<p>Countingdown wrote:
Daffymom, did you get accommodations for your son in high school . . . </p>
<pre><code>No, accommodations were initiated in sixth grade. The school suggested informal accomodations but I have learned that, “. . . if it isn’t in writing it doesn’t exist,” so we insisted on a formal 504 (504 if child can complete grade level work with accomodation vs IEP if workload should be modified).
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<p>Like Countingdown’s son, he has a huge discrepancy between his verbal IQ and performance IQ (handwritten) and over time he associated use of word processing with academic success and the ability to demonstrate his “true” intelligence. He disliked feeling different but loved getting those good grades more!</p>
<p>Pretty consistently, the first few months of each school year, teachers underestimated the severity of his problem sometimes trying to eliminate the accomodations. However, by mid year these same teachers were converts strongly supporting the word processing. Freshman year of high school was the worst. The 504 coordinator asked for permission to run a few quick tests during a study hall as she thought since he was succeeding in honors classes the 504 should be eliminated. (she ignored the fact that he was using the accomodation while earning those grades - ugh!! ). We refused and demanded a complete re- evaluation by the psychologist. Again his dysgraphia was demonstrated on testing and 504 coordinator back down. Schools are required to retest every 3 years.</p>