Child tested for Learning Disabilities. Where do I start?

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Philips

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My 5 year old son was recently tested for learning disabilities. I had a meeting with his teacher, speech teacher, resource room teacher, school psychologist, occupational therapist and another person who evaluated his speech/language. There was no parent advocate. He did fine on his I.Q. test, but his scores were depressed on the speech and language tests. They wouldn’t label him Learning Disabled; instead he was labeled S.I. (Speech Impaired) because of his age. They want to remove him out of his regular kindergarten class into resource room or move him to one of the other schools in the district for special education (which they were favoring). They believe his age (he just turned 5 in Nov) and learning disabilities are holding him back. He is also under an enormous amount of stress because he is trying so hard to keep up with the other children in his class. It was also mentioned that he will have to repeat kindergarten next year. They want me to make a decision right away so that if I want him put in another school, they can do it right after the winter vacation we have next week. I have no idea where to start. Should I get him evaluated elsewhere? Should I keep him in school at resource room so that he at least has access to his friends and a familiar environment? Do we send him to one of the 2 schools with the programs they suggested? We are okay with him getting left back and getting the extra help, but we are afraid he will be put in a class full of children with severe behavioral/mental problems which he doesn’t have. I don’t want to see him eaten alive. My husband and I have been to skill/modified classes and we know what’s in there. They’re usually holding facilities for kids that have no other place to go and no genuine desire for learning. I don’t want to turn my son off with school. Where do I start with all of this? I feel terrible for him and for what he is going through.We live in NY (Long Island).As far as I know, there are no behavioral problems and has been sweet and calm at home and at school. He is a little withdrawn because he can't do the same kind of work the other kids are doing. When the teacher tries to give him modified work, he refuses to do it because he knows it's "different" from the other kids and won't budge. He is stubbornly trying to keep up.
 
Take it all one step at a time. Read as much about his impairment online and talk to professionals. You may want to seek out online groups who have the same issues with their children.What yuo are trying to do is give him help. We all want him to succeed. Hang in there, and keep getting him the help he needs/deserves. You are doing the right thing.:)
 
I don't know what state you are in, but in Ohio, in a resource room all day is not the least restricitve environment for your child.self contained classrooms for a Speech Disability is rediculous! First you need to contact your parent advocate in your district. This person (usually) has a world of information for you and can help you a lot. I would NOT let them send your child to another school or keep him in a self contained classroom! Good luck!
 
If you want a parent advocate - you need to find one and bring one with you. You don't say anything about any behaviors or educational needs - which would help some of us who have been around the block a couple times to offere suggestions. Academic discrepancies (which is what you have to have for LD) are difficult at this age. Language processing delays can have a very significant impact on all learning. A resource room should be a setting for additional support while the student is in regular education, I've not heard the phrase used as a self-contained classroom - but could be.If you can provide us with more information - I'm sure that we can come up with some more detailed answers.
 
If parents disagree with the evaluation the school has given, they have the right to take their child for an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) in which the school must pay for. You also can follow the steps in procedural safeguards that by law they are suppose to give you before him being evaluated. If you do not have have copy, you can find them at http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cstatute%2CI%2CB%2C615%2CPlacement decisions must be made according to IDEA's least restrictive environment requirements-commonly known as LRE. These requirements state that, to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities must be educated with children who do not have disabilities.The law also clearly states that special classes, separate schools, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment may occur only if the nature or severity of the child's disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.You may invite an advocate who knows the child, a professional with special expertise about the child and his or her disability, or others who can talk about the child's strengths and/or needs to the meetings.You may want to check out Wright's Law to learn more about your and your child's rights. http://www.wrightslaw.com
 
I don't know why in the world they would have made him speech impaired and not language impaired. Can you understand him? He may be communication disorder.I would have been nice for you to mention the names of the programs that they are suggesting.I really take offense at your representation of kids as "What's in there." Believe or not, these kids are Who's, not What's and they are every bit as valuable as your child. Awful, awful. I have nothing more to say to you.
 
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