Looking at the Bigger Picture

Our son has Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. However, we don’t call it that where I live. We refer to his learning disabilities as Learning Disability: Communication. This label is completely deceiving. Our son has NO problems communicating. He does however, have a lot of trouble reading and writing. With writing it is beyond the physical act, however, it’s also part of it. Simply learning how to maneuver on a keyboard won’t help him. He needs to think about every sound, for letter in every word for every sentence. Imagine the exhaustion after writing one sentence never mind a paragraph. Although our son is now functionally literate, I doubt that he will ever read John Grisham or Stephen King for pleasure. However, he might listen to them. Our son will most likely remain a comic book fan for his entire life. He likes the story lines (and trust me, there is nothing simplistic about Marvel’s Multi-Universe), and he can read these independently. Our son’s comprehension is pretty much through the roof. However, no one seems to want to take advantage of this. So, when I see modifications on his IEP, it is usually around reducing the amount of reading or writing our son is expected to produce. So, if an average student in his grade is expected to write a page, he might be expected to write a paragraph. Why can’t he dictate and still be expected to produce a page? Why isn’t our son provided with audio books to listen to and then he can dictate answers to comprehension questions into his computer? My question is this: what are we trying to accomplish with modifications to the curriculum? The IEP is supposed to establish multiple access points to the curriculum. It is supposed to provide equity. I’m not sure that this is happening. This year, more so than others, it’s just not sitting well with me. 

What is an IEP?

An IEP (Individual Education Plan) is a road map for you and your child in terms of how their learning needs are going to be addressed.  An IEP is created no more than 30 days after a student has been identified as exceptional and placed in a special education program.  A child does not have to be formally assessed to be placed on an IEP.  The Ontario Ministry of Education provides a detailed definition which I have summarized.  An IEP is:

• A written plan describing the special education program and/or services required by a student, based on their areas of strengths and needs.
• A record of the accommodations that a student might need in order to meet their learning expectations, given the student’s identified learning strengths and needs.
• A working document that identifies what learning expectations that are modified from the grade level expectations of any particular subject.
• A working document that identifies alternative expectations, if required, that are not part of the formal Ontario Curriculum (e.g. social skills).
•  A list of specific expectations to be assessed and evaluated for the purposes of reporting student achievement of modified and/or alternative expectations

What are modified expectations and accommodations?

Accommodations are tools used to help children meet their grade level curriculum expectations.  Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to, the following: giving students extra time to complete tests, allowing students to use their computers or laptops for note taking, strategic placement of student’s desks in the classroom, using scribes for notes or tests, differentiated instruction.

Modifications refer to actual changes to the grade level expectations of the Ontario curriculum.  Again, modifications can include, but are not limited to the following: previous years curriculum expectations (for example a student is in grade 3 but is assessed against grade 2 expectations for certain subjects), omitting certain expectations in specific subjects (such as focusing on 2 of 3 expectations for particular subjects).

The following websites provide some additional detail regarding IEP’s:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/guide/resource/iepresguid.pdf

http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/

http://ldadr.on.ca/iep.htm