I only have experience with one dyslexia school, which I visited about 8 years ago when DS was beginning 2nd grade. The founder/Director of the school was awesome. She sat down with me for about an hour and explained my son's scores. The Director wanted to place DS in the school because his verbal comp and perceptual reasoning scores were high, and she felt he would respond well to the tutoring that the school offered. I was told that the school would be most effective if we committed for at least 3 years. We did not enroll DS for several reasons. The cost was about $18K per year, and the school was a 40-45 minute drive one way for me. The Director allowed me to talk with the students that DS would be in class with DS. The kids were great but almost immediately I could see weird behavior problems and could tell that some of the kids had been seriously injured emotionally in school. My MIL and son's Wilson tutor were adamantly opposed to me enrolling DS because he is not an emotionally injured student. They felt the other students would influence him negatively. The school was also secular, which we struggled with. Basically, we decided that I could drive a shorter distance and hire the tutors DS needed for less than half the price of tuition. DS was surrounded by a loving peer group, and his 2nd grade teacher has since become one of my dearest friends. I know families that enrolled their kids at the dyslexia school. The experience has been generally good. The only time I have heard complaints has been when disruptive students could not be contained by the teachers. Typically, those students are asked to leave, but that is a major irritation to other parents when they are paying nearly $2k per month for their kiddos to receive helps. My only advice is this: if you speak with a school, discover how they handle discipline. A discipline issue can take a couple of months to handle and before you know it, your child is terrorized and not learned a thing.

No, don't dig out any paperwork. The full NP will tell the story.

We went into NP testing after DS was identified dyslexic by our local Scottish Rite Learning Center and discovered he tests gifted with a maths and handwriting disorder. We were shocked. The child was compensating like mad in the classroom. It is common for people to believe their child has maths disability prior to NP testing and later discover their kiddo has NVLD or is dyspraxic. Good testing is like a compass. The NP identifies the learning issues through testing and points you where you need to investigate further. The NPs that I have dealt with know nothing about OT/PT/VT issues. They test and see the results of OT/PT/VT issues. With that stated and prior to an NP eval, I suggest you call around and speak with either an OT or a PT that specializes in children. You want the OT to evaluate visual perception, vestibular/balance, handedness, core/pincer grasp strength, motor planning, and retained primitive reflexes. VT doesn't always work well if OT issues are present. In fact, the VT identified son's developmental motor issues. Both of my children have worked with an OT and then moved over to a pediatric PT that we love. The kids have performed balance, resistance training, and cross body type exercises. The PT used RMT with DS, but I don't recognize a single exercise on the poster that OhE linked. Kids with LDs cost more money, and that is a hard pill to swallow. The ed materials are outrageously priced due to specialization, and there is a ton of trial and effort that goes into working with these kids. When you seek a tester, speak with them and ask questions. Discover whether they diagnose. You need to feel comfortable with the person that you are dealing with so don't hire anyone that you don't like. Testing should take at least 8 hours and may be spread out over 2 days. I cannot think of anything else to add other than good luck!

Is there a wide disparity between the spatial and verbal comp scores of the WISC IV?

Last school year, I made a new homeschooling friend with four NT kids. Thus far, the two eldest have scored extremely high on the ACT with one child earning a National Merit Scholarship. Anyhoo,,, She did exactly what you are prescribing. With the exception of math, this gal pushed using the AO Lifepacs on subjects that were get r done so that her kids could pursue the subjects that they love. I recall her telling me to not lose any sleep over Apologia Bio and Chemistry and me laughing about what the gals on the high school board would think. Her DD is now an engineer and her DS graduated with a masters in nursing. You are getting willing engagement and indirectly teaching essential EF skills by following this line. This is awesome. I am always shocked by what these kiddos will do when they pursue their own academic interests.

The processing speed scores should have two sub-tests. The sub-test numbers can point to whether there is a motor planning type issue. If ADHD is present, it is probably safe to assume that motor planning is an issue. My vote is to treat her like a dysgraphic and scribe for her. For writing, there is an excellent webinar that was given by Dr Charles Haynes of the Landmark Schools. I love the webinar because it discusses the subroutines of paragraph writing. I think you should watch the video. A link follows: http://blog.dyslexicadvantage.org/2014/11/01/teaching-writing-to-dyslexic-students/ When you read to your DD, stop a lot and ask her Scoratic types questions. Scribe for her and get her used to talking about what she is hearing. Use that time to ensure comprehension and teach her to mindmap. Scribe them for her. Watch her close and determine whether she can type or use dictation type software. Given her scores, I expect she is a more visual learner. Exploit that strength for all that it is worth. DS works well with manipulatives. He does best with a MUS/spiral cross. I know that MM is popular, and I honestly don't know why other than that the creator is sweet and the product is cheap. I really don't like MM. I see nothing novel or earth shattering about it. But that's one mom's opinion. E-books by Ronit Bird may benefit your DD. good luck! Keep us posted and let us know how things work out.

What were the two higher sub-test scores?

Yes, I knew that.

yeeees, I need to download the free trial...There is this (at the HS Co-op) and this (at the Ginger website). I can't rightly tell how they differ.

I am looking at word prediction software and possibly Ginger. Does anyone have an opinion that they would like to share? All I need right now is a reason to hit purchase... :D

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/TouchTypeReadSpell

If he has a graduate degree, why the sudden interest in discovering whether he is dyslexic? How does he accommodate himself for the lack of reading? I'm curious how dyslexics manage as adults. I'm confused too. You are saying he can read anything from a computer screen but not a book?

You mentioned that your rising 4th grader struggles to read a Frog and Toad book. That indicates to me that he needs testing so you can target the source of his learning issues. Dyslexics require systematic, explicit, and multisensory instruction. To provide that high degree of teaching, you can attend a OG training workshop and become qualified, hire an OG certified tutor, or watch the Barton videos and teach your child. We have moms that use various programs to close the reading gaps, and that's great if you want that approach. I don't care for a lot of trial and error. Anyhoo.. Prior to making any more educational decisions, maybe read Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Shaywitz to get a better handle on what you are dealing with. Dyslexia has been highly studied and researched for years.

You could also search for Adult Literacy programs in your county and state.

You could administer the free Barton pre-test online and see whether he passes. Scottish Rite Learning Centers screen for dyslexia for free or low cost. You could see whether one is nearby and discover whether they will assess adults. You could also hire a neuropsych. ETA..Check out this link too....http://www.wallacefoundation.org/promos2/Pages/adult-literacy.aspx?&mkwid=sveZrmkIw_dt&pcrid=59390775889&pmt=e&pkw=adult%20literacy%20programs&gclid=CJqa1JL6v8YCFVE7gQod1A8Emg

Of course not! When it comes to the ps, you need to go into the situation armed with info and your eyes wide open to best advocate for your child. Good luck!

Thank-you for the offer!! No, I'm trying to understand the ps intervention process. ETA: I take that back. Yes, I would love to look at them, but only if it is convenient. Thank-you...

When a child struggles in ps, are they automatically placed in RTI or does the parent have to request that intervention in writing? Is RTI part of the IEP or pre-IEP?

Well, I am not going to sit here and attempt to dissuade you from using the ps system. I had no interest in homeschooling my DS 8 years ago. I felt the work was way beyond me and like I was totally out my depth. My heart changed when he was in 4th grade. By 5th grade, my mind was made up and I pulled DS mid-year. DS has a ton of friends. DS went back for one more year of school, and that time convinced him of his need to be home. DS loves being homeschooled now. He types his work, and it is not an issue. Our lives became simpler. I appreciate where you are coming from. You can always place him in school and re-evaluate as time progresses.

No, you should not have been doing school 6 hours a day. Mercy...The difference between my DS and DD learning to read is astounding. I spent maybe 2-2.5 hours per day with my NT child. I actually hired a tutor to work with DS. Content areas have never been an issue for DS. He watches documentaries, listens to audio books, and loves hands-on instruction. For DS, dysgraphia means slow handwriting with sequencing/organization of output type issues. The school's response to your son's dysgraphia diagnosis reveals an astounding ignorance if they base handwriting upon legibility alone. The DSM now breaks handwriting down into two types of issues. The written expression disorder, which addresses the sequencing type issues, and developmental coordination disorder, which addresses legibility due to motor control type processing issues..

Typically, achievement testing is compared to WISC scores. With the IQ subtest information, you can compare achievement testing with what is expected WRT IQ. Were you given IQ scores? My DS was diagnosed ADHD based upon the results of a computerized NEPSY test. Dyslexia is a phonological processing issue that can be identified through specific testing. My DS has both dyslexia and dysgraphia which is an organic brain difference. I hate walking on a stair stepper. When DS gets upset or is not excited about school work, I remind myself that his SLDs are like being on a stair stepper except that he has no choice. Accommodations seriously help these kiddos. Good luck with the school. He needs direct, explicit, and mulitisensory reading instruction with an OG reading tutor, 3 hours per week. That is the ideal. If the school pushes more sight word instruction, pull him.

Is it possible that ACT/SAT are making accommodation easier to receive or are more informed families making application?

The links that I provided should tell you precisely what tests the ACT/SAT people want to see. I carried that info with me to the NP when DS was tested last.

Just peeking at the science portion of my ACT prep cards, reading and analyzing charts and graphs seems to be important. The ACT and SAT website have free online practice exams, so maybe check there. A curriculum that teaches reading non-fiction skills would help, and Scholastic sells books for that. Teaching your DD to read a textbook would help with that too. I am not suggesting she use a textbook for a course, but she would benefit from knowing how to read, gather, and analyze data from one as a skill.

ACT and SAT both have websites with the information for applying for accommodations. ACT has a helpline than you can call with questions. The NP testing report has to be within 3 years. http://www.actstudent.org/regist/disab/opt2.html https://www.collegeboard.org/students-with-disabilities/request-accommodations