Very OT but need to share with my "family"

Wow Nancy you are amazing! Bless you in your efforts for your daughter!

 I don't know why I never thought of the great resource we have on OH with all these teachers in our group.  I have a 15 year old that can't read very well and can't spell at all.  We had her tested by an independent psycologist when she was in 5th grade.  She is in 9th now.  The testing showed very high performance in some areas and low in others....but all within normal limits.  The psycologist felt she needed intervention/help because of the huge difference between the high and low but the school did not agree. The psycologist also felt she had mild ADD. 

So I have a 9th grader that gets laughed at in class when she reads and who has to ask how to spell words or her papers cannot even be read by others.  I feel like they are passing her on year after year and she is going to graduate and not be sucessful because of her inability to spell and write. 

Is there something I can do?  If she has a disability it is very minor.  I feel like they think she is just lazy or a brat.  They have a way of making you feel like a bad parent...crazy!!!  I was actually told by her 6th grade teacher..."I can't spell either but look at me now...I'm a teacher!"  hmmmmm
:o)

It is NOT too late. By law if a disability is found they have to educate her until she is 21 and not just graduate her at 18! I would request, in writing, that she be tested. If you do not agree with the test results, then you can request an individual evaluation at the school district's expense. If you do want to do your own eval you can, but the school only has to consider it but they don't have to act on it -- unless you can convince them of her difficulties. The school has done a couple of their own evals (which all said Giorgi was fine). I chose to pay for all my own evals but made sure I knew beforehand what scores were needed to qualify her for services. They were harder to deny that way, not that they did not try though. I highly recommend UCO. Because testing is done by students (overseen of course by a qualified instructor) they charge $150, which is VERY reasonable and they do very thorough testing. Since they are education students they are looking for the problems seen in school. They completed the testing on my 21 year old son when he was 6 years old and verified his ADHD. My pediatrician would not send him for testing as she did not believe in ADHD. When I handed her their testing she could not deny the results.
One other thought -- Giorgi can't spell either and my doctor says some people never can and she may always be dependent on spell checker. The attorney suggested to me yesterday to request an Assistive Technology Evaluation. This would qualify her to be allowed to use PDAs spell checker, etc in class. Even if your daughter's disability is minor, being laughed at is hard on her self esteem. Ask to have her evaluated! If you put your request in writing they can't refuse you and have so many days to complete the evaluation. I have a couple of books and lots of info you can borrow if you would like. Sorry to go on and on, but I told you I was making this my new passion!!!!! Okay,one more thought -- she is at Brink, right? Talk to the school psychometrist that works in that school - Sue Fiacone. She is excellent! Can you tell I have been at this a while?

Thanks Nancy.  I appreciate all your advice.  She is in high school now.  She would kill me if I have her tested again...but I may do it anyway.  I have watched this chip away at her self esteem all through her school years.  I never thought about the fact that she could use a PDA when she is filling out applications and things of that nature.  Sounds like a good gift for her!  I feel silly complaining about my daughter's little struggles when I know there are so many kids out there with bigger ones...but I get so upset when she mentions being taunted in class.  She is a great kid but she gets a chip on her shoulder about this and then is interpreted as being a brat.  It's frustrating.  She actually had a teacher tell her last year that "people like her couldn't be expected to understand"   This was said in front of the entire class.  I was at the school as soon as they would get me a meeting with the teacher and the principal.  I had one message ATTACK THE BEHAVIOR NOT THE PERSON.  I think it should be a mantra for anyone who deals with kids in any way! 

She may be upset now, but she will thank you later! Her little struggles now can turn into something major later. Being taunted is never easy -- especially by a teacher! I would not have even waited for a meeting to be arranged. We had one major incident in school . I called and told them I would be there within an hour and expected to be seen -- I was!