Appearances can be deceiving, see how in this letter entitled

What it must feel like to be Ryan.........................................................

January 18, 2005

ADDRESSED TO: Teachers, High School Special Ed. Dept., & District Special Ed. Dept  

NOTE TO ALL: We want you to know how much we appreciate your past, present, & future efforts in educating our son! We also want you to know that we want to work with you in a combined effort to insure Ryan completes his education. We are always open to ideas, and are willing to help implement them. Please always feel free to talk with us anytime!  

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE RYAN

I often wondered what affects Ryan’s Learning Disabilities & Abilities had on Ryan (while in school, out of school, physically & mentally. After doing some online research along with consulting an occupational therapist this is the answer I have attained (I will let Ryan demonstrate through an exercise to help you better understand the obstacles in which he faces daily) :  

Imagine this is you: A teacher or your boss assigns you to write a phrase with your left hand (if you are left handed imagine writing with your right hand) backwards on the paper (starting right to left). You will be timed, the paper will be graded for grammar, spelling, neatness, and accuracy.  

Now cover one of your eyes Imagine that copying this information from the board or a book caused you to have headaches, made your eyes water, and you kept loosing your place while copying. Can you imagine how physically and mentally drained you would be by the end of the day if you were asked to do this (even in very small amounts) all day long?  

Now add A.D.H.D. to the equation: Imagine that the person next to you is doing something very distracting, perhaps tapping their pencil, whistling, etc. While you are attempting to write this paragraph with your left hand, that is being timed & graded for content, grammar, spelling, neatness, and accuracy.  

Now add Punishment to the equation: After you have tried your best to do what was asked of you, you are still unable to satisfy your parents, teachers, boss, etc.. They all know how smart you are, but believe that you are lazy, and unmotivated. Now think about this happening over and over to you on a daily (several times per day, if not all day long) basis. Keep in mind, this also affects your ability to go places in the afternoon and on weekends or have friends over, getting your drivers license, pay increases, allowance, job security, job promotions, you get the idea.  

NOW TRY IT (HERE IS YOUR PHRASE TO WRITE) :  

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.      

HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW ?

This was very enlightening for me personally. Do you feel like you passed the test? Just for fun can you remember the phrase that you wrote, without looking back? If not look back and read the phrase not more than 3 times and write down how many times the letter “F” occurs in the sentence. This is not a trick, the letters are not hidden. How many “F”s did you find ? The answer is at end of this document.  

INFORMATION ABOUT RYAN

Ryan is very bright, Ryan was in gifted classes at one time, he actually made better grades in gifted classes. I believe that Ryan’s writing problem would be classified as Dysgraphia (a form of Dyslexia that has only to do with writing). Ryan usually scores very well on standardized test (Iowa, leap, etc.), that are mostly on scantron. Ryan also has no problems and excels in reading, comprehension, oral communication, craft projects provided that they do not require much or any writing). Ryan is very good with problem solving and calculating in his head (Math Reasoning).

Ryan's Math computation is the opposite of his Math reasoning abilities, he has a LOT of trouble with computation and numerical operations! I don’t believe that he has any problems with the mechanics of Language (simply the issue of applying them to paper). Because of this Ryan was able to mask most of his writing disability until 4th grade, when he was required to show his work. He kind of figures out problems in his own way, provided he can relate to the problem in practical terms.   Ryan is outgoing, considerate, well mannered, charismatic, and all in all a very likable teen, if I do say so myself. Ryan avoids written work as if he were allergic. In a way, maybe he is allergic to written work.

Ryan has a lot of difficulty, and basically is incapable of maintaining organization of his assignments and even at home will forget and/or be easily distracted if given more than one task at a time (even 1 task can prove to be very difficult if it takes more than a few minutes to complete).   While most people learn the material by or when they are writing it on paper Ryan is focusing most, if not all of his efforts on the simply task of forming his letters, neatness, etc., instead of absorbing the material. By the time Ryan is finished writing he has no will or energy to learn what he has so painstakingly written. On top of that, Ryan has been punished so much for not having his assignments completed that he has built up resentment and reluctance toward writing, homework, and school. If you were constantly and consistently punished for something that you worked really hard to do your best, wouldn’t you too feel how Ryan feels.  

Ryan has had O.T., but I’m afraid Ryan is going to have to adapt another form of communication other than written work for most of his task both in and out of school. It simply requires to much from him. We need to reduce Ryan’s paper work considerably and replace it with oral reports, projects, etc., change his test format to multiple choice and/or scantron, and assist him with organization.  

We are very strict with Ryan, but we love him and want him to get an education. Ryan has been labeled lazy, unmotivated, manipulative, and a behavior problem because of his learning disabilities. I don’t think it is laziness, but reluctance, frustration, and disorganization. No child, especially Ryan or a child as outgoing, inquisitive, and eager to learn as him wants to be punished this much (if it were something he could help, I do believe he would do better, he wants to achieve, he has set goals for himself).  

Ryan’s Learning Disabilities

Most of his disabilities are Neurological disorders that can not be corrected, but Ryan can adapt skills & methods of learning to work around his disabilities. Ryan has been labeled “Lazy”, “Unmotivated”, and a behavior problem because of these disorders.  

Dysgraphia/Disorder of Written Expression

A fine motor skills disorder, causing extreme frustration & reluctance with writing. Also adds to the difficulty of comprehending what is written due to the extreme effort focused solely on the task of writing. Even with occupational therapy Ryan’s level of frustration with writing is considerable.  

Learning-Related Vision Problem

Ryan's eyesight is 20/20, or better. This relates to visual coordination and focusing. Some of the symtoms include: losing place when moving gaze from desk work to chalkboard, or when copy from text to notebook, writing up or down hill, irregular letter or word spacing, reverses letters (b for d) or words (saw for was), repeatedly omits "small" words, misaligns digits in columns of numbers, headaches after reading or near work, burning or itching eyes after doing near vision work, blinks excessively when doing near work, but not otherwise, rubs eyes during or after short periods of reading, comprehension declines as reading continues. You can see that this could tiring for a person emotionally and physically. I'm certain this adds to his difficulties with writting, along with ADHD.  

A.D.H.D.

Trouble staying on task, easily distracted, disorganized physically & mentally.  

Ryan’s Abilities

1. Ryan is kind, considerate, and well mannered

2. Ryan is curious & inquisitive, and eager to learn

3. Ryan is very good at problem solving and mental calculation (Math Reasoning), and science

4. Ryan is outgoing, charismatic, and very good with oral presentation

5. Ryan has a very high I.Q. And is classified as “gifted”. I do beleive that Ryan’s I.Q. Masked some of his learning disabilities.  

IN CONCLUSION

Please DO NOT misunderstand, we want Ryan to learn the same material as everyone else, just not in the same exact way. In no way do we want Ryan to stop being challenged academically. We are willing to help (with or without Ryan’s knowledge) with any extra work this presents to the teachers and staff (Ex: coming up with ideas for projects & assignments, errands, sit in class with Ryan, sub for you, anything you need just ask). I believe in supporting Ryan’s teachers and listening with an open mind.  

Our perspective on Ryan’s exceptionalities has evolved over the span of Ryan’s school career to date. We have tried many options such as: counseling/therapy, psychiatrist, special ed placements, modifications, accommodations, medication, tutoring, evaluations, rewards & punishment, even placed Ryan in a special school (similar to home schooling environment, but with a well qualified teacher in spec. ed, counseling, etc.).

Implementing these items will not be any easy task, but Ryan deserves the chance to succeed and I have every confidence that you all will do you very best to see that he does succeed. Please forgive me if I have repeated myself & for the length of this letter. Believe me this is an abbreviated version of Ryan’s past and present status!  

Thanks again for all of your help,  

Answer # of “F” in phrase is 6, how many did you get?  

P.S.- The following are web sites where I found a lot of useful information, I just Thought you might want to look at some of them:  

Assistive Technology www.atstar.org/at_writing.htm

Assistive Technology Legal Mandates natri.uky.edu/resources/fundamentals/laws.html

Fine Motor Disabilities familyfun.go.com/raisingkids/learn/assess/feature/dony18learningdisabled/dony18learningdisabled 4.html

FAPE School Accomodations & Modifications www.fape.org/pubs/FAPE-27%20School%20Accomodations%20and%20Modifications.pdf

IEP Guidance www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/iep_guidance.html

IDEA Regulations www.wrightslaw.com/law/code_regs/Index_IDEA_Regs_990313.htm

DOE Special Education Glossary of Terms www.wrightslaw.com/law/code_regs/Index_IDEA_Regs_990313.htm

LA State Educational Accountability Workbook www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/lacsa.pdf

US Department of Education Guide to IEP www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html

504 Resources (several pdf documents that can be downloaded) www.504idea.org/504resources.html

LA DOE State Pupil Appraisal Handbook www.doe.state.la.us/lde/uploads/1562.pdf

LA DOE State IEP Handbook for Students with Disabilities www.doe.state.la.us/lde/uploads/2261.pdf

Focus Adolescent Services (lots of good info) www.focusas.com/SpecialEducation.html

Assistive Technology Laws www.jigsawhelper.net/specialeducation/laws.html

LA DOE Special Ed. Assistive Technology www.ebrpss.k12.la.us/n.specialed/assistive.eona

This site was developed by an LD Teen to help others (read his story) www.learningdisabilities.ourfamily.com/

Top 5 Emotional Difficulties for People with LD www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=345

National Center for LD DYSGRAPHIA www.ncld.org/LDInfoZone/InfoZone_FactSheet_Dysgraphia.cfm

International Dyslexia Association (Dysgraphia) www.interdys.org/servlet/compose?section_id=5&page_id=49

Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Children www.ditd.org/Cybersource/record.aspx?sid=11330&scat=902&stype=110

Gifted LD Test ericec.org/faq/gt-ldtst.html

Learning Disabilities www.pressrepublican.com/special/pulse_lib/0802p2a.htm

If you liked this advice/thread you may also want to read:

Ryan's Story as detailed in a letter to Principal (the beginning of his 10th grade year, Ryan is currently finished school)  

 www.schwablearning.org/message_boards/view_discussion.aspx?thread=17725&f=search        

Creative Tactics to get Spec Ed Services

(I am not advocating for anyone to use these tactics, I only used them after exhausting all conventional methods)  

www.schwablearning.org/message_boards/view_discussion.aspx?thread=19540