Debbie, this is an interesting question. I don't know the answer. I wonder if the Americans with Disabilities Act defines specific disabilities. I tried to search, but couldn't find a way to search the text. I found the definition in the California Code:

(a) "Individual with a disability" means, with respect to an individual (1) having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (2) having a record of such impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment.

From my struggles with special ed I know CAPD is not specifically defined as a learning disability, but it falls under the IDEA general description of learning disability which is:

The term ``specific learning disability'' means a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.

So it sounds like it may fall into the general category of disability if the impairment limits the person's ability to function in life. Chances are with therapy the individual can compensate enough to function in life. It would be interesting to hear from adults with CAPD and how they manage with jobs, family, etc.

HTH,
Bonnie

According to what our school told us, using the 504 is pretty much saying that he does have a disability, and they treat his condition as such.  Since this 504 will follow him through the rest of his school years, I'd say it pretty much constitutes a disability.

My daughter attends school in Western Australia.

The Education Department here has the policy that CAPD (and dyslexia) are "learning difficulties" and not "learning disabilities" and as such provide no funding for necessary equipment etc.

Sooooooo frustrating!

Fight the good fight!

Sherri

Thank you for your input, Brit. I do agree we must keep fighting and doing what we can to raise awareness. Last month our family moved to a new town in hopes of finding a school where our son would be more accepted. We lucked out and the move has been good. He is accepted and treated normal at school, and there are no issues at all with bullying (phew!).

Yet, already the speech therapist in the new school has questioned his CAPD diagnosis, saying he was too young to be tested (6-1/2). I offered to give her the assessment from the audiologist to let her know the diagnosis is official, not observational. I tried to be nice, but as I walked away I felt myself fuming. What I really wanted to say was, "Don't even question this. You really don't want to see me get angry -- and I will get angry! You have no idea how hard I've had to fight to get my son help for this."

I don't really understand why there is so much resistance in the schools against CAPD. Although, my older sister is dyslexic, and I remember when we were children my mother had to go through a lot of hoops to get her help. She had to put her into private school because the public school had not support (early 70's). So perhaps we are in those early stages with CAPD, and in time it will be something the schools will support.

In the meantime, I'm so joyful our son is happy in his new school. Kids being mean is the worst stress in the world, and just aggravates everything. At least now he has a chance of making friends and fitting in!

HELP  PLZ!! I was diagnosed w CAPD as a teen, can I get disability now @ the age of 28 or do I need to be re diagnosed as an adult?! Anyone know?!