Learning Issues and Adoption

Most schools can accommodate the learning issues that some adopted children face, but at times it can be an uphill battle to receive the proper support the child needs. Oftentimes, parents are left unsure of the next step and how to effectively communicate with school officials.
In this article, Dr. Boris Gindis, renowned nationally certified school psychologist and international adoption expert, answers one family’s question on how to get their child’s school on the right track. Read an excerpt:

Case description (from the parent’s message): Our daughter was adopted from Russia 2 years ago and has a host of diagnostic impressions including FASD, Austistic Spectrum Disorder (institutionalized), which I might add the pediatrician and school professionals seem to disagree with. Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder, Phonological Disorder, PRSD, Multiple Motor and Sensory Dyspraxias, Low-Average-Borderline Intellectual Function… the list goes on. We had her evaluated by a neuropsychologist. After attending a school conference to re-evaluate her current school program, it was very clear that the school team was not on the same page as my husband and I. As if the diagnostic impressions that were made along with the many school recommendations that were provided were not valid.

Dr. Gindis answers: Find out why the school is not on the same page:  Are the recommended remedial methodologies, placement and services structured and applicable to the school environment? If the school is requested to do two dozen things at once, they will not be able to provide an appropriate intensity of the remedial efforts and they can’t monitor the progress. The remedial goals have to be clear-cut and measurable.

Dr. Gindis then shares four other key questions that each family must ask to identify the miscommunication and to build a collaborative effort with the child’s school. Read more here.

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Would you like to learn more? Join us for our Tuesday March 19, 2013 Learning Issues and Adoption workshop with Dr. Gindis. During the workshop, Dr. Gindis will explain ways to engage school administrators to get the resources your child needs. Register here.