Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment DYS Criteria- aptitude and/or achievement?

hi all
i've been on this site a million times and read the qualifiying criteria may times. What i still don't get is: Does the child need to submit IQ scores that meet the cutoff AND achievement scores that reach the cutoff? Or is it one or the other?

For example, could my DS7 be accepted with FSIQ low (due to 2e condition), but easily meeting achievement cutoffs? He hasn't had any of the achivement tests listed but i would do them if it would matter. His reading and language skills are three to five grade levels accelerated.

My goal to get DYS for him would be to use it to ensure his giftedness is taken seriously at school. We want him to be included in a reading enrichment/differentiation program that begins next year.

Every year his teachers start skeptical about his reading. His other strongpoints are arts and science..But if I hear "what you really have to look for is if he comprehends it!" one more time i am going to puke. Of course he gets it or he wouldn't read it. In K and 1st grade it has taken both teachers until April-May in the schoolyear to finally realize he understands. Then it starts up again the next year. I provide all his reading material by placing appropriate books in his backpack..

There is a great deal of prejudice about kids with PDD-NOS or AS diagnosis- everyone thinks these kids are cookie cutters of each other and they just aren't. And we aren't even sure he has PDD at all anymore but don't want to take away the label too soon and be wrong..

Anyway I feel that having a DYS credential would mitigate the skepticism that everyone feels with him.


irene

My understanding (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that you must submit standardized test(s), preferably IQ and achievement. If only one of these is available because of financial or other considerations, you must submit the one test that is available plus a portfolio of work demonstrating exceptional ability.

Good luck with your advocacy. After investigating the dys application, I've decided not to apply for either of my kids. The school hasn't been receptive to changing anything given the qualifying scores themselves, and I suspect they've never heard of dys. Maybe for your DS, it will make the difference, and I can get some vicarious satisfaction - let us know what happens.

It's only one or the other, not both. We just sent the WJIII achievement test results, no IQ test, along with a portfolio of work, and he was accepted.

I had to laugh at your reading comprehension comments--I've kind of had to go the other way with those remarks, with DS6! He showed a 9th grade overall reading score, with post-college level "word attack" scores, and 2nd grade comprehension, when he was 5. They said, well, see, he's not comprehending everything he reads. I said yes, but he could have gotten those ability scores two years ago and he would have had NO comprehension at all--comprehension is coming along, and after all you have to be able to read something before you can comprehend it! With no life experiences, comprehension comes harder than being able to read things. It's only as we gain experience that we start understanding more and more. Give him time!

FSIQ is only one of the IQ requirements - any of the qualifying composite IQ scores are just as good. If you have questions, you should call them directly. DYS accepts and understands 2E kids as well. Good luck with your application.

hey natigual and all
i hear you about the whole comprehension conundrum. Its like saying "well he can read Shakespeare but can he undersand it?" well since he just turned 7 he really has no life context for it, so how could he, so in that sense the question is valid..

But with my son there is the ADDED problem that a lot of folks thing children on the spectrum have something i think called "hyperlexia" where they are fascinated with the letters and words themselves and are basically stimming on the activitiy. This doesn't fit my DS7 at all, never has..

He showed no interest in reading or letters until the summer before first grade, then catapulted thru many many grade levels. He will only read things he choses and is interested in. The latest thing is "Dinotopia" books which range in level but are quite difficult, espeically the first one which is out of print and my son wrote a letter to the author (James Gurian) to get a copy. He was thrilled and shocked to receive it wtih a hand-drawn dinosaur and inscription to him for his seventh birhtday..

Anyway If he ever does get into DYS, the first thing that will go in his portfolio is the list of books we created as he learned to read. ONe etry for each book- our goal was 100 books. What we did not expect was that book #1 in August 2008 would be "Snowman at Night" which is K level and the last 20 books on the list, include almost all of Roald Dahl, the entire Dinotopia Series, Mrs. Frisby and Rats of NIMH, etc. Nothing is too difficult and we still have not truly met the ceiling of his reading ability, IMO.

irene

DS7 got in using WISC IV as well as WJIII achievement test both over 145. If you look at their website, they said if you have 1 test, you can provide a portfolio to get in. However, I don't know how easy it is to get in using a portfolio and one score over 145.

DS's school has no idea what the DYS is. However, if you get in, DYS can help you to advocate, which is a big plus for kids who are going to public schools.

DD8 got in with only portforlio and 3 letters of recommendations. We didn't test her due to shyness. Good luck!