Dyslexic Boy Failed by School
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Here is an article from London about a severely dyslexic elementary school aged boy named David. His mom has been requesting services since kindergarden to no avail.
I get angry when I hear stories like this. Waiting until a kid fails for long enough before getting some possible relief and services is an atrocious model and one that flies in the face of early intervention best practices.
“… I was told that the school did not want to jump to any fixed conclusions. They said that David , then six, was too young to be diagnosed with dyslexia, which I have since discovered is rubbish. They said he was one of the youngest in the class and that it could be developmental and that he might naturally catch up.“
What a disappointment! Stories like this remind me that we still have work to do. And a lot of it.
Dale, I remember years back (30?) Beth Slingerland had a pamphlet titled, “Why Wait For a Criterion of Failure?”
The work remains, for sure.
I just had to share a little of our story. My son is now in first grade. Throughout kindergarten I asked for help with reading for my son and to no avail as the story above. I was actually told by the principal “He is faking that he does not know how to read. He can read.” He needless to say did not meet his benchmark and actually only improved very minimally thru the year. His neuropsych testing states dyslexia. So we will see how the school responds now. It is just so incredibly frustrating as my son is an avid booklover and cries that he does not know how to read because that is his biggest wish. To quote him “books take you to so many wonderful places.”
Christine,
All the best of luck and success as you continue this journey with your son.
It burns me up to hear of the crap people say in defense of their own ignorance. The idea that your son, who loves books and story is “faking” his failure is beyond absurd. Barring a deep psychological wound, kindergardeners don’t fake things like this.
Waiting for a criteria of enough failure to implement support and help for your and other sons and daughters is not right.
Please keep us informed about how he’s doing.