Terri,
I knew my son had a reading disability from the time he started to
learn the alphabet. When my son was 5, I took him to CDRC (Child
Development Research Center, which is run by Oregon Health Sciences
University). I learned of CDRC when I went to my primary care
physician with my concerns about my sons lack of being able to
recognize letters. I took him to CDRC on my own accord, and ran it
through my insurance, paying the rest myself. Because of his age, he
was diagnosed with a "reading disability", and I was told to have him
retested in a year or two. It wasn't until he was almost 7 that he
was officially diagnosed, at the same place, as being "severly
dyslexic".

During the almost two years that went by, I received absolutely no
help from the school. They kept "band-aiding" his disability with
whatever standardized reading program they wanted to try. As a matter
of fact, once he was officially diagnosed, to almost quote the head of
the special ed. department, "Thank you, Mrs. Carter, for bringing it
to our attention that we don't have an adequate reading program in
place for children with dyslexia". What the hell? Dyslexia is at the
top of learning disabilities and he was telling me there is nothing in
place for these kids? Now to those of you that are going to tell me
that there is no "cure all" reading program for dyslexic's, don't
bother, I know this.

I did a research paper for an English class soon after my son was
diagnosed. I learned enough that I know dyslexia fascinates me, as
well as enough for me to be armed and dangerous.

I felt we had the upper hand on my son because he was diagnosed so
early; most children are diagnosed well past the age of 10. I wanted
to know what they were going to do with all this time we had. The
bottom line is this.... More band-aids.

So almost a year ago, I scheduled a meeting (IEP) with the head of the
Special Ed. department, principle, speech therapist as well as his
classroom teacher. It basically consisted of me sitting there and
listening to all the "wonderful" things they had done with my son and
his reading in the past couple of years, although the differences were
extremely subtle, they were there. I listened and listened and
listened. Then came my turn. I told them that as a mom, it was
obviously up to me to make sure my son received the education he was
entitled to and that his choices when he graduated from high school
were not going to be which gas station he pumps gas at. (Not to
offend anyone who works at a gas station). I told them they had 6
months to show me some monumental gains my son has made, or I was
going to hire an attorney and file a class action lawsuit against the
school district. One for failing to diagnose my son, and two for
failing to address his learning disability (dyslexia) with an
appropriate reading program once he was diagnosed.

Here we are today; My son is in the 5th grade, he is at a 3rd grade
reading level (which is amazing considering a few years ago we had him
at Sylvan Learning Center and he recognized 7 letters of the upper and
lower case alphabet). He has modifications made in his classroom to
help him with reading. For example, he excels at math, but can't read
the story problems, so either a volunteer is in the classroom with
him, or there is an aid, or another student. He forgets the letters
when he tries to transfer them from an overhead to paper, so his
teacher makes one out for him on paper ahead of time. Tests are read
to him, and he answers them. Next year, I will be looking at a laptop
for him.

I can say this.... If you are able to, get your child diagnosed on
your own. May is not only 6 months away, but it is also at the end of
the school year. So by the time they get her tested, and are able to
act upon it, you are probably looking at a month into the next school
year, which is September of 2007. A lot of time to waste. If you
don't know of a place in your area, start with your primary care
physician.

Also, if your child is diagnosed with any learning disability, get to
know your childs "IEP", and your childs rights that go along with it.
That needs to become one of your closest friends. Whatever you do,
don't go with the school just because they are the "educators" and you
think that they "know what is right". I truely think that had I just
let the school do what they wanted, my son would have been illiterate
when he graduated high school, if he graduated all.

Good Luck to you,
Lurisa



--- In dyslexiaclub@yahoogroups.com, "Terri Newhouse"
<newhouse_terri@...> wrote:
>
> My daughter is 5 and is in Kindergarten. She is having trouble
learning
> to read. She writes most of her letters backwards and has trouble
> focusing.
> I went online this past weekend and she has most of the symptoms for
> dyslexia.
> I emailed her school today about getting her tested, but the
counselor
> says that the testing is booked til May 2007.
> Is there a way I can get her tested privately? If so, What type of
> doctor do I need to look for?
>
> Thanks,
> Terri
>