Consultations:
The consultation meeting involves a comprehensive interview and discussion to gather information about developmental and family history, education background, emotional and behavioral functioning, testing performance, academic areas of concern, and specific strengths and challenges. We can provide immediate feedback to help improve weaker areas, recommend evaluations and/or strategies to address reported difficulties, and provide referrals to other services and professionals as needed. Developing this individual plan tends to be a very important part of what Coastal Education Consulting can provide to clients.
Though a comprehensive or targeted evaluation may be recommended as a part of the plan, there are many other options that may be considered. Among other things, classroom observations, behavior management planning, academic or life coaching advice, and organizational supports may be discussed. We can help with understanding or advocacy for children, adolescents, and parents as they navigate the accommodation, special education (IEP), or 504 Plan process in schools and as related to standardized testing.
This first consultation meeting takes about 90 minutes. Though meetings typically occur face to face, interviews can be handled by phone as needed.
Psychoeducational Evaluations:
Depending on individual needs, the evaluation process is a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s health and developmental history, cognitive processes, achievement levels, and social/emotional wellbeing. An evaluation may be accessed for various reasons:
Evaluation data may be gathered to establish the behavioral or learning differences that can be impacting an individual in his or her life settings.
An evaluation may be accessed in an effort to document a disability for provision of appropriate accommodations and special services.
An evaluation may be needed in order to determine strengths and learning preferences that can improve functioning in school, work, or other life settings. When results from cognitive measures, academic achievement tests, and behavioral rating scales are analyzed in combination with background information, specific strategies and recommendations can be developed and provided.
This assessment process can help determine patterns and factors that may exist across all domains that are consistent with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a Learning Disability/Dyslexia (reading, writing, math, or language areas), or a co-existing social/emotional condition such as Anxiety. Gathered information is necessary to help make quality recommendations that can be incorporated into home, school, and/or work life that will assist individuals in their learning and social/emotional wellbeing.
What the evaluation will involve:
The Coastal Education Consulting Psychoeducational Evaluation is an exploration into the factors that enhance or interfere with optimal performance in a home, academic, or work setting. Evaluation findings are documented in a detailed report and discussed with family members and/or the evaluated child/adult in a follow-up consultation. The report outlines the individual’s cognitive and learning/academic strengths and challenges as well as attention/social/emotional functioning. Most importantly, the report provides recommendations for success based upon the findings. The assessment specifically identifies whether the diagnosis of a Learning Disability/Dyslexia and/or ADHD is warranted and whether co-existing social/emotional conditions are apparent. If the client desires, referrals can be made and/or results will be sent to another health professional.
Testing Time & Results:
The length of the evaluation depends on the age, materials used, information needed, and areas of concern. Direct face-to-face testing time with a client can run four to six hours, but may vary if there is a less involved set of assessments. Testing may take place across two or more sessions. The gathering of additional information, follow-up phone calls, scoring, analyzing, interpreting, and report writing takes a longer period of time depending on individual situations. Generally, our goal is to meet roughly two weeks after all testing information is gathered to go over the results and report.