The board members of the Rapid City Area schools are facing a dilemma as they look for ways in providing quality education for students with dyslexia. Students with reading disabilities need more supervision compared to their peers, but most school administrators are not given the help that they need.
Pittsburgh Technology Council noted that dyslexia is a learning disability associated with language. One out of five Americans is diagnosed with dyslexia while some are left to struggle. Most students are not given the appropriate diagnosis, hence, they are considered as hard learners.
Rapid City Journal mentioned that one of the board members, Dave Davis got a negative response from Troy Volesky, the city's special-education coordinator. It was when Davis asked Volesky if they can provide a test and a solution in terms of diagnosis for children with dyslexia. Volesky answered his query with a no.
It was then cleared out that there is no such test in the Rapid City district that caters to children with dyslexia. Volesky however, discussed the methodology on how to distinguish a child with dyslexia. The methodology is already placed on the district standards for educators to follow.
Kate Thomas, a school board member with a child diagnosed with dyslexia shared her insights on the reading disability. Thomas reiterated that children with disabilities such as dyslexia should not be classified as having low IQ. Thus IQ testing is not a reliable method in term of diagnosis as dyslexia has nothing to do with IQ.
"He was too smart. His IQ was too high," Thompson said. "Teachers tried to help, but without addressing the dyslexia head on. He fell through the cracks."
Thomas is one of the supporters of House Bill 1198, which was sponsored by Rep. Lynne DiSanto, R-Rapid City. The bill which requires South Dakota school districts to provide screening tools for children with dyslexia failed. The struggle in finding the appropriate method of determining dyslexia needs immediate action.
"An intervention specialist is brought in to assist him or her," Volesky said. "If the intervention fails, then an IQ test is administered, and further intervention may or may not be necessary."
