Post by Emilysmom on Aug 1, 2004 19:36:34 GMT -5
Jenifer,
I'm not sure I have much to add because my child didn't have any type of "IQ" testing until she was at least 8 years old so I was never faced with this dilemna. (seems to me to be a new way to save a few bucks by not providing specialized services to some kids who do well on their tests). I have no idea how you'd go about proving that your child has mental retardation.....although, in my opinion MENTAL RETARDATION means simply SLOWER to learn than the average child of the same age. There is absolutely no doubt that my child has learned and will continue to learn at a slower rate than others and that she has had to have specialized instruction in order to help her learn. Unlike the term "Down syndrome"which we use all the time, I do not use the term mentally retarded when referring to Emily.......although I do realize she has mental retardation. I'm glad we've never had to prove that, although I'm sure her test scores would qualify her. She has never been one to handle testing (and especially not when the person giving the test is new to her) well at all.
~
I like your idea of taking a "typical" child Joy's age and demonstrating the differences!! If that's not feasible, I think it should work very well to have people who have been involved in her education provide information that will help her to get the services she needs. Why would the school system want to just assume that she MIGHT learn well without extra services? Why set her up to fail? Why not provide the services from the start....then if she proves to them that she does not need them, they can begin to pull them away.
~
Please keep us informed, and good luck!!
Susan
I'm not sure I have much to add because my child didn't have any type of "IQ" testing until she was at least 8 years old so I was never faced with this dilemna. (seems to me to be a new way to save a few bucks by not providing specialized services to some kids who do well on their tests). I have no idea how you'd go about proving that your child has mental retardation.....although, in my opinion MENTAL RETARDATION means simply SLOWER to learn than the average child of the same age. There is absolutely no doubt that my child has learned and will continue to learn at a slower rate than others and that she has had to have specialized instruction in order to help her learn. Unlike the term "Down syndrome"which we use all the time, I do not use the term mentally retarded when referring to Emily.......although I do realize she has mental retardation. I'm glad we've never had to prove that, although I'm sure her test scores would qualify her. She has never been one to handle testing (and especially not when the person giving the test is new to her) well at all.
~
I like your idea of taking a "typical" child Joy's age and demonstrating the differences!! If that's not feasible, I think it should work very well to have people who have been involved in her education provide information that will help her to get the services she needs. Why would the school system want to just assume that she MIGHT learn well without extra services? Why set her up to fail? Why not provide the services from the start....then if she proves to them that she does not need them, they can begin to pull them away.
~
Please keep us informed, and good luck!!
Susan
&
Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
