Ponder+this+question!

How important is it to have a diagnosis?

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I think a diagnosis can be helpful, but also limiting as well. For example, I could research best practices to try with the student which could save me time, On the other hand, a diagnosis often includes areas of difficulty which may give me preconceived notions of the students' abilities before giving them a chance to prove them wrong. Katie Agles I think it depends on the target of diagnosing someone. If it is to help someone get special services (504, IEP) to be more successful, then I believe it is very important. Especially for when that student gets a teacher(s) that would not accommodate if there was no IEP or 504. I have a student now that is not officially diagnosed with OCD, but has taken tests/how they determine that and has OCD. However, the parent does not want the student having that label for life, so she has not asked for special services. We had a meeting with the student and mom to find out what we could do as teachers to help the student out to be successful. So in that case, I do not think having an official diagnosis is the most important part, but accommodating to the individual is the most important.

Pondering: How imporant is it to have a diagnosis?

I believe that awareness of a diagnosis is beneficial to individuals, their parents, peers, and teachers. Having a diagnosis is helpful to understanding certain behaviors, limitations, and abilities of such individuals. As a parent, I think that I would want a diagnosis for my child as a starting block. It can help open doors to services as well as aid in the understanding of others when they interact with my child. As a teacher I appreciate having a diagnosis for my students, but I find it to be less necessary. The diagnosis is not what drives my teaching. Instead, individual abilities, interests, and quirks drive my teaching. Again, I look at a diagnosis as a starting block, but from that point on everything is individualized. I do think that the diagnosis comes in handy when explaining certain behaviors that my students have to other students. It helps them to understand why certain behaviors occur and that the behaviors are not always indicative of a lack of ability. As I am writing, I can hear myself going back and forth on the entire idea, but I think in the end it is what we make of it. If we allow a diagnosis to limit our children or students, then shame on us. If we as teachers, parents, and community members decide to use it as a way of educating ourselves and others then a label/diagnosis can only benefit us all. Laura Bass

Laura, I agree with everything you said! Although I am not yet a parent, I think that I would appreciate a diagnosis as a starting block for my child. I think a diagnosis can also be helpful for educators to learn some general information about the student. That being said, each individual student with any type of diagnosis is an individual, and we must individualize their education to meet their specific needs. Megan Matheny

I think having a diagnosis would be important to me as a parent because I would want to know and I would want to do as much research as possible. However as a special education teacher I am not as sure if the diagnosis would be as important. If i was seeing that child I would have their IEP and that would be the more important piece, but i might want to have more info. about a diagnosis to share with a gen. ed teacher to help them prepare for that student.

I agree with Laura as well! It seems like the more information the better, whether it be to help the teacher understand the situation better or for the parent. Both are advocating to make learning optimal for the child. Tani

I think it's important to have a diagnosis so that we can fully educate ourselves, whether as a teacher or a parent. I agree that the diagnosis should not drive our teaching, but I do feel there is something to be gained from being able to dig deeper to discover specific strategies and teaching methods to use with a particular diagnosis. As we have discussed in class each week, we should be doing everything we can to accommodate the needs of **all** students…having a diagnosis just gives us more precise information so that we can best help the child be successful. Dawn

I believe that a diagnosis can provide valuable information about a student, but I think it is critical to remember that the diagnosis is not all there is to the student. I also agree with Laura that a diagnosis can be a great place to start. It can open doors for additional supports and services that are available to students and their families. The information a diagnosis provides can be very helpful to teachers, among others, as they begin their journey to teach and learn from each of their students every year. Shari

I think that having a diagnosis can be a very insightful thing for a teacher when reading through files if they have not already met the student. Having said that, we must remain unbiased because as we have all said just becuase you know one student with autism, only means you know one stuent with autism. It may give you the ability to prepare your mind set and start thinking of possible strategies. The diagnosis is not however the end all be all of the student. Getting to know the individual is the most important thing you can do. Lyndsay

I think that having a diagnosis can be a great tool for parents and teachers in that it can provide various supports and tools that can help the child be successful. However, and I say this often, a diagnosis does not define a person. So it is still CRUCIAL for parents, teachers, etc. to get to know the child as an individual. While a diagnosis can be very helpful and an educational opportunity, diagnoses are not always accurate, which is why it is necessary to get to know the child as an individual first and foremost. Ashleigh