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Resources If You Suspect Your Child Has a Learning Disability
Perhaps you've noticed that your child is struggling with learning to read or not able to concentrate. Your otherwise normal child is getting frustrated trying to learn different things that might come easy to other children. Maybe your child's teacher has noticed them struggling in the classroom. What should you do? The best answer is to get your child tested.
Under federal law your local school district is obligated to assess your child free of charge, even if your child attends a private school. If you took it upon yourself to get testing done, it can be extremely expensive. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1975 to ensure that all children receive an “appropriate” education. The law states that local schools are obliged to help identify children who may have learning disabilities and then have them assessed, with the parents’ consent, of course.
Approximately one in seven Americans has a learning disability, a neurological disorder that can make a basic task like reading, writing or organizing information more difficult than usual. What once seemed to be a stigma is becoming more routine and the earlier a child with any type of disability get help, the better your child will be able to progress in both the classroom and future endeavors.
The first step to getting your child assessed is to meet with your child's teacher and principal. Every state has a Parent Training and Information center that is financed by IDEA. http://www.taalliance.org/ptidirectory/pclist.asp Here you can learn about your school's responsibilityes and the rights of your child. Another place to check out is http://WrightsLaw.com
Every school is different and budgets vary, but if your request is not being taken seriously, you do have recourse. Submit a written request to your school’s Director of Special Education explaining that you would like a comprehensive assessment. And then provide some evidence supporting your request.
If you decide to go with a private evaluator, your school should respect the findings of the evaluator. If there is a problem, however, you can request a hearing with the board of education, at which you can include your lawyer in this process.
Additional Resources for Learning Disabilities: