The buzz lately has been about research studies that found that one in ten children have ADHD. These results are really not a surprise, because we had been hearing about an increase in the percentage of children who have ADHD for a few years. However, in light of the results of this research, the vital issue now is how to get services for all of our children with ADHD more easily.
It has seemingly become harder for parents of children with ADHD to obtain services either under 504 or IDEIA 2004. So, what can you do? Parents with more anecdotal evidence of their child’s difficulties have a much better chance of obtaining services. Additionally, if those records show a long history of issues, you are more likely to gain services for your child. Here are some data that you should begin to collect that hopefully, will make an impact upon the Committee on Special Education, etc. with whom you meet.
Hard copies of your child’s work
Videotapes or DVDs of your child having difficulty completing his homework within a certain amount of time (For example, if your child has a difficult time writing by hand.)
Photographs of your child’s work and/or your child at work
Videotapes and/or DVDs of your child’s behavior at home, i.e., when he tries to sit still for extended periods of time, etc.
Reports from teachers concerning how your child works in school, i.e., when he becomes distracted, how long he remains distracted, what strategies that have been tried and failed in order to keep him focused, how he behaves in unstructured activities such as recess as well as how he behaves in structured situations
Reports from individuals who are in charge of extracurricular activities in which your child is enrolled in regard to his behavior, i.e., how he interacts with his peers, how he interacts with adults, etc.
Reports from the bus driver who takes him to and from school, in terms of his behavior on the bus
If you come to the CSE meeting armed with all of this data, you will hopefully, have more success securing accommodations for your child. Please let me know the results of your journey…
I have two sons, one with ADHD and the other with ADD.
ReplyDeleteSo far neither kid has an IEP and the school has been "Working on it, and testing" since kindergarten.
They are now in 2nd and 4th grade! Both having major stress and low self esteem from trying to keep up.
My kids do 3 hours of homework every weekday. It should only take approx 20 min for a child without learning disabilities.
I keep wondering why I have to torture my kids for so long waiting for these school experts to make a decision.
I have gone to the meetings with my child's work and clear knowledge for the ES Director, Principal, and school psychologist of my children's struggles through the years from all their teachers reports.
Again, they need more time to collect work, and do more testing.
A written diagnosis from a child Psychologist and Neurologist has made them make huge steps. This is actually what they asked me for.
Even still I'm waiting....
Hi Evangaline:
ReplyDeleteDo your sons have just ADHD and/or ADD or learning disabilities as well? The reason why I am asking has to do with whether or not they would gain accommodations under IDEIA 2004 or 504. At any rate, it may be time to hire an advocate or an education lawyer. Those statements of diagnoses are vital. However, waiting for IEPs from the time that they were in kindergarten until second and/or fourth grade is way too long. If you check out my website, you can write to me and I will give you some names of education lawyers in your state. Thank you for writing. You have brought up very important issues for other parents of children with ADHD.
Dr. Rapoport