Learning disability question....resources?

Question

This question is about my friend's child in NYC. She has a seven year old son. He has had significant problems with learning, being unable to draw circles when he was younger, and was held back in kindergarten. Now he still has trouble with word recognition, memory, etc. The school board is giving her problems with getting him re-evaluated and she cannot afford the $3000-$4000 for a private evaluation.

Does anyone know of any organizations in NYC that could help with this for a lesser fee or for charity? Things like re-evaluating the child or getting him placed into a special needs class so that he could make progress would be optimal. Also, what options does she have?

Answer 1

Call the New York State Department of Education...ask them to swith you to the Department of Special Education...ask the folks from the State Department of Education Special Education Unit to give you names of local Avocates for Students with Disabilities.  They are required to give you this info....  I would, also, ask to talk to the State Department Director of Special Education and discuss this issue in detail with him/her....and ask for advice.  This will cut to the one at the top in your state responsible for these services.  Your school district sp.ed. department is governed by the state dept. of education.....Good Luck.

Answer 2

A outside eval is free and the school should pay for it. All you need to do is ask in writing, e- mail me

Answer 3

Read wrightslaw.org or com

anyway...if the child is having academic difficulty and the parent requests testing, the school district must provide it.  A private eval here only costs about 400 dollars.   You need to

find a learning center that could test him.

Answer 4

It is the responsiblitily of the school, ask for the school govenor who is responsible for special needs get them involved