Zonna: My daughter is currently a sophomore in high school. Her Freshman year she was unable to finish her end of course exam in English. She needed to guess the last 2 sections. She has a long history of spelling and pronunciation problems, and taking many hours to complete her homework, but because she was never failing the school district would never test her for dyslexia. I as her mother saw first hand her struggles and especially when she could not complete her EOC exam I had her independently tested. The results showed she has dyslexia and would qualify under 504 to receive extended time for tests. The high school refused any accommodations because of her current grades. My daughter is also part of a Dual Credit program at a community college, The test results were shown to them, the community college stated she has a disability and would received extended time on test and that the high school ruling is against the law.
Now in a follow up 504 meeting with the high school they are inviting another diagnostician to be there. Should I retain a lawyer or have my diagnostician come to the 504 meeting? Help. This is in TEXAS.
As a Texas parent, I used Scottish Rites Hospital for dyslexia testing when the school saw no need for testing. Scottish Rites is a Masonic organization and there is no cost for the doctors there to diagnose a student with dyslexia. With the medical diagnosis the school had no problem providing services.
An outside diagnostician Trumps a schools.
Have your diagnostician there. The school needs to put in writing anything they are refusing to give your child for services. YOu can use this if you need to go an attorney.
Zonna, you need to become knowledgeable of the TX Dyslexia law, & the TX Dyslexia handbook. The handbook can be found at: http://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=25769814312 You can also find information & resources to help you in the FaceBook group Decoding Dyslexia-TX I work for the TX parent training & information center. If you want to contact me, cnoe59@hotmail.com