Learning Assessment Rett Syndrome

[Wendy Homlish]

Hi all! Another year...another question! I have been working with my young lady using the EyeMax all summer - she is doing really well! Very exciting to see her engaged, and it is also exciting to get the family involved (I am working with her in her home). So here is the question - at the last IEP meeting in May, the parents' advocate stated that the team "doesn't really know how the student learns" and requested an outside eval from a psychologist or other professional who would be able to gather information and pass it on to the team in relation to "how the student best learns". My thoughts are that this can only be done over time, in her customary environment, with those she has established rapport - by observation and data collection. The parent and advocate are adamant about the district providing this outside eval with "someone who knows Rett Syndrome". I am stumped, as I am pretty sure there are not any "Rett Syndrome expert Psychs{ out there! Am I wrong? How can we (as a team, including teacher, OT, PT, and SLP as well as AT Consultant - me) - respond to this request?

[Faith Paradis]

Wendy,
SO glad you posted here and on QIAT. I think that it is a tough situation for parents as they know their child can learn and want others to understand how much they know.

What I think may work best is a Learning Profile and Leaning Style. This type of document can have multiple people contribute ways that the student learns and in the end may provide a guide to teaching for the team. Creating a Learning Profile and Learning Style will give everyone the ability to take into consideration all factors that seem to impact learning and positive ways to accommodate for these.

Standardized or even conventional testing is going to tell everyone what your student can't do rather than what she can do.

Hopefully, Rose Marie will give her thoughts on your question.
Faith

[Wendy Homlish]

We have already begun a dynamic document like you described....we are beginning to create profiles for all students as I think it's so important to document esp. since staff changes, etc. Obviously you are correct..I am just having a hard time convincing the advocate. The district supposed found "someone" to do the testing - good luck with that! LOL I am pretty sure they are not going to tell us anything we don't already know, but I am open to any information.