| If your child is struggling with learning or | | | | If your child is deemed to necessitate an |
| behavior, and these issues are impeding their | | | | evaluation, then a three-pronged evaluation |
| ability to function optimally in school, you | | | | will begin. Your child's IQ will be assessed, |
| may have to consider the possibility of a | | | | as will be their learning profile. A |
| learning disability. The good news is that | | | | background interview will be conducted during |
| there are a ton of services available to your | | | | which you'll provide all pertinent |
| child, and they're free to access. These are | | | | information on your child. You'll receive |
| called special education and related | | | | copies of these reports within a 90-day |
| services. | | | | period. |
| | | | |
| First of all, you needn't be upset. As a | | | | You'll reconvene to discuss the results of |
| school psychologist, I see approximately 20% | | | | the assessments within three months. At that |
| of the student population for one reason or | | | | meeting it will be decided whether or not |
| another. Services range from In-Class Support | | | | your child qualifies for services, and |
| to Out-of-District Placement, and the range | | | | placement will be discussed when the |
| in between is significant. There are Resource | | | | Individualized Education Program is devised. |
| Center placements that place your child in a | | | | You'll have plenty of opportunities to |
| smaller class environment for an extra period | | | | interject and offer your opinion - after all, |
| each day; there are replacement classes that | | | | it's your child! If you disagree with the |
| offer a full class period of instruction in | | | | findings, there are procedures you can take. |
| the Resource Center instead of the mainstream | | | | You can refuse services altogether. Remember, |
| environment; there are self-contained classes | | | | though, that if your child is found to be |
| for students with more significant learning | | | | learning disabled your Team may initiate a |
| difficulties. | | | | Due Process hearing to implement services if |
| | | | you refuse. There are legal protections for |
| If you suspect your child has a learning | | | | you, and for your Team. |
| disability, your first course of action is to | | | | |
| request an evaluation. You'll write a letter | | | | Whatever the outcome, at the very least |
| to your district's IEP Team and they'll have | | | | you'll have a detailed learning profile of |
| a short time period (usually 20 days) to get | | | | your child. You'll be able to get them the |
| hold an Identification meeting with you. At | | | | help they need. And they'll be better off |
| that meeting, you'll discuss your child's | | | | after the process is complete. |
| difficulties with the Team, which consists of | | | | |
| (at a minimum) a School Psychologist, Social | | | | Nadine O'Reilly is a school psychologist and |
| Worker, Regular Education teacher, Special | | | | Coordinator of Special Services. She creates |
| Education teacher, and district | | | | 100's of special education programs for |
| representative, which may or may not be one | | | | students with special needs each year. She is |
| of the aforementioned members. At this | | | | the author of the IEP Resource Guide, and the |
| meeting it will be decided whether or not to | | | | Section 504 Resource Guide, as well as |
| evaluate your child. | | | | numerous children's books for toddlers with |
| | | | life-threatening allergies. |