SAT accoms-urgent help needed

[poodledoodles]

Thanks for that info jfla. I got the copies from the school last night, and the ped. doc did give me a note, but said it wouldn't help me because they want something from a Psychologist/Psychiatrist or Neurodoc ect. but I got it anyway. The school Psychologist die do the evail and testing though, so that is a plus for us. I will be typing up a letter on my son's history today. Your info helped a lot! Thanks! :-)

[jfla]

altho your doc said they want a psych type of person to dx does the letter include a medical history relative to the problem? I am going to check on the letter which my son's doc wrote to see what it included. He was dx'd at first by a neurologist and after moving has been followed by an MD with a specialty in behavioral disorders...he has been nicknamed the "ADD guru" and is ADD himself...but his credentials are MD. Our neuropsych's report concurred with the the MD's dx. So what I am thinking is that perhaps your MD's note may be enough if he dx'd him and the evaluations from the school psychologist concur. Perhaps a letter from the school psych might help? Maybe you don't need the extra letter...I dunno. I usually just go for more while my husband alwasy says "this is enough"

[jfla]

Since poodledoodles and I both seemed to agree that the school counsellors and coordinators for CB accommodations did not have much practice in filling out the forms or helping parents in knowing how to proceed I thought I would add for any interested parties what information was included in the doctor's letter telling about the specific diagnosis. I think he covered most of what is needed.

Paragraph 1
- When he first become a patient
- Diagnosis
- Description of the medical condition
- Statement that this neurological impairment serves to satisfy criteria for OHI
- ADHD is ongoing, lifetime disorder

Paragraph 2
- Connection with ADHD and the academic experience
- Patient has severe graphomotor skill dysfunction
- How dysgraphia interfers with academic functioning
- Recommendation for computer for writing to demonstrate knowledge

Paragraph 3
- History of patient's dysgraphia
- When first recognized
- Description of difficulties in academia
- Description of dysfluency: How does patient write now? irregularity of spacing of letters, words, formation of letters.
- Statement that handwriting is distraction in itself, preventing flow of ideas

Paragraph 4
- how this has been addressed at school
- other concurring evaluations
- statement of accommodations which provide patient success

Paragraph 5
- Statement of request for accommodation

Qualifications of Diagnostician
- board certified ------
- continuing education in ------
- member of advisory boards -----
- presenter and lecturer for ---
- type of medical practice

[jfla]

Okay, here's another addition to help parents when asking professionals for letters to support your case. Do provide them with a list of what you would like to be included in the letter. Make their job easier by providing necessary names, dates, descriptions for each topic. Like most people they are pretty busy and generally appreciate your making it simpler for them to provide what you requested. You will probably get back exactly what you wanted in short time.

In the case of an unfamiliar form which may need to be completed by the school, make it easy by providing the information if you know it. They will probably want to check their records also.

I've used Post-its and an itemized list to provide information. They usually appreciate it because it makes it easy for them.

[poodledoodles]

That's good advice jfla. and star early! It takes a lot of time acquiring all the info you will need. Keep a notebook with all educational tests, evails, notes from teachers, etc. anything to document your child's condition and needs. Luckily, I had done this, sop I had all documents at my finger tips. :-)

[poodledoodles]

It's all mailed off! thank goodness! I can breath now. :-)

[jfla]

Congratulations! You really put that together in record time.! Thanks to great organization, you had everything at your fingertips. Nice job. How many pages did you send off? It sounded like you had everything you needed, so now I guess it's the waiting game. ;D

[poodledoodles]

OMG! There were so many things that I could barely fit it into the Envelope they provided! My letter alone was 9 pages long! I had 3 Pshyc evails, every 504 and IEP since Kindergarten, every report card, teachers notes, doctors notes, anything and everything that any mention of problems. They will probably get it and say WTH! :-0 I also sent it Express, so they will have it Monday. I feel pretty good about it, so I can't wait for the response. I worked 3 days on the letter and responded to every piece of documentation I put in the packet and noted it with a * in the letter, so they could refer to it as they read my letter. I was pretty proud of myself. I thought it was a great letter.

[jfla]

Sounds great! Your son is such a lucky boy to have you for his mom!
;D ;D