We're gearing up for our first middle school 504 meeting for my DS in 6th grade. I'm hoping for advice from parents who have middle and high school kids with dyslexia/ dysgraphia. I don't know what accommodations I should be asking for and I wonder if you'd share what you've done.
As background, he could barely read when he was diagnosed in 2nd grade (even though the school kept telling me he was fine). Both of his siblings (PG) could read at age 3 and my dd who was 3 at the time was a better reader than him-- literally. We started 3xweek tutoring right away, and did that for 3 years. Now, he's in 6th grade and he's an advanced reader. His writing is proficient and closing in on advanced and he's getting A's in both of those classes. We really never thought we'd see the day. We're so excited for him that he seems to be maturing and coming into his own.
So-- does he still need all the accommodations he's had in the past? They were: additional time to read assignments, fewer spelling words, assignments graded on content instead of spelling, minimal note taking, assistance in breaking up writing assignments, allowed to keyboard writing assignments or use alternative forms to show mastery when appropriate.
At our end-of -year 504 meeting last year in elementary school, the school psychologist said she would contact the middle school to see which of those accommodations were necessary. Somehow the new 504 only has "allowed to keyboard," but I was told this week that my son has to self-advocate in order to get that accommodation. (He will never ask to do keyboard if it will make him different than the rest of the class.)
My question is-- what does a middle school student really need? The person in charge of 504s says in middle school, the 504s are designed to make kids more responsible for advocating for themselves. Is that true? I see it as a good goal, but... how is that written?
His actual handwriting is not legible to me and has about 3 spelling errors per sentence, so I would like him to keyboard and use spell-check.
Even though his reading is advanced, he's a slow reader, so I think he needs additional reading time or be allowed to use books on tape as he gets older as must read longer books at home.
What do other dyslexic kids get in their 504s in middle school?
