http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYjKDxYH2U
This was the sort of reaction I had when Allie was diagnosed, too. It may seem weird - but it helps knowing - Diagnoses is the first step in helping kids with dyslexia.
The second step is to stress to teachers - "Chill - it's going to take some patience."
That step can be done with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) or 504 (Health plan). Not all kids with a specific learning disability qualify for an IEP - or Special Education. Sound crazy? Well, yeah life is crazy. A 504 plan can be used to specifically tell teachers to chill.
Now, if you're not an educator - you might be confused. Can't teachers just recommend to parents that kids need special ed? Well - neither teachers nor parents can stick kids in special ed. It takes a lot of paper work.
First of all, there's still a stigma in special ed. A teacher can not be just sure how a parent will react to the suggestion of testing for special ed - and before a teacher or a principal can utter those words to a parent, there must be six weeks of documentation. Without the six weeks of documentation, teachers can not utter a word to parents about testing for special ed according to Minnesota Law. What sort of documentation?
Hmmm - as a teacher, I'd observe avoidance of work, copying from other kids' homework, daydreaming, poor grammatical mechanics, and that sort of thing.
As a teacher, I know that this is a touchy thing. So, I'd also make sure to put a bunch of positive things down - because guess what? I know that special ed just means finding another way to make a brilliant child learn in spite of a learning disorder. Not all teachers are able to communicate that idea well; it's intimidating.
Friday, I called the school and requested that my daughter be tested to receive special services. There was a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone because - well - maybe there was six weeks of documentation already - and now, they didn't have to worry about my reaction.
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