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Identification of Specific Learning Disability, Dyslexia in Maryland

1/11/2016

3 Comments

 
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Parents and Teachers: Do you think your child or a student you teach has difficulty with reading, writing, spelling and/or math concepts?  Your student may have dyslexia, dysgraphia and/or dyscalculia and need an Individual Education Program to help him or her learn.

If this sounds like your child or student, and you have had difficulty getting help in Maryland, please consult Decoding Dyslexia Maryland's reference guide and resources below to get your student the help they need!  Our handy guide is embedded at the end of this post and can be accessed here: Decoding Dyslexia Maryland Dispute Resolution Guide

Maryland State Department of Education: Information on Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities and Eligibility for Special Education

COMAR 13A.05.01.03B(68) Definitions
“Student with a disability” means a student, 3 through 20 years old:
(a) evaluated in accordance with Regulation .06 of this chapter as having: autism,

deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, including deafness, mental retardation, multiple disability, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment, including blindness; and
(b) who, because of the impairment, needs special education and related services.
These State regulations indicate that, in order to be eligible for services under IDEA, a student must meet the disability definition and require special education and related services. For specific learning disabilities, the regulations provide additional criteria to aid in the identification process. This entails the application of the definition in conjunction with specific procedures outlined in the regulations. (Source: MSDE Specific Learning Disabilities Technical Assistance Guide)

Federal/State Definition of Specific Learning Disability

According to COMAR 13A.05.01.03B(64), the definition of a specific learning disability (SLD) is as follows:
  1. (a)  “SLD” means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations.
  2. (b)  “SLD” includes conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.
  3. (c)  “SLD” does not include students who have learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor impairments, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage. 
(Source: MSDE Specific Learning Disabilities Technical Assistance Guide)

MSDE Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities in Maryland

SLD Identification Powerpoint  (Source: MSDE, 2015)
What is the process to identify a student with specific learning disability in Maryland?  Click the powerpoint linked above and learn more about the process.  If your school district does it differently, they may be in violation of the student's rights.  Please learn about the process so you can ensure your school district and/or school is not denying identification based on incorrect procedures.

Helpful Resources for Parents and Teachers
Department of Education Guidance Letters, Students with Disabilities & Specific Learning Disabilities


Response to Intervention Guidance:  RTI cannot be used to deny or delay SLD identification
Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia Guidance for States:  schools can say dyslexia, provide interventions for dyslexia and provide teacher education on dyslexia.   
Decoding Dyslexia Maryland, Parent Guide: Why Schools Must Say Dyslexia
Letter to State Superintendent Smith, Dyslexia Guidance Request for Maryland

Additional Resources
  • Maryland Task Force on the Implementation of a Dyslexia Education Program and Pilot in Maryland
  • Components of Comprehensive Literacy Instruction
  • Dyslexia Specific Resources
  • From Emotions to Advocacy
  • IDEA Dispute Resolution Chart
  • The Differences Between IDEA and Section 504, Wright’s Law
  • Using the Woodcock Johnson IV for the Assessment of Dyslexia
  • NCLD Position Statement on Determination of SLD
  • Dyslexia Training Institute: Dyslexia and the School; What you absolutely need to understand
  • Specific Learning Disability Identification: What Constitutes Strengths & Weaknesses?

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland Dispute Resolution Overview and Resources

3 Comments
Lisa
2/18/2017 08:11:19 pm

Help! We need help for our 4th grader in FCPS/NMES

Reply
Decoding Dyslexia Maryland
2/20/2017 12:12:40 pm

Hi Lisa,

Please email DDMD at decodingdyslexiamd@gmail.com and provide details about the issue/s for which you need help. If you need an advocate, please note that as well.

Thank you!
DDMD

Reply
professional research paper link
7/5/2018 11:53:15 pm

Regarding your questions, it feels like I went back to studying because all your questions are regarding science. Dyslexia is a condition that is very uncommon especially for other people nowadays. Actually, I missed those kinds of questions because nowadays, I am facing more complicated questions regarding work and othet stuff. Before, I used to love questions like this. By the way, thank you for discussing this thing to me, I've learned a lot!

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