<p>From posts in other threads I thought that an important topic that many of us could use advice on is retesting to be eligible for services at college.
My son had a IEP and was released from resource education after his trienial in 5th grade. (which we realize now was a mistake) it wasn't helping much and we were getting much better results from private tutoring.
He went to private for 6-9 with a learning skills program which he was in. Went back to public school and has had a 504.
His testing history. Public school 2nd, 4th and 5th. Testing done privately 9th grade. Learning disabilities and ADD.
The testing done in 9th grade was enough for the Collegeboard to grant him 100% extra time and a reader or taped version.
From what I can tell from some research his testing will need to be done again to qualify for services in college. I doubt I can get the school to test him. So we would have to go back to the psychologist from 9th grade.
Questions- All the testing that has been done were pre any ADD medication. When we test him again should he take the medication or test without it. I would think that this results would be different on the medication. His overall school performance has skyrocketed since finding the right ADD med for him.
Any advice. He is going to be a senior. Would this summer be the time to schedule retesting?
Also if others can share how they researched LD services at colleges it would be appreciated.</p>
<p>"Questions- All the testing that has been done were pre any ADD medication. When we test him again should he take the medication or test without it. I would think that this results would be different on the medication. His overall school performance has skyrocketed since finding the right ADD med for him."</p>
<pre><code> When you find someone to test your child,ask that person about his med situation and l.d. testing and all of that. Any question about medication, you ask a trained professional, not a message board. I am not trying to sound like a mean gal, I just think medication questions are things you ask actual professionals.
You do not flat out say your child's l.d., but keep in mind that learning disabilities do not go away, I am sure your child (from the tone of your post) is trying hard and doing nicely, but a l.d. does not go away. Therefore, if you child is looking into colleges and has last had l.d. testing and stuff in the 9th grade, then you totally need to get new testing done because it is a gamble if you do not.
Someone, I am sure, will respond and say that they went to uni and got help for a l.d. with testing they got in grade five, because this is a message board and the odds are high that someone will devalidate my post with a response that is self involved...you can see proof of that on the fin aid area of this site. The only tthing I know is that Colleges really prefer new l.d. testing, and you should totally get that done because what your child obtained in high school will not be the same as what they will obtain in college.
</code></pre>
<p>"He is going to be a senior. Would this summer be the time to schedule retesting?"
If your child is going to go to university the fall after they graduate, then the summer would be alright. However, if your child graduates in May of 2007 and goes to University in August, then you could get the testing done in May or June so it will be totally new. Make sure to bring proof of the old testing too.</p>
<p>"Also if others can share how they researched LD services at colleges it would be appreciated."
The sad fact is thatcolleges do their own thing. Some are wonderful and go above and beyond the norm, and some are not soo good. There is no set standard with regards to l.d. department heads. Where I used to go to Uni, the l.d. department head had a BA in Drama and never believed your l.d. testing nor tried to understand it. However, where I go to uni now, the l.d. head is the dead of the school of my major and reads up on and goes to conferences about l.d. all the time. So, make your list of schools...apply to those schools...and speak with the head of the l.d. department of those schools...use e mail in order to get everything in writing from the l.d. department head. All unis have web sites and stuff, so it will not be too hard. Now, your child may hate you for this, but when they get into uni...try and see if you can go with them in order to advocate for them with regards to what they will need at college...if you cannot go with them call the l.d. department head.</p>
<p>This area of this web site is super neat and everyone is nice.</p>
<p>As I understand it, some colleges and universities like to do their own testing to determine appropriate accomodation while others are happy with relatively recent outside testing. There also might be some question as to which specific tests they want/require/prefer. Have you addressed any of these questions with the LD offices of any of the schools that interest your son? They might have very clear guidelines for you (at least I would hope they would!) so you wouldn't have to deal with the uncertainty.</p>