Testing for Gifted and Learning Disabled Students

Public schools must do the testing for free. I don't know if they do it for K, but they must provide IQ and learning disablity testing if the parent or teacher feel the child has problems. How else do they get the "proof?" Whoever told you that is an idiot, or else just trying to get your money. Your therapist must also give you referrals if you say that you can't afford the testing.
Your therapist is right, ADHD is way over-diagnosed. Many kids need diet/exercise change, more of a schedule, and "gifted" students may show ADHD symptoms because they are bored.
As a Counseling Master's graduate from Texas Woman's Univ.- I agree with the post that says 1) schools must provide the testing, 2) if they don't you can contact a local univ- I suggest the TWU School Psy. department- they are doctoral students and they have to learn tons of academic, learning disablity and IQ testing. Dr. Deornallas is the head of the department and WONDERFUL- she can point you in the right direction.

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You need to keep pushing the school district and get this done for free, that's why you pay taxes. I was a public school teacher for 12 years and they cannot refuse. Just talk to the teacher and have her recommend it, if you do not get the results you want, then call the admin. building and ask to talk to the director of Special Ed. Services.
Good luck
www.workathomeunited.com/texas

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Hi,

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Nutritionist
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Doctor of Chiropractic

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Contact the Child Study Center in Fort Worth; I'm not sure about their fees, but I believe they charge on a sliding scale. They are the center typically used by the courts for child studies, and they are top-notch diagnosticians. Here's the website:
http://www.cscfw.org/about/

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Nowadays schools will throw up all kinds of major delays and roadblocks for testing because something about changes in funding...they have to match the costs, etc, or something. Anyway, I was advised to skip the long and winding school route. Find a family doctor who will check him out...doctors don't usually do any testing; the norm now is to prescribe something for ADHD and if it works/helps, then there you go, the dr will diagnose the ADHD -which, with that diagnosis as "distinct proof" in hand, you can then go back and see what the school will do. If you don't want or can't afford the dr route, try LifePath Systems in Plano ###-###-#### (also has an office in McKinney)...they file insurance but they also work on a sliding scale system if you ask, but be prepared to show proof of income (or lack of). If you are already sure your child has ADHD and want some results without meds, check out Dr. Jonathan Walker at Hillcrest & 635 in Dallas ###-###-#### www.neurotherapydallas.com. He's a leader in the field of biofeedback, which is very sucessful in kids w/ADHD, moreso even than it is in adults w/ADHD. If you go see him, be forewarned, he's a bit eccentric (but not peverted or anything) but very generous (he & his wife even fostered & adopted), and will work $omething out w/you if you talk w/him directly about it (for example, if you want him to test but don't have insurance, ask how much it costs & if its more than $300, tell him thats all you have. He can also file your insurance if you have that and would probably accept less out of pocket if you have a high deductible). Otherwise, maybe somewhere like a Sylvan Learning Center kind of place? Good luck...A.

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Try contacting the local universities that have Masters degree programs in education or psychology. A lot of these students have to do field based practice. A friend volunteered her child for an IQ test and it was free. If they discover something, you could take that to the school and demand more in depth testing. Good Luck.

I don't know where you live. I live in the North Texas (suburbs of Dallas). My daughter is 5 years old and just started kindergarten. The schools in Texas test for talented and gifted children every year for every grade. I simply have to give permission. My daughter does not have any disabilities that I am aware just as ADHD. She's an extremely bright child. She is already reading at what I would think is about 2nd grade and is already using curvse handwriting. She has had some problems adjusting to school. She attended an small private daycare. The owner is a retired school teacher. We discovered that if she was spending some time learning rather than just playing, she was a much happier and more well behaved. Her situation is that as long as there is some challenge to what she is doing, she's fine otherwise she can be disruptive because she is bored.
My daughter will be tested in the next few weeks and depending on her scores, adjustment to her school schedule will be changed. She will still have the same homeroom but her afternoons will be spent in the library with very small groups working on math and reading and other activities more advanced than most kindergraten kids do. Rather than being in a group that is just for her age, her group will be other children such as a few 1st graders that are also T&G.
What I love about this program is that she will still do kindergarten arts & crafts, games and recess with her friends who are her same age but her afternoons will focus on more advanced learning to keep her busy.

This is provided by almost all of the school districts in the area. We are about to move to a different district but she will still be on basically the same schedule. The school is higher ranked by the state which why we're moving to the area. She will be retested again and placed in the appropriate groups.

I'm really surprised that you have to pay for the testing when the schools in Texas test children that obviously show higher abilities for free. It's my understanding that schools here will also do some very basic testing for learning disabilities.

Did the school tell you what are "distinct proof" requirements?

Are you looking for a diagnostician? My sister is a diagnostician however she doesn't live in this area. They moved about a year ago from Celina, but she is within 2 hours of here. I can ask her to see if she would be interested and what she would charge. She just earned her diagnostician license so everything is still pretty new. Just let me know, you can email me ____@____.com or respond back. thanks

Document any behavior issues he has had in class. Document how those behaviors are negatively affecting his academic performance and self esteem. The key is to document, and then go to the school and request a referral packet for special education testing. Attach your documentation, be sure to include any information from the teacher (i.e. folder signed, and any infraction indicated by the class behavior plan).

Also, I don't know about all school districts, but in Frisco I.S.D., all kindergarten children are screened for the gifted program. At that time you can request a packet to have your child tested for the program. Those assessments are usually conducted during the spring semester (Feb.-March).

Good luck,
S.

Hi B.,

I was a special ed teacher for 10 years prior to having my daughter two years ago. Unless the laws have changed in these past two years I have been at home, the school must provide special ed testing free of charge per parent request. I would seek out the school counselor and request a referral packet. If they still refuse, I would seek out an advocate group in your area. They can give you advice on how to proceed. I agree with you regarding giftedness/behavioral problems. There is a very fine line between special ed and gifted and talented. Good luck! Remember to be persistant...

B.,

I work at Meadowview School in Mesquite. They are a small, private, nonprofit school and evaluation center for K through 8th grade students with learning differences. They offer educational evaluations at a very reasonable price that can determine his areas of weakness. However, if you are looking for a test that will conclusively diagnose a learning disability like ADHD or Dyslexia, you will need to have that done through a neurologist, clinical psychologist or developmental pediatrician. I am taking my daughter to Dr. Lisa Genecov at Medical City. We don't have insurance so she's going to let us pay in increments. That is for a medical diagnosis.

However, once again, if you are looking for an educational evaluation, Meadowview School can do that at a much reduced cost. Call them at ###-###-####.