Hi, all! This will probably be looonnngggg and rambling (forgive
me).
I am the mother of a child with dyslexia (2nd grader) my sister who
was 13 years younger than me also had dyslexia, I suspect my Father
is as well. My daughter had been home-schooled with a private tutor
during her kindergarten and 1st grade years. All along I had noticed
tell-tell signs of dyslexia but was told, "Don't worry, this will
pass." We then had to enroll my daughter in public school this year.
Upon enrolling her to the public school (the only one within 20
miles of our home), we were told she should repeat 1st grade,
according to a premleminary test (with backwards lettering, a = the,
even = never, etc.) which was given. At that time I voiced my
concerns about possible complications of dyslexia. We were then told
we should have her evaluated through Scottish Rite Hospital (2 1/2
hours from our home with a 9 month waiting list). Scottish Rite then
recommended testing through the University of
Texas.
Testing was then completed with a diagnosis of dyslexia/dysgraphia,
attention span within normal limits, no other complications noted, IQ
score well above average, phoneme awareness in the 98th percentile.
UT also recommended 504 accommadations/modifications with Dyslexia
intervention/instruction.
The school then says they can't except the findings that they would
have to do there own testing. (Fine, but why didn't you do this in
the 1st place???? ---- No response) She is then administered a test
which is a checklist??? Not comprehensive at all. The tester, when
I asked about the inconsistency between her findings and UT's
findings, tells me she's not qualified to make a determination one
way or the other.
With much urging own our part (several meetings stressing the need
for early intervention) they finally develop a program for children
in 2nd grade (4 kids in it) because their's doesn't begin until 3rd
grade. The class is just 15 min. a day, Mon. - Thurs. Come to find
out, they're teaching off of old Scottish Rite tapes and materials
(10-15 years) with a focus on phoneme awareness. (That's great but
it doesn't help much when peacefully gets counted wrong because she
phoenetically spells it "psfle")
And they still refuse to implement 504 modifications, ie. lessening
of time restrictions, grading content vs. quantity. She is managing
to make A's and B's but only because of the drilling at home with
anywhere from 2-3 hours of homework a night (Story in Reading, Story
in Science/Social Studies, Vocabulary words and Math ASSIGNED by her
TEACHER). She isn't allowed to go to recess most days due to
incomplete work. However, the work that she completes (if graded on
content) demonstrates adequate/above adequate comprehension.
We (myself, husband and daughter) are so frustrated and although my
daughter has a great attitude with this (better than mine would be),
we fear she will burn-out and give up eventually under these
conditions and in the meantime we don't think she's receiving the
intervention she needs.
I guess I'm mostly writing to vent. But if any of you have any
suggestions, I'd be so grateful in hearing them.
I feel like we're goin' all th' way 'round the mulberry bush - the
long way.