Arrangements differ between states, hospitals and schools, and rules are updated from time to time. Use this as a general guide and confirm the details locally.
If your child has persistent difficulty with reading, writing or maths, a proper assessment can explain why, and it is the starting point for the right support. In India, parents often hear about two different things, and it helps to keep them apart.
Two different things
- A learning assessment. A professional looks at how your child learns and writes a report on strengths, difficulties and recommended support. The school can use it to plan teaching, an IEP and adjustments.
- Disability certification. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the government designates certifying authorities who assess a specified disability, including specific learning disability, and issue a certificate. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities notified assessment guidelines in January 2018 and amended the part on specific learning disability in December 2020. See the disability certificate and UDID card.
The two can overlap, but they are not the same. A report from a psychologist is not automatically a legal certificate.
Who does the assessment
Usually a clinical or rehabilitation psychologist, sometimes working with a paediatrician or psychiatrist and a special educator. For example, Delhi’s Samagra Shiksha programme organised assessment camps in 2020–21 for children with specific learning disabilities. Each camp’s team included two clinical or rehabilitation psychologists and a paediatrician or psychiatrist. The paediatrician or psychiatrist did an initial assessment, and a psychologist then did the IQ assessment. Ask your school, your child’s doctor or the district education office what is available near you.
What usually happens
- History. You are asked about pregnancy and birth, development, health, hearing and vision, family history and school progress.
- Cognitive testing. An assessment of general thinking skills, often called an IQ assessment, so that other explanations can be considered.
- Tests of learning. Specific tests of reading, spelling, writing and maths.
- Observation and school information. The assessor may talk to the teacher or look at schoolwork.
- A report. It should explain the findings in plain language and recommend support, and the assessor should be willing to go through it with you.
What to bring
- School reports and samples of your child’s reading, writing and maths.
- A note from the teacher describing the difficulties.
- Any earlier assessments, medical papers, and hearing and vision test results.
- Your own list of examples, and questions.
Questions to ask
- What will the assessment cover, and how long will it take?
- What are the costs? Government hospitals and some state programmes may charge little or nothing.
- Will the report include recommendations for school, and exam concessions?
- Can this report be used for a disability certificate, or is a separate process needed?
After the assessment
- Give a copy to the school and ask for a meeting. See how to prepare for an IEP meeting.
- Ask how the recommendations will be written into your child’s plan.
- Ask about exam help. See exam concessions for students with disabilities. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities also lists separate written-exam guidelines for people with a disability of less than 40 per cent who have difficulty writing, so ask your school how they apply to your child.
- Keep the report safe. Reassessments are usually needed as a child grows.
Sources
- Government of India, The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Sections 56 to 59.
- Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Guidelines page: assessment guidelines for specified disabilities (amended for specific learning disability on 9 December 2020) and written-exam guidelines.
- Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, Guidelines for assessment camps for children with specific learning disabilities (2021).
- Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Swavlamban portal.
This guide is general information, not legal, medical or professional advice. If something here does not match your situation, please speak to a qualified professional.