learning disabled or cognitively impaired

Discussion in 'Special Ed 101' started by Staci, Dec 21, 2010.

  1. Staci

    Staci Guest

    My daugther entered the 6 th grade this year, she is not doing good at all, in the past her teachers have given her work at her level not the grade she was in, this year her teachers say they have to give her work at which grade she is in. I requested that she be re-tested, now they say she isnt learning disabled she is cognitively impaired and they are changing this in her IEP has anyone ever went threw this?:imok:Her Teacher told me she never has had to this, that worries me! Is there anything i should know?
  2. amazeofgrace

    amazeofgrace New Member

    hmmm this puzzles me, I would take her to a good pediatric neurologist for a second opinion. However many learning disabilities are cognitively based.


    Cognitively Impaired = Cognitive impairment occurs when there is a problem with perceiving, thinking, or remembering. Strokes are a common cause of cognitive impairment; other causes include head injuries and some chronic diseases, such as sickle cell disease or multiple sclerosis. Cognitive impairment may cause difficulties with: Memory, especially short-term memory. Problem solving. Attention span, especially in a mental task such as a math calculation. Expressing oneself, such as finding the right words to use in a conversation. Treatment for cognitive impairment depends on the cause.
  3. JJJ

    JJJ Active Member

    The teachers are full of it. They must give her the work that is specified in her IEP goals. If she has a goal that states, child shall read 75 of 100 words on the 3rd grade Dolch list; they must give her work that leads to that accomplishment.

    Learning Disability (LD) v CI -- ask them why they feel the need to change that and what testing they did that supports a change in classification.
  4. Marguerite

    Marguerite Active Member

    It sounds like an argument over semantics to me, from people who really don't have the training to understand any difference between the definitions. Fiddling while Rome burns...because in the meantime, what does tis mean about the sort of work they are giving her?

    My response would be, I don't care what they call it as long as she gets the level of education she can handle and that she is entitled to. If the change in label allows them to justify giving her the simpler work, then go for it. But if they are merely moving words around on paper in order to find a way out of having to educate her, then go for their jugulars.

    Before going back to your daughter's specialist to nail down a diagnosis, find out what the consequences of each diagnosis means, in the education system. For example, for difficult child 3 for some time - the autism label was excluding him from correspondence education even though he met all criteria and was a classic case. Then when we finally found a loophole, difficult child 3's anxiety (which was understandable given the emotional damage done by mainstream when he needed to be correspondence) was also a label which gave the educational authorities the right to over-ride the medical diagnosis and recommendations. We had to find ways to get the diagnosis worded very carefully, to get what we needed from the education system.

    So rather than look up definitions medically, find out exactly what the definition means in the education system, especially since they're the ones nitpicking over labels.

    Sounds to me like someone is playing silly burgers. (OK, I can't use the more appropriate term on this site).


  5. SomewhereOutThere

    SomewhereOutThere Well-Known Member

    To qualify for Learning Disability (LD), the IQ must test 70 and above. 69 and below is CD, at least in our state. My son, however, had no great fit so they put him in a CD class although his IQ was above 69 and he learned so much and so fast with all the 1-1 attention that he is now mainstreamed and still keeping up with his peers. For him, CD meant tons of attention and learning at his own pace. Legally, that may be the only way she can get lower grade level work. I'm with Marg. I wouldn't worry about the label...the label can change. I'd do what I needed to do to get the help that she needs. She won't get as much with Learning Disability (LD). In fact, my dauaghter is Learning Disability (LD) and even with supports she has a hard time. My son was upgraded to Learning Disability (LD) in high school and he's really, really doing well, BUT he doesn't have lower level work. He has accommodations, but he has to do the same work as all the other kids do. He rarely uses his accomodations at all. In CD, he also had an aide, and he learned how to manage his work. CD doesn't mean much other than that the kids are allowed to work at their own levels.