Dear (Name of Special Education
Director):
My child, (child’s name) (date of birth) attends (school
name). I am concerned that he lacks self-management skills as
a result of his disability. I believe the lack of these skills
is having a devastating effect on his academic performance.
Here are some of the symptoms he exhibits that support my
concern.
• He has poor time-management skills;
• He does not know how to take classroom notes;
• He does not know how to organize his notebooks;
• He has test anxiety and "shuts down" due to fear of failure.
Because (child's name) has great difficulty paying attention
he is not able to focus on new information long enough to make
it a part of his working memory. He has problems handing in
homework on time and getting to class on time. Because of his
organizational difficulties he has trouble remembering what he
has read and difficulty writing a satisfactory report.
I read that self-management skills are considered to be part
of the brain’s "executive functioning” and that the frontal
lobe of the brain is the "command center" for goal-directed
behavior. I understand that executive functioning is a complex
process that enables the student to see a task through from
beginning to end by coordinating multiple processes, starting
and stopping mental operations, and maintaining motivation and
persistence.
Please evaluate (child’s name) under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act [IDEA] and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act to see how his disability is related to the
above problems, to see what goals and objectives are
recommended to address those problems in light of his
disability, and to see what, if any, related services are
necessary.
Please consider this letter my consent to evaluate (child’s
name) for special education needs and services. Obviously
(child’s name), the school district and I will feel much
better once we understand what is going on with him. I would
appreciate it if you would schedule the evaluations as quickly
as possible. Please call me at home to arrange times and
places. I will need my copies of all written evaluations at
least three school days before the IEP Team meeting. I will
advise you of my IEP Team meeting availability dates by
separate letter.
Thank you for giving (child’s name) evaluations your immediate
attention. I will work with you to address and achieve his
educational goals.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your address)
(Your telephone number) |
