School

[Guest guest]

Hi all

I've been lurking on this board for some time, and I thought I'd ask

for some wisdom on a couple of things...

Quick background - I have 2 little boys - Callum, age 5, has severe

oral and verbal dyspraxia, and has serious challenges physically in

terms of fine and gross motor skills. My other boy, Sam, is 17 months

and has just been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

My questions relate to Callum - he is currently in his first year of

primary school (we live in N. Ireland). In last yers ed psychology

tests he scored very very low - around 68 average on all his tests.

Callum has only got a few words and even those get a bit muddled. He

has good communication intent, but working with signing, PECS, etc

hasn't really helped. Anyhow - he has a very serious processing delay

and 'zones out' quite a lot if left to his own devices. Due to this

the recommendation last year was to send him to a school for

profoundly mentally challenged children. Callum does have significant

problems - but the tests dont allow for 1. the fact that he is non

verbal and 2. the fact that he has a severe processing delay - THIS

DOES NOT MAKE HIM RETATDED!!! He can add, spell and attempt to read,

get meaning from words - all within expectation for his age. Anyway -

I fought this decision, got a solicitor and local member of

parliament (politician) on my side, and we eventually got him a

placement at a special unit attached to a mainstream school, where he

receives S & L therapy 3 times a week (2 individual and one small group

session) and he is in a small class (12 - all boys) and has a part

time classroom assistant (deals mainly with physical needs - he is

still incontinent despite 2 years of trying to crack this one).

So - its that time again - review of his statement of educational

need. We have asked the ED Psych to put off their assessment until

after Easter, but the rest of his review is going ahead. I got his

reports today from his class teacher and his S & L therapist. They make

depressing reading. Despite the fact that Callum has made good

progress they have mentioned no less than 8 times the fact that he

canbt stay on task, has terrible concentration, zones out, cant

follow group instructions and has to have everything repeated to him

individually, etc.

So - a longwinded question ;-) DOES PROCESSING DELAY RUN AS PART OF

THIS DISORDER? IS THERE ANY COHERENT EVIDENCE I CAN PRODUCE TO THEM

AT THE MEETING TO PROVE THIS AND SHOW THEM THAT HE IS TRYING AND IS

NOT THICK???

Question 2 - we are due to come to Florida (Miami and Key Largo) at

Easter - I wondered if it would be a good idea to get him tested or

see a DAN doctor while we are there - can anyone recommend one in

that area??

Sorry I have ranted on -