We have moved, it is a long story one that we could all laugh and cry over. What brings me here to this BB is that my daughter has severe dysgraphia and very little functional handwriting abilities. She used an AlphaSmart and a desktop computer for one school year. Her team made the rec. for a laptop in middle school. She has used a laptop for access to most written output in all subject areas successfully for the entire school year. At least 80% of her written work is completed this way. Current school staff say the laptop helps with developing organization skills too and they encourage text to speech for word processing to assist with processing and proofreading.
Here is my problem, the sped director from the city we are moving to tells me that my child can use an AlphaSmart and have access to a desktop in the classroom(s). A laptop is not considered to fall under “appropriate” but would be maximum, so the new school does not have to provide it.
The trouble with this is that this seems so backwards to me with all the progress she has made in this area. Everything is in the laptop, access is now at her desk like everyone else, plus the laptop comes home providing access at home for homework. Not nearly as many problems with organization.
Yes, I have a lot of documentation I have provided to the new district. Can anyone help with why a laptop falls under appropriate?
Some thougths. You should ask the district for Prior Written Notice. They are denying your request and need to put it in writing. May times a school district will back down when they are made to put their denial in writing. You could also ask them for an assistive technology assessment; if they agree be sure the person doing the assessment is knowledgeable about dysgraphia. If they turn down the request again ask for PWN.
My son was provided with an alphasmart in 5th by school. In 6th we bought him a PDA which has worked well (looks like a small laptop). I now want to get him a taptop for 9th grade. The ones that run under windows-XP Microsoft Word can be set up to Spanish and will put in all the accents into the tex and spell check in Spanisht. Also he could get a program called Form Pilot that allows you to scan in worksheets and then input your answers right on the form.
Helen