Kids living with learning exceptionalities

An action plan

The psychologist who does the assessment prepares a report outlining the specific ways that teachers and parents can help the child. Be sure you receive your copy of the report before the meeting arranged for you, your child's classroom teacher, and other staff who may become involved in helping your child. The psychologist should present the report at the meeting, at which the goal is to develop a specific plan to help your child and to ensure that the resources, including human resources, are available to put the details of the plan into action.

What you should do

Parents will be responsible for some of the subsequent work with their child. But once the action plan is in process, continue to monitor the school situation to ensure your child is receiving the help outlined in the plan. You may be dealing with several different members of the school's staff. Have regular telephone chats or meetings with them and keep your own notes on meetings and conversations.

If you find that some aspect of your child's remedial help is not being addressed, speak first to your child's classroom teacher. If she's unable to help, follow up with the principal. Some parents of children with special needs find they must advocate for the programs their kids need with their board's superintendent and local trustees. To be an effective advocate, find out all you can about your child's learning problems by talking to experts and other parents. A good place to start is your local chapter of The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, one of the most active advocacy groups in the country. If you encounter delays in receiving either the assessment or the remedial help at your child's school, you might consider hiring an experienced tutor.

So much is still unknown about why some kids have trouble learning to read or to add and subtract. Parents of children with learning disabilities often find themselves on a difficult path through assessments by different experts and a range of recommended treatments. If you're one of those parents, you may be relieved to know that your child can reach the same educational goal as other kids his age -- the journey may just take a little longer.

Most learning disabilities are identified within the first three years of school, although the problem and its symptoms may have been present earlier. Often the children who prove to have a learning disability had difficulty in developing language skills in their preschool years.