“Who do I talk to about having my
daughter tested for a Learning Disability?”
I looked up
as a beautifully dressed woman sat down at my table. A Michael Kors handbag was slung over her
shoulder. She looked like a walking jewelry store as she held out her hand. On her wrist was an oversize Michael Kors
watch.
“Hello," she said. "Casandra’s math teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, said I
should talk to you about Learning Disabilities.”
My mind tumbled
as I reached out and shook her decorated hand. Casandra Talbot
was on my caseload, and I had a scheduled conference with her mother today.
“Uh, Casandra
has been tested for a Learning
Disability,” I carefully replied.
Mrs. Talbot
glanced around, leaned towards me, and whispered, “I think she has a math disability.” Her eyes widened. “It’s
called decalculated.”
“Dyscalculia,”
I said helpfully.
“Yes. The math disability. I think Casandra has it.”
I slowly nodded
my head. “Casandra has an IEP.”
Mrs. Talbot
leaned in even closer. “I think she has
a Learning Disability too.”
Now I
leaned in and pulled in a long breath through my nose. No
alcohol.
I slowly
replied, “Mrs. Talbot, Casandra has
been tested for a Learning Disability.
She has a disability in math, and she receives special education help in
her math class.”
Mrs. Talbot
straightened back up and furrowed her brow. “If she can’t do math,” she tilted her head
forward and raised her eyebrows, “Should she be taking a math class at all?
That just doesn’t seem right.”
Hmmm.
I leaned
back in my chair and frowned. I squinted my eyes, tilted my head, and stared up left concentrating. The solution circled, then landed.
“No,” I said firmly. “Casandra probably shouldn’t take math.”
Mrs. Talbot
began nodding and smiled. “So we can
have her drop Mrs. Jenkins’ Algebra class?”
I stared
back counting to five. “Sure. I’ll send the registrar an email tonight.”
Mrs. Talbot
stood and smiled. She held out her
bejeweled hand. “Thank you so much. These
conferences are really helpful.”
Yes they are!
(I made up
the last part.)
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