2014

Dear Suzie, [My husband] and I cannot thank you enough for the insights and recommendations you reviewed with us on Sunday. We both deeply value your expertise and your genuine compassion and concern for [our son]. We have a clear plan and I for one, feel so much better having met with you. We will keep you apprised of progress and I know that I would like to have you talk with the head of school, [Mr. X], after the New Year once we have had a time to brief him. Again, thank you very much and best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season! Warm regards (Mother of elementary student with dyslexia, Alexandria, Virginia December 2014).

Hi Suzie, I wanted to circle back to you about [my daughter]. Her last HSPT practice test (with extended time) jumped her up to the 90th percentile. She was hovering around 70th without it. We don’t have her scores yet, but we know that they are better than they would have been without the extended time, so thank you! I spoke with [her doctor] yesterday about [my daughter]. She thinks you’re terrific – not surprising! She is going to read your report and help us with [my daughter] as she transitions to high school. She thinks that it is great that we caught this before the bottom fell out for [my daughter].[My daughter] continues to do really well in school. She altar served yesterday at a special Mass said by the Bishop at the school. There were six students serving Mass and he made a point of specifically complimenting [my daughter] afterwards. ? The school principal has become her biggest fan and can’t say enough great things about her. Her confidence is building, which is awesome. It is safe to say that she is thriving right now on all fronts. Even the [one teacher we were concerned who was not giving her extended time previously] is being nice to her! I’ll let you know where she decides to go to high school.Have a great Christmas with your brood! I am one busy elf right now – I am guessing that it is the same for you ? Best – (Fairfax County, Virginia. 8th grade mother. December 2014).

Dyslexia. Now we know. Now we will get serious and specific about specialized tutoring and implementing your recommendations (7th grade father. Columbia, Maryland. December 2014).

My son fell asleep taking the PSAT. Your testing helped him to qualify for taking the SAT and ACT over multiple days. In his case, extended time didn’t help. It just made it more exhausting for him given his disability. Breaking it up helped. This made the world of difference (11th grade mother. Manhattan, New York. December 2014).

Thank you Dr. Muir. I was just notified that I now have the priority registration accommodation at University of Southern California. I appreciate your help (Freshman college student. December 2014).

Dr. Muir, I will see you tomorrow morning, but I wanted to share that [my son] just heard the news today that he was approved for the [law school admission exam] accommodations! Hurray! Thank you for all of the hard work and your efficient response in getting those additional forms together. I’m amazed at how quickly they gave us the approval.” (College senior mother. Manassas, Virginia October 2014).

“I just wanted to thank you for last Sunday. [My son] really enjoyed meeting and working with you. You turned what could have been a stressful day into something he felt was a positive experience — and that is really remarkable” (Junior high school mother, Chevy Chase, Maryland; September 2014).

Seeing you was one of the best decisions I made academically, professionally, and personally. Enjoy the rest of your summer!! (Law student, currently working at the Federal Reserve Board, August 2014).

We are back and wanting to schedule a second appointment. You tested our daughter when she was in the 4th grade and determined dyslexia. She is headed to high school and needs extra time on tests as well as on PSAT, SAT and ACT so we need updated testing (Parents of 9th grader, Fairfax County Virginia, June 2014). Update and thank you: Extra time and quiet room, with breaks, granted from College Board (August, 2014).

We had no idea that the ADHD was taking such a toll on [our daughter’s] academic performance. This evaluation has been eye-opening and has propelled us to act (Mother of 5th grader, Alexandria City Public Schools, August, 2014).

Thank you! I was sorry that I did not get the chance to meet you, but I understood [my son’s] desire for independence. [My son] said that you were SO nice. He felt very optimistic that you will do all you can to help him qualify for accommodations…I’m curious to see where he is today compared with how he was when he went through the testing in the past (Mother of 5th year senior at the University of Arizona, applying to graduate school, July 2014).

I hope all is well and you’ve been enjoying the summer with your family!…I was successful in getting accommodations this past semester in law school and I think it really helped. I got my first A! Well, A- but that counts ? My other grades were good as well, but I knew right away that I took that first test differently from the other two…so I’m planning to work on figuring out what was different and other ways I can manage my test anxiety better. I have already spoken with a counselor at the school and I’m hoping to speak with a therapist to work on some behavioral techniques to help me focus/work through things during exams. Thanks again for everything (graduate of Villanova University, July 2014).

We just received these letters from the College Board and we received the accommodations that we asked for on the PSAT, SAT, AP and SAT Subject Test. Thank you for your help. We wanted to share the good news with you and thank you again. You have made a difference. Thank you! (Parents of rising 9th grader, Montgomery County Public Schools, August 2014).

“Thank you for all of your help with our son- including the extra report. Have a great summer!! Enjoy this box of cookies” (Parents of 10th grader, Washington, DC, June 2014).

[My daughter] and I continue to speak of you often, and how much we both adored meeting you. You left quite a wonderful impression upon us! I truly appreciate your speedy turn-around on the testing and I’ll look forward to seeing the results. Thank you, [to my neighbor] for leading me to you! I will be passing your name and info along as well! Thank you!!! (Mother, Primary Montessori Rockville, Maryland, May 2014).

The findings of your evaluation helped us to get our child qualified for extra help in high school. [She] has been used to the nurturing, small school environment and now with high school ahead, she will benefit from organizational support, and an extra study hall, in high school (Mother, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington DC May 2014).

You tested my child when she was in high school. I am proud to say that she has a 4.1 GPA and has been accepted to her first choice William and Mary. We followed your recommendations and she has done beautifully! We now need updated testing, with adult norms, so that she can have additional time on tests, one exam per day and a quiet room for test taking (Mother, Fairfax County McLean High School, May 2014).

“We owe you a big favor. After taking off a year of college, floundering not knowing what to do, [our son] is back in college, earning a B+ average, and now he knows what he wants to do. We followed your recommendations” (Mother, University of Wisconsin, April 2014).

“Suzie: Thanks again for your excellent counsel today. It was great to speak with you and hear your advice as both an education professional and a mother” (Father, Montgomery County Public Schools, Gaithersburg, Maryland, April 2014).

“Catholic University granted each of the accommodations that you recommended. Taking a test with extended time will alleviate the building stress and anxiety that I was feeling. When my mind went blank, I couldn’t show what I know and my scores were lower. ” (Second year law student, April 2014) .

My patient you tested was granted 100% extra time on SATs thanks to you!” (Referring therapist, McLean, Virginia, April 2014).

“Thank you so much for testing [my seven year old son] today. You miraculously make the evaluation process a great experience for the student and parent” (Parent, Nysmith School for the Gifted, April 2014).

“You tested my daughter when she was at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and identified a problem with her reading speed and now she is in college exceeding all academic expectations, given the accommodations- extra time on test- you recommended” (Mother, Potomac, Maryland, March 2014).

“Thank you for working so diligently with the parents whom we refer. Your evaluations are so thorough and well-written that we are happy to include you on our referral list. If there is every anything more that we can provide to you for an evaluation (with parent’s approval), please just ask!” (Director, Student Academic Center, Independent K-8 school Northern Virginia, March 2014)

“Look what we got in the mail today! Once again – we thank you over and over for encouraging us to act on this. Starting in 3rd grade and again now in her Sophomore year. You have created some great opportunities for [our daughter] and our whole family is grateful to you. Thank you Suzie!!” Attached letter: “You have been approved for the following accommodations on College Board tests: Writing (time and 1/2), Listening (time and 1/2); Mathematical Calculations (time and 1/2); Speaking (time and 1/2); Reading (time and 1/2). The student is approved for extended time in reading. Because all test sections including reading, the student will permitted the approved amount of extended time for the entire test SAT, SSAT, Advanced Placement Tests (Fauquier County, Virginia, February 2014).

Dr. Muir, it was SO nice meeting you and talking with you yesterday. I can’t begin to tell you how much I have worried about [my son] or the past 13 years. You gave me such peace and helped settle the fears I’ve had about [my son’s] future. He has had such a rough time, it was reassuring to hear your professional assessment. While [my son] still has some struggles to contend with, it was great to hear that he has strengths that will help carry him toward his dreams. You were such a delight to talk with – I can understand why [my son] hugged you! I will certainly keep you posted on how things progress with [his] law school plans. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. We could have gone all day sharing stories! All the best, (October 2014).

“A tear fell from my eye when I read the summary. You described my son to a T” (Potomac School, McLean, Virginia, February 2014).

“Mrs. Muir, Thank you so much for helping me get extended time on SAT tests! Thank you for taking time out of your schedule, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it! I hope to see you soon! It’s been too long. Many thanks.” (High school sophomore enrolled in an all-girls college preparatory school; Foxcroft School, Middleburg, Virginia, February 2014).

“Last year was supremely tough on our family in the finance department – and I regret that I had to [delay paying] you the way I did when money was so short on our end – but very glad that we all came through it. Having financing available for your clients [like you now offer] is a good development that might help others facing similar temporary cash flow issues.” (Father, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Washington, DC, February 2014).

“After all these years of struggling to understand what’s going on and convey that to others, including teachers, I really think almost no one really “gets it,” including a lot of people who have made it their business to do so. Did you see [my son’s] face when you were saying that he is smart? I think people have said that to him over and over in the context of trying to motivate him to the point that he doesn’t believe it or really even hear it, but I think he did today, and I thank you. If it weren’t for you and [his consulting physician] I think I would have lost my mind years ago. Thank you so much.” (Mother of an 18 year old son, attending an independent alternative high school in Fairfax County, Virginia; January 2014).

“Dr. Muir: I appreciate being able to refer parents to someone like you who can provide a comprehensive evaluation for students performing below grade level. I have seen several of your reports, and know they have long-term value over a student’s academic career. Not all evaluations are as useful to parents.” (Independent educational tutor and consultant, Prince William County, Virginia; January 2014).

“You worked with both my children…My son is doing very well at Yale and uses and needs his accommodations there .” (Mother of a student who was originally evaluated in high school to determine the need for accommodations, including the use of a computer and additional time on the International Baccalaureate examination, Washington, DC; January 2014).

“This is what I needed to hear. Thank you for telling me that what I have been experiencing is not uncommon, that this is familiar, that I should not feel bad about myself and that I am OK. I have not been able to perform properly and have felt frustrated and pressure as a result. Needing extra time on exams and a separate quiet place to take them will help. I should have done this a long time ago” (College student, Washington, DC; January 2014).

[My daughter] is at George Mason University studying Psychology right now. We used your report [written when she was beginning Community College a few years ago, so that she could access accommodations and services for a learning disability and ADHD]. We used your report at GMU Office of DisAbility Services to get her accommodations. We are very proud of [our daughter’s] continued efforts, persistence and resiliency. It has been a struggle and a long road, but she continues her life path with strength. Happy 2014! (Mother of undergraduate; January 2014).