, where to learn, so I can advocate for my son.
Thanks!
I’d suggest Mel Levine’s book Educational Care. It should offer some tips as to what strategies might prove helpful - even though it is somewhat dry reading.
Some things you can ask for can come from your experience with your son such as reduced homework.
Some of your son’s scores are excellent - he must be an interesting young man.