The most important thing you must determine is the source of your
child's learning problem. Time is of the essence—if your child
does, in fact, have a learning disability, "wait and see"
almost always means "wait and fail." If you act early,
you will gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing what is
causing your child's learning difficulties. You also will be helping
to ensure that she overcomes her struggles and enjoys success in
school.
In addition to working with your child’s teacher, here
are additional steps you should take:
Collect information on your child's performance.
Keep notes, copies of your child's assignments, and any correspondence
from his school regarding his performance in a folder so that you
can document any patterns. At the same time, it is also important
to observe your child's strengths and interests, encouraging and
rewarding him for the things he does well.
Monitor your child’s progress.
Watch your child’s progress to be sure that your child’s
needs are being met. Keep your child’s education folder up
to date, adding new samples of schoolwork and test results. If your
child is not making progress, discuss your observations with school
personnel and work together to make changes. You may need to ask
for a comprehensive educational evaluation to determine if your
child may be eligible for special education services.
Learn as much as you can.
The more you understand about the way your child learns and the
help that's available, the better equipped you will be to help her
succeed. If it turns out that she does have a learning disability,
you also need to be aware of your rights and protections under the
law.
Join with others who care.
By joining with other parents and professionals you can increase
awareness of the issue, dispel popular misconceptions, help establish
educational systems that provide for the needs of children with
learning disabilities, and get support for yourself. Locate the
LDA Chapter near you today!
Enjoy your child and encourage an interest in learning.
You can encourage your child's interests outside the classroom and
create a home environment that supports the way she learns. Rather
than focusing solely on your child’s deficiencies, emphasize
and reward your child’s strengths.
Visit our For Parents
area for additional information on how to help your child and help
yourself!
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