I have good news today…I think?
Before Xmas, I began the process of seeking special ed services for our 20 year old daughter.
Pre-diagnosis (age 17) our Daughter quit high school(while living with mom). Academically, she’s at (was) 9th grade level. While in school she did struggled and had low grades, but was never even tested for SE classes. (Bio mom requested and then threw in the towel)
Anyway, the struggle I had was that
A - she’s 20
B - no previous diagnosis or need assessed.
Soooo, I asked and started the process. She had to do a 1 hr academic test that covered math and two other areas I’m not even sure were labeled.
Her results came back …math as the best subject. What??? It’s her most difficult subject (I’ve been told). Then came the results…a 1 percentile. One! 99 of a hundred “average” 20 years old would score better.
The other two subjects apparently didn’t achieve the 1 point. No wonder she walked out of adult ed after an hour. (She was 18 by now and able to ck out).
The school Psychologist said…she gave a very good effort and she can read very well…she struggles with comprehension of “what” she’s reading. More like 1 sentence is comprehended. Forgotten. Next sentence is read, comprehended, and forgotten. This validated a lot!
The good news is…she was accepted for special ed services. These services are available to MI and other diagnosis until age 26. There are life skills, community based training, job development and training, academic support if a GED is desired, pre-driving tests. Plus, they transport students to and from!
The social interaction will (should) be great for he - not to mention all the above!!!
Note: I was told several times that this is a case unlike they’ve had in my county before. Never had they even been asked, let alone accept someone of this age for services.
I am really excited…I wanted to share this with all of you and hope that someone else may be able to use this information.
My next major dilema: getting her onboard! She wants to go to the adult ed program she tried last year. Based on the result, she simply can’t do that and be successful? The good part is that she attended the initial meeting and agreed to follow theie academic recommendations…BUT that was only after she pushed to have the adult ed program included in the potential outcomes.
School Psy is presenting the info to us ( me and daughter) on March 9th. I am keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn’t deny this program moving forward.
That’s my exciting news!!! And my big dilemma. I can’t MAKE her do anything…but darn if I’m not trying to give her all the help she could use.