How to cope with sld children and what services do they qualify for?

Question

How to cope with sld children and what services do they qualify for?

Answer 1

generally-only educational services-

you may be able to deduct some things from your taxes such as educational expenses and medical expenses-which is the same for everyone LD or not...

an older child may be able to get help from vocational rehab

Answer 2

If you live in the United states, each state has a dept. of education, usually located in the state capitol.  Contact them and have them send you a copy of the state guidelines for learning disabilities (usually the first one is free).  

Also consider having a multi-factor for your child.  This is a comprehensive group of tests that will ultimately provide the basis of services for your child.  Do not let the school or school district tell you you don't need to have it done.  (They will try to talk you out of it because it is expensive to test)  

If you request the multi-factor in writing, they have 90 days to test your child and have the results back to you.  They will then start an IEP (individualized education plan) Remember,  YOU are the primary member of the team that decides on services available.  Don't back down if you think your child should have more.  Some services include education, social skills, transportation...the list is endless really.

As for coping, take one day at a time.  Get the test first and go from there.  Hang in there and contact a local education advocate to help you if you need it.  Good luck.

Answer 3

Coping with learning disabilities requires a great deal of patience and imagination.  Instructions must be given in small chunks with reminders if necessary.  New information needs to be presented in the most simplistic of terms.  Federal IDEA requires that schools provide adapted education needs.  Each state does things a litte differently but they are all required to give special assistance.

Answer 4

ASK YOUR LOCAL CHILD SERVICE PROVIDER FOR HELP THEY WILL HELP U GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

well..having an ld child i can tell you a few things.  one is he qualifies for tax relief to and from all his dr's, learning programs, but i haven't figured out where to submit it on the form.  

they also qualify for LINKS, throught the LDANS (learning disabilities program of nova scotia).  it gives them 10 weeks of tutoring in phoenics, reading and writing.  it costs between 175 and 200 depending on if it's fall or winter program.  If you have medical coverage, it is supposed to be covered as speech therapy.  they have a speech therapist on board.  or if you fall into the low income category, you can apply for full subsidy and not pay anything.

at school, he may quailify for SDL program.  But they have to be 3 grade levs behind and the school would have to test them.  I am currently fighting for it, but am failing.  My son is grade 5, and LINKS assessment says he's functioning at the grade 1-2 level.  The prinicpal has been ingoring my requests.  I even asked infront of the school's behavior specialist who thought we should have him tested.

The first thing to do is search online for a learning disablities group in your area.  They can let you know of what programs are out there.  Also talk to your prinicpal, or even contact the schoolboard.  There are programs out there, but you either have to find them on your own, find out by mistake from someone else that has gone through it, or when you find the program, you may have to fight to get them in.

There are several books and videos availabe (local library).  that tell you how to cope with sld children (and add ones, it can go hand in hand).  One video I rented was awesome but I can't remember the doctor's name.  He used humor and common sense.  

He talks about how sld kids have very low self esteem.  and when anything negative happens it hurts alot to them more than it would with a kid with some confidence.  He said self esteem was like pokerchips.  when they accomplish something or recieve a postive experience (praise, pass a test), the get hundreds of poker chips.  but when something negative happens, say someone calls them dumb, they lose a thousand pokerchips.

his point being, we have to give these kids as many positive experiences and feedback (pokerchips) that we can in order to offset the ones they'll lose (through failing tests, kids remarks, etc).

and he also talked about how to guide a kid toward a goal, and praising them not for reaching it, but for comming close to the outcome that you want.

His name is Rick Lavoie, he has books and videos.  

"when the chips are down" is a good one.

links for you:

http://www.ldonline.org/  this is the best place to start

http://www.ldanatl.org/  (learning disablities of america)