Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Special Education, Depression, or Defiance? I have a student who has an identified Specific Learning Disability (SLD). At the beginning of the year, the student would put a minimal amount of effort into their work. I always followed accommodations and worked one-on-one as often as the classroom dynamics permitted. During the middle of the year, I had a student intern who worked solely with this student but the student's performance began decreasing and they were becoming more detached. After the student intern left, we had the student re-evaluated and it was determined they have a visual processing disorder in addition to their SLD. I saw hope after this news because I thought this was the answer to this student's lack of motivation and involvement. I went through all the modifications (and extra) for the visual processing disorder-still nothing. I contacted the mother and she has yet to return my phone calls, emails, and the Special Education teachers phone calls. I am at a loss on how to help this student. I recently ask them if they were happy and they simply shrugged. I asked if they knew a way that I could help them and again shrugged. The student will not make eye contact with me or other students, will not accept assistance from myself or others, and will only put their head down during class. I've never experienced a student this withdrawn in sixth grade. I can't figure it out if the student is struggling because of their special education needs, if they are being defiant, or if they are depressed. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) With the lack of response or concern from the guardians at home, this in fact might be where the problem may lay. I would speak with the school counselor to see if whether or not there is something going on at home that they are aware of or if they have any past history information on this student. I would then enlist the help of a young and caring student leader in your classroom to reach out to the student during partner and group activities.