Special Ed Services for Students with Disabilities
Q: I have had to battle my school system for Special Ed Services for my first child. Now my second child is struggling even more. Will it be easier to get special ed services for my second child?
Answer:
Unfortunately, it is my opinion that you will have to battle just as hard, if not harder, to get the right special ed services for your second child. This is often true when a public school system has already been difficult to work with. I hold this opinion for two reasons:
1) School systems tend to dig their heels in when you request “more” special ed services, even if they are for a completely different child. The school’s resources and personnel are often strapped for time and money, making them increasingly resistant to readily give special ed services.
2) The schools sometimes have a tendency to look at the first child. Then they make assumptions about a second from the same family. The school personnel may not be as diligent in treating each child according to his or her own individual learning needs. There is a tendency to “lump” children together when the children come from a single family. Assumptions about a child’s needs, based upon a siblings needs, can often be off-base. It’s detrimental to your second child if he doesn’t receive instruction according to his individual needs.
After our treacherous dealings with the public school with my older son, the thought of having to battle for the needs of my second son made me ill! Our experience was horrible.
When my second son started BEGGING to be homeschooled, I started seriously considering it. Once we made the decision to homeschool, it was the BEST decision we ever made–It was instant stress relief for EVERYONE in the family!!
After years of battling with the school system for special ed services on behalf of our oldest, we began home schooling. My oldest son went from a 1.9 to a 6.2 reading level in one year of home schooling! You can read about how we overcame dyslexia and other disabilities in my year-by-year information.
It is amazing what can be done if the job is done right, even when you don’t have a background as a teacher. I felt relatively clueless about what I was doing, but was amazed by our results.
I completed an Orton-Gillingham training class before beginning to homeschool. I did TONS of research about how to teach a child with dyslexia. Being armed with that small amount of information and training enabled us to teach our boys at home SUCCESSFULLY.
If you can consider homeschooling for a period of time, it could help your children a lot. It may be easier than battling your public school for special ed services on behalf of multiple children.
Home schooling was our solution. We couldn’t afford the private schools that actually provide remediation for children with dyslexia. It truly was the best decision we made on behalf of our boys.
You may THINK, “I could never homeschool,” because you don’t think you have enough patience, you’re not overly organized, etc. However, you might be quite surprised (as I was) about the change in dynamics that takes place when you do homeschool.
If you have any “wish” that you could homeschool, please read Overcome Your Fear Homeschooling. You may decide homeschooling is a possibility for you. If not now, keep homeschooling in mind if you have difficulty getting the right special ed services for your child! 😉
Best Wishes,
Sandy