When your child is struggling in traditional education, it can be a very challenging time. Students with learning disabilities frequently experience learning guilt, shame, and bullying. Additionally, they are at risk of falling behind academically if they are not provided with the right tools to succeed. In packed classrooms with high teacher-to-student ratios, neurodiverse students are unlikely to receive the resources they need.

At Lake Michigan Academy, we provide many options for students with a wide range of learning disabilities, from ADD to dyslexia to central auditory processing disorder. One of the most highly effective ways to help students take control of their academic future, achieve success, and gain confidence in their abilities is through individualized curricula. An IEP, or an Individualized Education Plan, is one of the best ways to ensure their specific needs are being consistently met.

Benefits of an IEP

To a parent with no experience with the special education system, the many different processes, including intervention, remediation, and IEPs, may seem understandably overwhelming and complex.

However, your child is likely to find an IEP much less challenging than constantly playing catch-up with their peers. Rather than constantly falling behind, they will learn at their own pace and begin to gradually gain self-confidence.

How the Process Works

The first step to getting your child on track is by getting an eligibility evaluation for special education. We provide parents with plenty of resources in the Grand Rapids area that enable them to get their kids tested, whether for specific learning disabilities or a general intellectual disability.

Trying to advocate for your child’s IEP eligibility in the traditional education system is challenging, to say the least, especially if your child has a constellation of learning challenges—or a rare diagnosis, such as dyscalculia. At LMA, we expect all of our students will benefit from individualized education, and we help guide you every step of the way to ensure they are deemed eligible.

If you are interested in potentially registering your child for the fall semester at Lake Michigan Academy, one of the best special education schools in the Grand Rapids area, we would be more than happy to provide you with more information or a campus tour.