I am the parent of a 17 yr. old daughter with PDD-NOS and a motor control disability.  We have been struggling since she was a 5 yr. old, to get a diagnosis for a learning disorder.  We believe that she has Dyslexia and most definately, Dyspraxia, but no one in our community (private psychologists and private offices that offer services to kids with autism) will help us with this assessment.  We have been told repeated by the school system, as well as the private practioners, that our child could not have dyslexia - it is impossible due to the diagnosis of autism. It is curious to note, that on her IEP, the assessment that was done by the school psychologist, suggests a "dyslexia like disorder", but no action was ever taken to assist us. I have been told it is possible to have multiple diagnoses, there is nothing concrete in the world of disabilities - cross over does exist.  No one wants to find out in our child's case.

Regardless of the diagnosis, our daughter is not being helped to learn how to read, to comprehend, to retain information or to learn in general. Obviously, her learning style is quite different from the curriculum that is being forced upon her.  The IEP is being totally ignored as well as her autism and her motor control disability.  She has been placed into a Life Skills classroom (since she was failing in a curriculum driven classroom) where the teacher flatly refused to help our daughter with her reading disability.  The teacher is also trying to force our child into using a pen or pencil, when she should be using a computer exclusively (also on the IEP). The teacher told us "If she hasn't learned how to read by now or use a computer, she never will......it is not my job to teacher her how".  I guess the No Child Left Behind Act doesn't apply to my daughter!!!!!!! What about her rights?  The IDEA Law is also being ignored and we are constantly told that we should except the fact that our child is severely mentally retarded and get on with our lives. This is grossly unprofessional as well as cruel. It seems, all the school wants is the money each year that our child brings in for them.

What are we to do? It has been impossible to deal with the school system and the Dept. of Education, who is obviously in bed with the school system (the Dept. of Ed. has been inappropriate with us on the telephone stating that they have a "large file" on our family)  what does that mean? Everytime we call them to discuss any issue, they report us to our daughter's school. We have NEVER filed any written complaints. Everytime we call the Dept. of Ed. or advocate for our child at any IEP meeting, it's as if we have committed a criminal act.  We also cannot find any attorney who will help us.  Our daughter is being discriminated against and everyone here is condoning it. Please Help!!!!!!!!