Do you have a child with a Learning disability?

Question

Have you had them at a place like Sylvan learning
center or Huntington learning center and have
they help your child improve?

Answer 1

I am a special education teacher. I have a student who went to Sylvan learning Center this past summer for some extra help in reading and math. It helped her to retain most of what she learned before.(IN the area of math) However, when Sylvan sent their reports to our school, they reported that this student was reading at a 5th grade level. (Still 2 years behind her peers) When we tested her, she was at a third grade ninth month.
One thing mom did say was that her study habits at home are much better than they were in the past. In other words, they were more aware of keeping her on a study schedule because they felt if they were paying all that money for extra help, they were going to be more active in making sure this student did her homework. Also, this student told her parent she didn't like school this year. (She and I worked very well together last year!) Her parents and I sat down and talked to her to try to fiugre out why. Her response was, she didn't feel as if I cared if she learned or not because I was not giving her reward for learning. I do, just not the expensive ones she was getting from Sylvan. From this experience I learned that:

For Sylvan to be effective the parents have to put more effort into keeping their students focused on completing homework and developing a homework schedule, and teachers have to purchase tons of incentives to compete with Sylvan.

(This student is diagnosed with ADHD, bi-polar and OCD)

Answer 2

I have three with various disabilities. Since my kids qualify for an IEP I don't use Sylvan or other learning centers. By law the school must provide what my children need, and I hold them to that.

Answer 3

If a child has a true learning disability, then tutoring may help them in a specific subject, or with learning ways to study in general, but it likely will not make a huge difference in the child's performance over all. The label learning disability is meant for children who have the ability to do well, but are unable to given the learning situation. That's why they're often removed to a different or smaller classroom.

Answer 4

Im actually ADD, ADHD, and I have SLD. When I was younger I really had a problem in the fifth grade so my mother took me to the Sylvan learning center. In the 6th grade I was the top of my class and I had all gifted classes! So I would have to say that those places REALLY do help a lot.

Answer 5

You should not need to pay outside of school- contact your school in writing (keep a copy of the letter) and request testing. They will test the child and set up a plan if the child is found to have a disability. This Individualized Education Plan has to be updated at least once a year (and usually twice). It should address any extra help the kid needs. If your school district cannot provide the necessary service, they must provide it out of district, as is mandated under the federal law Chapter 766. You must be notified of any team meetings, you have the right to attend and to have an advocate with you if you wish.
I did all this for my child.
I was fortunate to have special ed teachers in regular school who did their job (most of the time). I tutored him over the summer so he would not lose ground. I paid for him to do a sport so he'd feel confident and competent at something since he was frustrated in school at first. He grew to like school. He graduated college (with an open IEP) and is now working on his masters' degree.

Answer 6

If your child has a severe disability that interferes with their learning then NO slyvan will not work.. I have a 13 year old with developmental delays, siezure disorder, bipolar and possible autism. She is and has been a a 0 to 4 year old level. will probably always be there. But her brother is 11 with ADHD and mild OCD (my diagnoses not the docs) and HE has me not some place that I have to PAY for him to get the extra help that he needs. Thats what PARENTS ARE FOR.

Answer 7

Under Federal Laws, there are ways to get reimbursed for the outside tutoring, if you should choose to go that route. As somebody else has said, you should contact your child's school in writing to request an initial assessment evaluation, and schedule an IEP meeting. Special ed students are entitled to a FREE and Appropriate Public Education in the least restrictive environment - by Federal law. You may be able to get your school district to reimburse you for the costs of the outside tutoring if you have to go that route.

Answer 8

My son has gone to sylvan learning center and it has really helped him.

Answer 9

I have been advised that it would not be in my child's best interest to use this kind of extra help, but you shouldn't depend on people's opinions to make this call for your child. Have an ARD and discuss it with the professionals that see your child every day and know their learning struggles.

Answer 10

No, but I have the "disability" of Asperger's. I HATE when people see it as "brain disfunction", a "disorder", something someone "suffers" from, or a "disability".
To me, Asperger's is a social disability, but not disabiling like some things.http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10999&PN=1
http://www.animalrights.net/56657
http://www.grsampson.net/QLateSpeaking.html
Schools aren't all too ready to give IEPs, so you should send a letter to the school, and one to someone in government.