1

Talk to your school - Ask what is available - vet info with reputable groups - Download our Checklist of School Questions. Be sure to put your requests in writing.

2

Inform yourself and Understand your options. Become an effective advocate by understanding laws that support your child and the vast body of research on Dyslexia. Download our Dyslexia Roadmap

3

Be Collaborative but Firm - Share evidence based ideas and help support positive outcomes. meet with your school principal, the school board and other decision makers. Download our Ideas for Collaboration (Coming Soon!)

4

Understand What a Full Initial Eval under IDEA is (Child Find)- A Full Initial Eval under IDEA does not mean that the parent has to agree to services under IDEA - it is simply the most comprehensive place to start.- Under this process a parent is an equal member on the team deciding next steps which includes the opportunity to chose to decide appropriate placement which could mean under 504 or IDEA. The process under Child Find is just the first initial step but one that REQUIRES the parent as an equal member of the process.  Parents should know that under IDEA parents are require participants, not so under Section 504. Before making decisions about their dyslexic child parents should should fully understand what unique rights IDEA provides - substantial assurances to fidelity, methodology, progress monitoring and accountability mechanisms to name a few). The Full Eval under IDEA is a comprehensive way to uncover the full scope of learning issues their child may be experiencing. We know that too many kids in Dyslexia programs, who never get full Evals, fail later because they always had deeper issues, either more severe RAN or co morbid Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia which were not explored when simply looking for Dyslexia outside of a Full Evaluation. There is NO way anyone can suspect dyslexia and KNOW FOR CERTAIN if the student has "mild" Dyslexia or ONLY Dyslexia - Congress intended under IDEA, that if you suspect disability. REGARDLESS of severity, a full eval under IDEA should be the parents option. Parents should expect that their students is evaluated for ALL suspected areas of need which includes Dyslexia evals, The dyslexia eval should be a part of the Full eval under IDEA when you suspect Dyslexia or they screen at risk for dyslexia...the starting point should be a full eval under IDEA and informed decisions can be made from there. IDEA says that Parents should be mandatory participants in deciding what is best for their child.