Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

My son has always struggled with reading & writing. He did one year of reading/AIS when he was in kindergarten, but because he's continually borderline, they felt he didn't warrant reading services.

Based on my research, my gut tells me he has dyslexia. He already sees an pediatric ophthalmologist, so his vision has been addressed.

I called the school today about getting an eval, but was told to call back in Sept and speak with the school psychologist who would then begin the process. I've spoken with friends in the district and they've informed me that it takes months to complete the eval and if my son qualifies, he probably won't begin to receive services until Jan/Feb.

I'd like to get the ball rolling and get him help now.

Any recommendations? Preferably on LI. (I dread going into the city, but I'm sure my DH would take him if needed.)

Dr. Petrosky was recently recommended to me. Is anybody familiar with him?


Thank you in advance!

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

You do not have to wait until September. Contact central administration (someone is there all summer) and explain to them that you want to have your son evaluated for services to BEGIN in September. They will have you come in and fill out paperwork and tell you what needs to happen next.

Good luck

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

I am in NYC, but the school will not diagnose him, nor will they really provide services until he is diagnosed.

My son was diagnosed in 3rd grade. He was seen by a neurologist, who sent him for an evaluation by an audiologist, an MRI, etc.

He was in a 12:1 for third and fourth grade, now going into fifth, he will be in a mainstream classroom for everything except ELA, then he will go back into a 12:1.

I would call his ped and get a recommendation and go from there

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

There are only a few places that do the testing. If you go out of pocket it is $1000 or more. We did out of pocket to have an unbiased and timely diagnosis. Yes, it takes months. I started the process in November of second grade and did not have an official diagnosis until May. DS took the test in April and then it takes another month for the report to be written. Final meeting was in June. Services began in September of Third grade. So even though here were suspicions, no official services were given for a year. I would not wait for the school year because they can and will not give any services until they have every report in place. Even though we had begun with the first testing in December and it was clear to all involved DS has dyslexia the school could not give special Ed beyond a reading specialist which did not require an IEP. You want orton gillengham as the program every day in a multi sensory program. The testing is called the woodcock Johnson IV test.

Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

Just curious why you think he has dyslexia?

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

Look at the NYU Child Study Center website. They have offices in NYC and Lake Success. The evaluation will be expensive but your child will be given a very thorough evaluation. The report will be well-written (won't read like someone just plugged numbers into a template which happens sometimes) and will include specific recommendations that can go a long way in an IEP meeting.

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

Your son could certainly be evaluated by the district, but the evaluations done will not diagnose dyslexia. You would get a psychological evaluation which would give you his IQ and then educational testing that would give you his academic achievement.

The problem is that in order to go to the Committee on Special Education to see if your son qualifies for a disability, which would allow the committee to classify him, your son would have to show a lack of "response to intervention" (RTI). RTI is the AIS services that you say he has not been receiving. That would be either reading or math support, or both. My first move as a parent (and a special education teacher) would be to push for those services. If, after a few months of those services, your son is not making progress, you have your proof of lack of response to intervention and classification will be that much easier at committee. And if he does respond to the interventions then that is exactly what you're looking for anyway. Feel free to FM me if you have any questions about the process.

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

We see Dr Valle in Commack...I knew my daughter (4th grade also) had some sort of processing issue in my gut, and I was right. She has significant issues with visual tracking, which a school eval never would have picked up. She does vision therapy at home and has a 504 in place for school accommodations. I would definitely go the way of an independent evaluation first so you can come to the table with the information (if that shows). Good luck!

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?

Yes, the school will do testing. They have to start the testing within 30 days (I think) of your written request. It doesn't matter if it's the summer. They are kind of blowing you off saying call in the fall.

I would write a letter now and they will do the testing before school starts again. Why not do it over the summer so he doesn't have to be removed from class?

If they won't officially diagnose him, but he does show academic deficits on their testing, you can come to CSE and request they pay for a neuropsychological evaluation that will actually diagnose. FM me if you have questions, I work in the field.

Re: Dyslexia - eval recs for a 4th grader?