Any info or experience? While talking to the special services director yesterday he mentioned this because of Robin's test scores from his eligibility testing this past April. There were some pretty big differences in some of the scores. His lowest was in the 70's and his highest was 131 (average range from 90-110, I think--they used the Woodcock Johnson tests of achievment). Robin's certainly not living up to his potential. The director (Mr. W.) asked if Robin had ever been tested for LD's. I said no, but I did ask his 6th grade teacher if there may be something we hadn't known about. His reading comprehension seemed pretty low for as well as he can read (decode). She said she'd try and look into it, but I don't think she ever did. I just emailed his teacher and requested another IEP meeting. They're not following the IEP he has now and I want that fixed and some things added. I'm also waiting for one more virtual academy to call me back to see if we can get him enrolled there. Chances aren't good (enrollment ends tomorrow and we'd have a lot of paperwork since he needs an exemption because he was homeschooled last year) but I'm trying. I talked with Mr. W. for 45 minutes yesterday and he was very helpful. He was going to email a couple of the teachers and the social worker. He asked what I'd like to see happen and I told him I just want people to try and understand where Robin's comining from! He's never going to be the round peg they want him to be. They need to try and understand WHY he does what he does and fix the problem rather than just send him home or shuffle him off to another classroom. He did say they would be opening an alternative school next fall when our new high school opens (middle school will move to old high school and current middle school will be alternative school) but that doesn't help me now. Robin would do well in a Montesorrie type classroom--hands on. Too bad he's in 8th grade!

Anyway, any info on PCD would be great. I'm searching, but not finding much and it almost seems every site I find mentions Colorado. Almost like it's only IN Colorado! How can that be?

By Pamt on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 09:30 pm:

Cat, I looked this up because while I am familiar with perceptual disorders and communication disorders, I am not familiar with the term "Perceptual-Communicative Disorders." I did some searching and it does seem to be a CO educational term. I also read the definition and it is basically a worthless wastebasket label. For example, it lists auditory processing and phonological processing under perceptual deficits. Yes, they both require audition (or hearing) which is one of the ways that we perceive our environment, but you can't make sense of auditory or phonological (speech sounds, words) input without language. And you can't understand language without cognition. Those are very arbitrary categories and having a child dx'ed or labeled as PCD does NOTHING--doesn't not identify the problem or help determine the appropriate intervention. If you feel comfortable emailing his subtest standard scores on the Woodcock-Johnson, I can perhaps make some educated guesses and give you some insight into further testing to look into or possible interventions. My email is pamela dot terrell at gmail.com

By Cat on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 11:13 pm:

Thanx, Pam. I'll email them to you tomorrow. Right now I'm beat and going to bed.

By Lauram on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 08:54 pm:

I've also never heard of it!

By Kaye on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 08:59 am:

I typed in a long response and lost it.

UGh Cat, don't you just hate one more thing?!?

Any updates on the virtual academy?

By Cat on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 10:14 am:

It's too late for either virtual academy. One said to document everything if I pull him out and homeschool him this year and he'd qualify to enroll next year. The other said they have enrollment again in February. Doesn't help me right now.

Robin's biggest problem is processing speed. That's where his lowest score was on the WISC-IV (78). The standard diviation is 15 for this test (from what I found online). Robin's deviation was 53. Even if we took out the highest and lowest scores the diviation was still over 15 (24). In the WJ III ACH his lowest scores were on the timed tests. Dh and I are going to see if our insurance will cover all or part of taking Robin to somewhere like Learning RX. The school will no doubt test for LDs but I'm sure the tests won't be through and they will just make standard accomidations that won't really tackle the real problem (that worthless wastebasket Pam mentioned). The school already knows his processing speed is slow. When I asked them what could be done about that they said at this age/point Robin would just have to learn coping skills and that there's really nothing he can do to improve his processing speed. Whatever. I don't believe that. Robin has SO much more potential than just letting him slide and get by because he takes longer to do things than the other kids.

Like I always say, it's never boring here...

Oh, Pam, I emailed you yesterday (Sat) morning.

By Pamt on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 10:20 am:

I emailed you back this morning.

By Cat on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 11:13 am:

I got it. Thanx.