1spongemom,

I agree with all of these recommendations. My eldest had similiar problems, and an IEP is a wonderful tool that "can be used as a sword as needed" (a quote from one of his wonderful LD teachers).

FYI we tried the diet therapy for him and it was not sucessful. My son was very fortunate, when he was Dx it was by Drs. Zimmerman. A wonderful husband and wife team in Washington He was a pediatrician, she a phychologist and nutrionist. My husband and I met with them for 4 hours at the beginning of the month, my son met with them for 4 hours a day, five days a week for a month. At the end of the month we met with them for another 4 hours. Follow up treatments were several hours long at least once a month. We tried a variety of other things before we decided to medicate him.

As for the teacher that picks on him, call that @$#%*&* into the principals office and give him/her a taste of his own medicine. These bullies are like any other and when they know someone is going to stand up to them, they slither away to a new victim.

The school cannot use your child disability to punish or humiliate him. Make yourself heard by the administration. There are laws in place especially for LD students, the fines for violation are VERY HIGH, you start threatening their funding, they'll ask how high you want them to jump.

It can be slightly harder for children that are not LD, but it's still possible. Walk in the the principal's office, and when they tell you he's busy, say I'll wait. If he/she is unwilling to settle he matter to your satisfaction, hit the Superintendent next. Still unhappy, go to a school board meeting, but make sure that you've put yourself on the adgenda or they only have to give you a few minutes. Once they see that you mean business they will straighten up their act.

My son found his niche in high school. His high school years were happy and productive.