We had an "IEP" team meeting just before Christmas, which was a waste of 1 hour of my time that I won't get back. The speech therapist left 15 minutes into the meeting, the Special Educator really didn't help much, and the teacher was frustrated with the Principal. They talked to me, at me, down to me, around me but not to me. They tried the usual things educators say at IEP meetings when they don't want to provide services *"letter reversals are very common at this age," OK, yes, I know that, I tell parents that all the time in IEP meetings, but she does it more than the typcial child! And finds sight words backwards in words she sees around the community. Like "yes" in her sister's name LINDSEY. Yeah, it took me awhile to get it too!
* "Its still early, why are you getting so upset when its only December?" Um, I don't know, maybe because I know that from this point we are looking at 90 days before she gets tested, then 60 days to implement anything, and I am already looking at the end of the school year?
* "Why don't we try some strategies and wait and see how she progresses" Well, she only identified 12 out of 26 letters in November, but the other day she got 24, but it's inconsistent, how long do I have to "wait and see? "Well she got 24 though! That is progress" Jesus.
* I asked if there was an eval that could see if she does MORE letter reversals than the typical Kindergarten student, and I was told there was no such test. OK, then why did my friend the Special Educator tell me about it?
When I brought up the adaptive PE, the principal denied that she was getting APE, but I showed him the permission letter I had to sign, and he said "You never should have gotten that, she is just getting extra PE help, not Adaptive PE. That is the wrong form." Well, duh. I know that, you can't have APE without an IEP, but you all screwed up!!
I agreed to let her "wait out" another month and try the "SST strategies." However, I told them if she didn't make enough progress by the time we reconvene, then I will expect she will be formally tested. This is going freakin' no where! Then the principal told me "you know, if you think its Dyslexia, you need to call your Pediatrician." What is there some kind of Dyslexia blood test now? That would make it much easier....
My one friend, a special educator, told me "you are fighting a losing battle against the school district." She recommended a psycho-educational eval, and recommended I call the Highlands School for advice. Another special educator said "there are tests you can do" and said she was disappointed with the Principal. The Highlands school said I could bring her in for testing with them, but they couldn't formally diagnose her. They could provide guidance and suggestions on what she needs educationally, however.
I scheduled an "eval" with the Highlands school, but its $375. I think it can be paid for with Flexible Spending dollars, but I haven't confirmed that yet. If I can't pay for it that way, Ron said we aren't going to do it. Psycho-ed testing is $1500-$2000, and is the only way to get a formal diagnosis of Dyslexia. The website I just found said that Dyslexia testing "isn't covered by insurance" although other people have told me otherwise. The same website said the schools are not able to test for Dyslexia, but only for a "learning disability" which most dyslexic students don't qualify for because they are too smart. The Pediatrician said this is the first he has ever heard of being called for a referral for Dyslexia.... ADD, or ADHD, yes. Dyslexia, no.
The Website: Dyslexia testing information
So, here we are. Guess this is a battle I'm going to be fighting for quite some time, while my baby continues to tell me "Mommy, they love Lindsey more than me because she is smart."
Out of the mouths of babes...
