Robert D. Smith, PhDDiagnosis of Dyslexia, ADD & Learning DisordersChildren & Adults
WelcomeSpecializing in the assessment for:•DYSLEXIA•ADD/ADHD•LEARNING DISORDERS•EXTENDED TIME & ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STANDARDIZED EXAMTele-Neuropsychology Evaluations Through ZoomAllevaluationsareconductedatyourhomethroughHIPAAcompliantZoomvideoconferencing,whicharethesame evaluationsthataretraditionallyconductedinoffices.ThismeansthatDr.Smithcanconductevaluationsforanyone who is anywhere in Michigan. Dr.SmithisalicensedpsychologistandneuropsychologistandisaconsultantfortheMichiganDyslexiaInstituteandprovides comprehensiveneuropsychologicalevaluationsforDyslexia,ADHDandotherLearningDisordersattheMichiganDyselxia InstituteAbramsTeachingLaboratoryinLansingandattheMichiganDyselxiaInstituteDetroitMetroCenterinBerkley Michigan.Dr. Smith does not submit bills to or participate with insurance companies. Paymentisexpectedonthedayofservice,whichcanbemadeonlinethroughVisa,MasterCard,AmericanExpressorDiscover cards.Dr.Smithwillprovideyouwithanitemizedstatementwithapplicableprocedureanddiagnosticcodesneededforyouto submitaclaimtoyourinsurancecompany.Mostinsurancecompaniesallowyoutoconsultnonparticipatingprovidersand allowyoutosubmitabillingstatementforreimbursement.Manyinsurancecarriersreimbursethecostforpartorallof evaluationservices,evenfromnon-participatingproviders.Pleasecheckwithyourinsurancecompanypriortothe appointments to determine reimbursement.If You Are Seeking AccommodationsMake Sure You Read This•Thescrutinyanddocumentationrequirementsrequiredwhenapplyingforaccommodationsrequiresaddedtimetocompleteanevaluation, whichincreasesthecostofdoingsuchanevaluation.Thisisespeciallytrueifyouareahighschoolorcollegestudentandhavenotpreviously been diagnosed with a learning disorder or ADHD.•AdultsandteenswithlearningdisabilitiesorADHDmaybeabletoqualifytoreceiveadditionaltimefortestsatschoolorinhigh-stakes testing situations (SAT, ACT, MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, USMLE etc).•TheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)isafederalcivilrightslawintendedtomakemanylocationsandactivitiesmoreaccessibleto peoplewithdisabilitiesbyrequiringreasonableaccommodations(modifications)thathelppeopletocompensatefortheirdisability sufficientlytoperformtheirjobortakeatestthatwillaccuratelyshowtheirtrueability.Peoplewithlearningdisabilitiesinreading (dyslexia), writing or math and ADHD are recognized disabilities under the ADA. •Remember, that trying to qualify for services or accommodations is a legal matter as much as it is a clinical matter. •A doctor's diagnosis and recommendation does not guarantee you will be granted the requested accommodation. •AlsoadiagnosisaloneisnotenoughtobecoveredundertheADA.TheADAalsorequiresthattheindividualbe"substantiallylimited"by their disability in order to qualify for protection under the ADA.•Eachorganizationsuchasaschooloranorganizationthatadministershigh-stakesstandardizedtestshastheirownconsultantswhoreview thewrittenevaluationreportandotherdocumentationandtheseseparateorganizationsthenmaketheirowndecisionwhetherthe individualqualifiesforaccommodations.Thedecisionsmadebytheseorganizationsmayormaynotreviewtheevaluationorinterpretthe law correctly when deciding whether an individual qualifies for accommodations. •Sometimesanorganizationwilldenyanapplicationforaccommodationsbychallengingtheaccuracyofthediagnosisthathasbeenmade.Atothertimesanorganizationmayacceptthediagnosis,butchallengeswhethertheindividualisdisabledenoughtobeconsidered "substantially limited" under the ADA.•Rememberthough,thatthesedecisionsaremattersofopinionsaboutthediagnosisortheinterpretationoftheADAlaw,whicharenot alwaysaccurateorfair.TheindividualwhoisdeniedADAaccommodationsmayappealthedecision.Rememberthoughthattheappealwill bereviewedbythesamepeoplewhomadetheoriginaldenial.Sometimesorganizationsarefair,whileotherorganizationsuse unreasonablecriteriaintheirreviewofaccommodationsrequests.Consequently,individualsmayhavenoalternative,buttohirealawyer andengageinaprolongedandexpensivelegalprocessinordertotryandgetafairreviewoftheirrequest.Someoftheseorganizations have been repeatedly sued over their review process. •ThewrittenreportofanevaluationusedtorequestADAaccommodationsmusttrytoanticipateasmuchaspossibletheobjectionsand challengesthatanorganizationmayusetodenyarequest.ThereforeawrittenreportusedforrequestADAaccommodationsismuchmore extensiveandtakesmuchlongertowritethanatypicalclinicalwrittenreport.Consequently,evaluationsbeingusedforthispurposecost much more than typical clinical evaluations. Michigan Dyslexia Institute