[il-talk] Evaluation services

[Andrew Webb]

Hello all,

 

Does anyone know of any resources or service providers, either in
Chicagoland or elsewhere in Illinois, that evaluates visually impaired
students in order to assess the impact of the student's visual impairment on
academic performance?  More particularly, does anyone know of an
organization that will perform this service for little or no cost?  I'm
working with such a student whose school district refuses to recognize his
vision impairment as a basis for him to qualify him for special education
services.  There is no question that the school district ought to provide
this evaluation at its own expense, but to make a long story short, the
district won't agree to provide this unless forced to without a bruising
fight.  Thus, I'm looking for a service such as I described, if such exists,
just in order to help the student get some documentation of the effects of
his visual impairment in order to enhance his bargaining position.  I am
aware of some private practitioners who can perform such an evaluation very
capably, but they appear to be beyond the financial means of the student's
family.

 

All ideas and leads are welcome.  Thanks very much in advance.

 

Regards,

Andrew