Referring Your Child for Testing

After holiday break, only a scant few months remain before school is out. Take out spring break and any school-wide or grade level testing, and there is even less time remaining. It is, as we say in school psychology, crunch time. It is during this already hectic time that most new referrals for testing are made.

By this time, most teachers and parents have noticed early signs of possible disabilities and have implemented pre-referral interventions for students having difficulty in academics. For those students who continue to have problems, even with support, parents and teachers may consider referring for diagnostic assessment.

If you suspect your child may have a learning disability, it is important to discuss his needs with his teacher and the school counselor. Request an IEP team meeting to discuss your referral request to get the process started now. Waiting until spring may substantially delay testing. In fact, if you wait too late, you may not get your assessment results until the next school year. So, consider contacting your school counselor once school is back in session so your child will not be caught up in crunch time delays.