Jane's Posts

April 17 1998

I have a first grader boy who has very hard time getting the ideas of what his teachers teach in the class. Most of the times when he was asked if he understood his teachers, his answer was "NO". I think the problem has two folds:

(1). It's hard for him to understand by listening. His language skill developed slowly compare to his peers. We think that he learns mostly by his eyes.

(2). Sometimes he does not pay enough attention.

The problem is serious because he can not learn from school even though he seems to be averagely intelligent.

What can we do to help him? Is there any professional can provide assistance? Btw...we are located in Los Angeles area. Thank you for your help.

You have to bring this up with your pediatrician. School districts have to evaluate students with special needs and make out an IEP (individualized education plan?) The school counselor will know how to get an evaluation. Since the evaluation costs the school district money, not all districts are overly enthusiastic about helping parents get them. You really have to be an advocate for your child.

I can tell you this much. The federal law is IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA was changed last year. The state must submit an plan for complying with the federal law to the Office for Special Education Programs in the United States Department of Education. The California agency that is in charge of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) is the California Department of Education (CDE) Special Education Division.

Alice Parker is the State Director of Special Education. Tim McNulty is the chair of the Advisory Commission on Special Education and the special education director of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. California has three Diagnostic Centers for particularly difficult to evaluate students; one is in Los Angeles.

Do not hesitate to bring the issues of ADD and CAPD up with your pediatrician. You know your child best.

jane