Teresa A

Hi. This website may be helpful as well as this Tech Wheel https://www.callscotland.org.uk/information/dyslexia/reading/ and this is the Ipad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia Reading/Writing difficulties (free download) https://www.callscotland.org.uk/downloads/posters-and-leaflets/ipad-apps-for-learners-with-dyslexia/

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and congratulations to your recent graduate. I do agree that he may not want to see his classmates view him differently. My son has worked so hard (and continuing) to get into all Gen Ed classes. Perhaps as my son approaches the end of high school he may be more inclined to embrace these tools. You do give me a thought to ask my IEP team if they ever model these tools to his co-teaching ELA class as a whole because dyslexic or dysgraphic kids aren't the only ones that use spell & grammar checks. I would love to send him to the Landmark summer camp program where he is around other kids with the same learning differences. Thanks so much!

Hi! I have a 15yr boy/freshman with a complex learning profile including dyslexia, ADHD and written expression issues. One of the goals we’ve been working on for years is his written expression and the different components of writing. This year we’re focused on organization, style, & conventions (based on PA writing rubric). He has been resistant for years to embrace his AT (Google read/write, Grammarly) to utilize the spell and grammar check. And I’ve tried to explain that these things can be easily corrected with tools and help paint the picture to the reader what he’s writing about etc… I think due to his ADHD he can’t be bothered to fix the misspelling and just wants to get the assignment turned in as quickly as possible. I’m looking for any ideas, suggestions, different tools he would be more inclined to use. PA Writing Rubric https://pa01000176.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/PA01000176/Centricity/Domain/1009/PA writing assessment rubric.doc

@Household6 Thank you so much for taking the time to post all of what you do & really appreciate it. I love it!

I love how you took matters into your own hands and enabled your child with what she needed to succeed. Yes, I may be teetering on the same action with some writing software I was playing with for my son. I think it would be useful for him too - just need to get his buy in and then the schools.. It's exhausting work but won't stop until I've exhausted everything/anything to get him AT and skills he needs to succeed. Thanks so much!

Hi @Alexandra Just curious, what is the app that you found that recognizes her speech well? My son has a stutter and hasn't been fond of many of the apps he's tried for speech to text. Wondering if this might be a viable option for him as well. Thanks in advance.

Hi @Household6 You mentioned above "While credit is due to his school for writing advancements, his EF (organization) skills advanced only because I finally figured out something that works for him. " Would you mind sharing worked for him and his EF organizational skills? I'm struggling with coming up with ways to help my 14yr with something that will help him in the same area? Thanks, Teresa

Hello All, I have a 14yr old boy moving into 9th grade in the Fall. He is a great kid with dyslexia, ADHD, executive function delays (inhibition control, impulse control, working memory), and speech sound production disorder (stutter). This year in 8th grade, he's been in all GenEd classes (for the first time), which has significantly boosted his self-esteem. However, he still has 1:1 for 60mins SDI per week (not a lot) to help manage his goals with written expression, where he needs help with mechanics, organization, and syntax. He hates to revise his essays and needs to remember to use his AT for revising (grammar, spellcheck). I received his IEP draft for 9th grade, and they want to remove his 1:1 w/60 mins per week b/c "they just don't do that in the HS," - which I know is a common excuse that HS/MS uses to get out of providing services. However, I'm looking for creative ways that he can get specialized instruction for written expression to help that would keep him still in all GenEd but would actually instruct him along with his accommodations and not just allow for accommodations. As the webinars have stated, he won't magically have the skills just because he's showing up in 9th grade. He has all the accommodations, like audiobooks, small group testing, extended testing, guided notes, etc. But I'm looking for out-of-the-box ways to bolster his written expression skills. Any suggestions on where to start? Thanks so much! Teresa

Hi, My son currently 14/8th grade (dyslexia, ADHD, speech sound production disorder (aka stuttering) has Algrebra I this year and therefore eligible to take the Keystone exam. I've been doing some reading on PDE plus our school HS graduation requirement to fully understand what's needed as far as the Keystone exams. At this point, I am unsure if he'll score Proficient on Algebra (or Literature, Biology in the coming years). However, I've read what seems like conflicting information on PDE. Has anyone gone down the Keystone rabbit hole recently to clarify? It sounds that Students are no longer required to score Proficient on Keystones to meet grad requirements but they must take them. https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/GraduationRequirements/Act158/Pages/default.aspx Then they must choose a different Pathway to graduate. Has anyone been down this path? If your kiddo isn't headed towards Vocational Tech career what else was done to satisfy the requirement assuming they also didn't take AP, SAT, ACT tests and pass with minimum scores. I've heard reports that their kiddo was able to do a project but I'm not seeing that in the listed pathways https://www.pdesas.org/Page/Viewer/ViewPage/56/?SectionPageItemId=12190 But then I've also seen that if your kiddo has an IEP and they've successfully navigated the IEP then they can receive special guidance and still receive the HS diploma https://pdesas.org/Frameworks/DCEToolKit/Act158PathwaysToGraduationToolkit Thanks in advance Teresa

Hi, Within my son's IEP (dyslexia, ADHD, Speech Sound Production (aka stutter) & he's 14/8th grade. We also have: Visual cues to highlight key words/phrases on assignments Provide student with skeletal (or guided notes) notes for lecture format lessons, textbook assignments, and science labx. Provide study guides at least 3-5 days in advance Thanks.

I agree, I don't think the IEP team is required by law to meet and discuss the RR however the parent and psychologist can meet and discuss which we did. I also found this link which implies that the LEA and Team try and consolidate the meetings as much as possible https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/d/300.324/a/5 - so I think that's the answer and I'll have to request to push back our IEP meeting. Thanks so much for the response.

Hello, I received my son's RR report from the school psychologist on Friday, April 7th (school holiday). We had tentatively scheduled an IEP meeting for April 17th, thinking the RR would be complete prior; however, we just received it on the 7th. Shouldn't the next meeting be with the IEP team to review the RR with the whole team? The school psychologist called me today to review the RR, but it shouldn't it be presented to the entire IEP team before revising and reviewing the IEP within 30 days of the completed RR. Is there a link that says the RR should be reviewed with the entire team? I don't see it within the procedural safeguards or on PaTTan's website. I did not sign the 10-day waiver either, so I have 10 days between when I receive the RR and when the school presents its new IEP. https://www.pattan.net/CMSPages/GetAmazonFile.aspx?path=~\pattan\media\publications\2019 accessible pdfs\reeval-narrative-6-19-wba.pdf&hash=bde451a888d7bcf30a161db35fbe395f310e1591b8013b44634e5f45a54dd13e&ext=.pdf

The school did an AT eval about 2 years ago and at that time we didn't match him with any graphic organizers built into the AT plan however that's a good idea. I'm waiting for the PTR for this RR and I'll verify if AT is included. Thanks so much.

Hi, I'm preparing for my ASK for either writing software, instruction, scaffolding (or all 3) for my 14yr old incoming 9th grade who is having issues in multiple areas of writing including essay writing (organization, expounding on ideas, complex sentences, syntax, grammar). We have some tools in place (AT, Grammarly) already but he's been apprehensive to embrace. As part of my ask, I'm looking for software (perhaps mind mapping software) that would help prompt him via like a text box like "enter in your topic sentence) then prompt for details and a conclusion. Then allow him to hit a button and it combines into a paragraph form which his AT tools can be used to revise and grammar check etc. Does anyone have any experience with a tool like this or any other writing tool they have found helpful? We have spent a lot of years and effort addressing the gaps in his basic reading skills while simultaneously working on his writing however I'm trying to be proactive as he heads into 9th grade. We are currently going through an RR and this is one of the main areas of focus to discuss coming out of the RR but I will be prepared with an ask on how to work on his writing and this is will be part of my ask. Thanks so much.