The Effective Free Classifieds

Does your child have a cognitive disability and need extra help at school?

Has your school district conducted an evaluation of your child’s educational strengths and special needs, as they relate to your child‘s cognitive disability?

Did your school district determine that your child was eligible for special education and related services, because he/she has a Developmental Cognitive Disability (“DCD”) in the mild-moderate or severe-profound range?

Then, I’m here to tell you that the eligibility criteria used to make your child’s DCD determination (Minn. Rule 3525.1333, I call it the “DCD Rule“) has some “flaws” and may have resulted in your child’s cognitive disability being “misclassified”.

As you know, the criteria for making a DCD determination is two fold: (1) your child needs support in four out of seven “adaptive behavior domains” across multiple environments (home, school, community) and (2) your child demonstrates “significantly below average general intellectual functioning” (IQ score of approximately 70 or below).

But, what you might not know, is how your child’s IQ score fits into the DSM IV (The American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) “levels of severity” for cognitive disabilities?

Low Average, not DCD is IQ Level of 70-75 to 85
Mild DCD is IQ Level of 50-55 to approximately 70
Moderate DCD is IQ Level of 35-40 to 50-55
Severe DCD is IQ Level of 20-25 to 35-40
Profound DCD is IQ Level of below 20-25

Now, if any of the following apply to your child’s evaluation or special education and related services (including placement):

1. The school district’s classification of your child’s cognitive disability does not match the DSM IV criteria; or
2. Based on the district’s determination of the “level of severity” of your child’s cognitive disability… you were told your child “could not and would not” benefit from any academic instruction in their regular education classroom; or
3. Your child and all of their academic instruction have been removed from mainstream, and he/she has been placed in a separate classroom, program or school … against your wishes; or
4. You’d like your child to receive a genuine elementary/secondary­ education, in their regular education classroom, with appropriate supplementary aids/services, under an IEP (Individual Education Plan) developed with all the high hopes and expectations you want for your child … and are entitled to under the Minn. Education Code, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and No Child Left Behind.

Please contact me (a concerned parent) for more information about the “flaws” in the DCD Rule, and you and your child’s rights.

Thank you.

Denise M. Windish
(651) 395-2123
windishdm@yahoo.com­

E-mail