ADHD + Dyslexia = An IEP Struggle

Advise the school of the dyslexia evaluation and request an IEP meeting in writing.

Parents should know that, while the school is required to review an IEP once a year, they may request a meeting at any time. Ask the professional who evaluated your son to lay out her recommendations for him, based on the test results. Another option is to invite her to the IEP meeting to talk about the diagnosis.

If the school does not agree to change your son's classification, or disagrees with the evaluation, you should write a letter stating your objections. Remember that you are not bound by the school's determination. If you disagree with it, you have the right to request an impartial hearing, during which a state-appointed hearing officer will resolve the dispute.

If you don't agree with the hearing officer's determination, you have the right to appeal that decision to a state-appointed review officer. Once you have exhausted all these options, you can file a lawsuit in civil court.