Re: IQ .. one more thought

January 14, 2005

Who cares?? Who cares??? IQ tests have been used to segregate my son for

years. They have been used to deny children the proper placement and to

denigrate them. Anyone who loves someone with Down syndrome should care.

Elaine

IQ .. one more thought

As I listen to this thread, I seem to be hearing that " my child might

fail that test " or that the test might not measure my chilld well.

While IQ is not a particularly good test for our kids, it seldom gives

them a much higher mark .. it is just that they might test lower than

their ability. Since a high score removes them from eligibility, who

cares?

Over the years, I've met maybe two young adults with down syndrome who

might test high enough on IQ to disqualify themselves, but neither has

been disqualified.

The bureaucrat who decides on eligibility is always worried about giving

same to that elusive person with down syndrome who went to college, got

married, and had three kids who were all normal. Although it isn't

vogue on this list at the moment, we've had parents on-line telling us

that their six year old tested above normal and would someday have a

PhD. OK .. if you fast forward a few year, those children were no

different than ours, but the myth of the brilliant person with DS still

persists.

On the other hand, the usual IQ test is very poor at delineating what a

child needs to be taught, which is why we need lots of other testing and

evaluation. If IQ alone is used, its flaws might be used against our

children by perhaps indicating that they aren't worthy of being taught.

Rick

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 14, 2005

Re: IQ .. one more thought

> I also worked with a social worker who made a rude comment when a child

> with

> DS came before the group. " Why are we still seeing children like this?

> There's prenatal testing for this now. "

This is the attitude I worry about some times.... I am not sure how I would

react if I ever heard that said in mine vicinity, especially from someone

that I had to work with

January 14, 2005

Re: IQ .. one more thought

> I also worked with a social worker who made a rude comment when a child

> with

> DS came before the group. " Why are we still seeing children like this?

> There's prenatal testing for this now. "

This is the attitude I worry about some times.... I am not sure how I would

react if I ever heard that said in mine vicinity, especially from someone

that I had to work with

January 15, 2005

Greetings all,

I mostly lurk and learn from you all. , here in Texas - mom to

Annie (3 w/ DS) and Wyatt (7 w/ a myriad of learning dysfunctions not

yet labeled). I don't know that I've ever said anything on this list.

But, I screamed outloud when I read what the social worker said, Kathy!

Thank God for the psychologist. I'm afraid I'd have filed a grievance to

have her status as " social worker " removed. Empathy and compassion are

mandatory for her job. She obviously has none.

All that being said, I'm going through this IQ test VS. no IQ test with

our 7 yo son who does not have DS, but has definite learning

disabilities. We've had a couple of tests that indicate he's borderline

MR with an IQ of 65 to 75. To talk to this kid, you'd swear he was a

genious. His vocabulary is equivalent to that of a 12 yo. He has some

eye issues going on, and possibly some dyslexia. But, they have run the

gammut on diagnosis from ADD to high-functioning Autistic to MR. He is

finally learning to read and turned seven day before yesterday. He's not

THAT far out of line with state benchmarks. My point in bringing all of

this up is that they cannot find an IQ test which accurately tests him.

I put no weight in an IQ score when making educational decisions for him

and I insist the same of the rest of the ARD committee.

Reading your posts reminds me that I am my kids' best advocate and that

the job won't ever end. *wistful smile* While we should CARE about IQ

tests that are given, I think maybe we should all be looking to the

academic community for a new or alternative assessment that might be

more appropriate for our kids in the future.

Hugs from southeast Texas,

~

Mom to Wyatt-7 and Annie-3 (DS)

Wife to Wade (18yrs)

I also worked with a social worker who made a rude comment when a child

with

DS came before the group. " Why are we still seeing children like this?

There's prenatal testing for this now. " The psychologist, who knew

about my son,

jumped on her before I could speak. With friends like this who needs

enemies?

One of the many reasons why I send my son clear across the county and

don't

let my local 'educators' near him.

Kathy, Liam's Mom (6)

January 15, 2005