in need of help/advice...

AnonyMom
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:15:36 +0000

OK, I might be incorrect here and I hope others chime in, but I do not believe that the only way to evaluate for LD’s/ADD etc. is to have teachers fill in forms. Perhaps this one doctor requires it, but I do not think that this is a universal requirement. When my child was tested for LD’s, the results were based upon the tests that were administered and the psychologists interviews with the parents and the child. For the psychologist to contact the teachers would, in fact, have been a violation of confidentiality as we would not have consented to it at that point. Of course, having data from teachers may be helpful, and some of us believe that one of the reasons our kids got accommodations from ETS is because we included teacher letters, but that came much later on.

My advice would be to get a list of psychologists who do educational testing for LD’s including ADD, or for other doctors who specialize in this area. Your local university might have a list through its psychology clinic or through its disability support center. A couple of phone calls could probably get you a list of possibilities. Then, it would not be improper to contact the psychologists or physicians and ask if it they are willing to do evaluations without speaking with your teachers as you have privacy concerns. I am not 100% certain, but I am pretty darned sure that you will find a legitimate professional who will meet your conditions.

If you have an LD and could benefit from accommodations or medication, there is no reason for you to live with the frustration, issues with your GPA, and fears of your teachers and GC saying bad things about you. A good psychologist will be able to evaluate and help you come up with a plan and some useful strategies to help you deal with your issues in the context of school and the academic demands of high school and college (especially if you let them know in advance that this is what you’re coming for – not just for a diagnosis or a prescription.)

Please don’t give up! You know about the policy of this one doctor and it doesn’t work for you. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find someone else who will be able to help you.