DD7 begining diagnosis stages of Sensory Processing disorder

[TidoubleGerrr]

Hi everyone. I am a mom of DD 7, she will be entering 2nd grade in September. She was tentatively diagnosed by her pediatrician in February with Sensory Processing Disorder so we started seeing a behavioral therapist who just this week finally sat down with us and said she definately sees many characteristics in her and I told her we finally got in to OT...she had her eval on Tuesday which went well...I mean I guess...I don't want anything to be wrong with her! But the OT said that there are many visible traits that she saw such as when she picks up a card from the table she uses the whole hand instead of her thumb and finger. She moved her whole head following a pencil instead of just her eyes, she also had a hard time balancing on the big ball, etc. She also scored quite low on the sensory profile.
So, the Behavioral therapist visits with her and helps her work out her anxieties about things...which for goodness sakes, an only child whose mom and dad are actually married...you think, what anxieties could she have...? Believe me the poor thing stresses about everything! Most importantly characters in costume...which she is talking thru and feeling a bit more open too (we go to WDW for the first time in DEC) and have made it very clear she doesn't have to see characters all the time...you have to go to special places to see them and she is fine with that. She even wants to meet Minnie.
And all princesses of course but they aren't scary.
So, At the end of the last school year, the teacher assured me she is on the list to be assessed however because she is above grade level at reading and math, probably wouldn't quailfy. Her handwriting is obviously far behind, barely legible, we think she has (dysgraphia? I think it was.) and she has a hard time focusing and listening and following directions.
It may be weeks or more before the OT can actually begin therapy with her (took us 3 months to get the eval!)
The Behavioral therapist suggested we talk with the teacher to get , I believe she called it a 5004 plan insted of an IEP and I was wondering if anyone had heard of this or used it and if it was helpful at all.?

yikes, that was a novel...thanks to those who read it!!!!

 

[solferino]

I started reading a book this week by Sharon Heller called Too Loud Too Bright Too Fast Too Tight. It's been amazing so far. I bought it because I have some sensory issues myself, but I also work at a school and there is one student who clearly has some severe sensory issues and I'm trying to find ways of helping myself better understand the student.

One of my friends' DD has dysgraphia and has found the website LD online to have some helpful articles about dysgraphia.

 

[KirstenB]

Hi there, our youngest dd has some developmental delays, but she's only 2, so I don't know much about 504 plans or IEPs. I did a quick google of 504 plans, and found several sites. I don't know how to provide links, but CHTU.org had a faq section on them. I hope this helps.

 

[TidoubleGerrr]

thank you very much both of you. I will check out these websites. !!!

 

[llp479]

Our 13 yr old DD has Sensory Integration Disorder, Dyspraxia, a processing deficit and now was diagnosed with non-attentive type ADD due to the SID. A 504 plan will only be implemented if you can prove that the disorders impact her ability to learn, which doesn't appear to be the case if she's above grade level.

Believe me, I know this all too well as I have been fighting with our district since our DD was in 2nd grade. We have spent thousands of dollars outside the district getting her tested and diagnosed. Finally got the IEP in 3rd grade, only to have it taken away at the end 6th because she "didn't qualify" and the processing deficit had "gone away". So after the year from heck last year, where we were on their case every month to get any support for her we could, she now has anxiety issues and depression as well. Which ironically, now may qualify her for services. Their argument for not providing services was that she was learning. Sure, if a child who can get A's with support is now getting C's and D's how much is she learning vs what she could be doing. Not to mention what it has done to her self-esteem.

The fight to reinstate services begins again this week and they have 30 days to do what they should have been doing all along before we hire an attorney. I've played nice for the last 6 years, but I'm done. This is my dd's life and well being and they've messed it up long enough.

Our dd has dysgraphia as well, although there isn't a formal diagnosis. We push to have her do as much on the computer as she can both at home and at school. We are fortunate because she is a twin, and her sister can bring home the notes for now, but that won't work once they start HS, hence the big push to get a formalized plan in place.

Good luck to you. In reading the sentence regarding the teacher's comments at the end of last year sounds like you will be fighting the same uphill battle we've been fighting. We are actually in the 7th largest district in our state, and they are known for their LD services when it comes to autistic children, but these more obscure disorders they can't seem to handle or recognize. Since SID is a medical diagnosis, the district can't tell you that is what your child has, but they can refer you to your MD for the diagnosis.

Please feel free to PM me. I've been in your shoes, and while you never want anything to be wrong with your dd, it is in some respects a relief to have a diagnosis, and then a treatment plan to deal with it and get her the help she needs.