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My son is in 6th grade and has several qualifying diagnoses (Autism, Health (ADHD), Specific Learning Disability (Dysgraphia), and Anxiety). He has been succeeding with a very extensive 504 plan, but things have recently taken a turn for the worst. He is currently unable to write essays at school both for a graded essay and for MCAS (state standardized testing). Further, he became distressed working on an ELA assignment where he had to come up with 8-10 quotes showing character development. The teacher changed it to 1-2 for him due to the amount of distress he was displaying. Additionally, he also wrote that he is stupid on a math test because he didn't understand what was being asked in the bonus question on the exam. His teacher reprinted the question and re-worded it. He got the question correct and got a perfect score on the test. We just put in a request for an academic evaluation in writing and OT evaluations because of the dysgraphia diagnosis and the recent struggles with writing. They are also doing two observations as part of this evaluation: one by the OT and one by the special education teacher. He had a psychoed evaluation done last year as well as an outside neuropsych, but he was doing better mentally. Teachers keep saying we need to add accommodations to his 504, but it seems like he'd really benefit from writing support. Right now, they want to add the ability to dictate his writing as an accommodation. His grades are good and they say he's making effective progress, but how can a 6th grader who doesn't write their own essay or have the work reduced 80% be making effective progress? Again, they are willing to update the 504 with new accommodations. We have a meeting in a couple of weeks, but I feel like he really needs pull out ELA support (or at least push-in support) in addition to the meetings with the adjustment counselor which are in his current 504 plan. Wouldn't you say that this warrants an IEP? How do I convince school that he's not making effective progress when they are giving him grades indicating that he is at grade level?

Hi guys, Do any of you have an example of present levels for a second-grader in any or all of the areas below and how they were determined? We have an upcoming Initial Evaluation for Eligibility and I can't tell what the student's present levels are for any of the below. I'd also like to know if it's appropriate to ask the team for the present levels. If they don't know the present levels because she "doesn't qualify" then how did they know she didn't qualify? Spelling Reading Comprehension Written Expression Vocabulary Phonemic Awareness Basic Reading Skills Decoding Time Telling Math Problem Solving Emotional Self-Regulation Task Initiation Executive Functioning Fine Motor Skills Assistive Technology Needs Listening Comprehension Functional Communication Thanks!

Help! I’m not sure how to proceed. I’ve gone up the chain, last meeting was with director of sped 3 weeks ago. I asked for written documentation of minutes in OT, writing, reading, and math intervention. I feel like staff is being told not to do it. I only get a quick initial on days it’s done on child’s behavior daily home sheet. We had the annual IEP meeting day before that meeting to revise goals and accommodations for middle school for next year. Of the 3 weeks since my meeting, my child hasn’t had a single week with all required minutes due to lack of subs, etc.

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.