Teen ADD and School Cooperation | ADHD Information
I'm supposed to get those accomodations, most of them anyway, but the teachers won't give me the accomodations and the school won't insiste (can't spell) that they do. I do use a calculator for all math and am usually given extra time but in the 504 it doesn't say how much extra time I'm allowed so the teacher thinks up a time they see reasonable. And I usually can't stay after due to doctors appt.s, tons of work, and usually by the end of the school day I have a migrain starting, but I'm on homebound now and probably will be for the rest of the year. But next year will be my senior year and I just wish we could work something out with them because... well, it's my senior year, you know? But it looks like it's just gonna be easier staying on homebound..IMac38947.8426736111The accomadations i have now would be alright if they weren't as vague but the problem is that the school won't enforce it. We set down all these rules and all that but no body will make the teachers follow the thing.Sorry if this doesn't make sense, not feeling the greatest today."it is so sad you have to face difficulties with your teachers on top of the ADHD."
Yeah, I know, that's what I wish they'd realize. I'm doing alright right now. I'm in 11th so I'm taking the HSPA. I took the math section yesterday and my brain's still fryed. I just think it's so crazy for how many ADHD kids there are in the US that our system for dealing with it sucks so much. What makes it worse, for me anyway, is my school stereotypes. Half the kids in the HS have ADD and just don't want to work anymore and so take the easy way out. The school keeps telling me and my parents "Why doesn't she drop the CP classes and make it easier on herself." I'm going to be a Veterinary Physical Therapist so dropping CP classes isn't an option. All through grade school they tell all us kids "Be responsible. Make goals and accomplish them. Work hard." and now they just want me to give up. Oh, the irony
.
Thanks for your interest and support!
.IMac38947.8424537037All right, here it goes...
I'm Skye, I'm seventeen, and I'm in eleventh grade. My school has always refused to recognize my ADD and still is even now. After my mom's insistance the school's evaluated me about three times over the years and always said they saw no real problems (even when it was in black and white right under their noses). When I was in seventh my mom finally got them to give me a 504 Plan, sort of like an IEP but like a step down from it. They didn't give this to me because of my ADD but because of my migrain headaches. Dr.s have been telling us for years now that they can't do much more for me until the trigger for my headaches (stress) is relieved. School is my stress. Just last year we finally got 'Skye has documented ADD' written into my 504. I thought everything would get better. It's actually gotten worse. My family, my learning consultant, me, and the school worked up accomodations for my 504. The problem is that the school made the wording on the 504 so vague that the teachers can interpurt everything the wrong way so I'm not actually getting the accomodations I need. Last year all of us agreed that the reason the 504 hadn't been working was because of a lack of communication and a lack of enforcment, this was supposed to change. It hasn't. I go to my counsler with my problems and she tries to help but she doesn't have the autority to enforce anything and the people that do won't. I'm now on homebound instruction because the school doesn't want to deal with me and the problems with the teachers, but what I really don't get is, HOW CAN THEY BE LIKE THIS?!
If they didn't want to help kids why did they get involved with high school education and half of them with Special Education?!
Anyone got horror stories of their own or any advice?
ThanksGet one of your parents to call a new 504 meeting. This can be called at any time during the school year. Accommodations can be made more specific. You didn't give any details about what it was that is too vague in your 504, but many parents and students don't know that you can let the counselor know any time in the school year that you need a new 504 meeting ASAP. You need to be in the meeting. Before the meeting, I would meet with an advocate and have them prepare you and even come with you to the meeting. Try to have as many people (parents, advocate) in the meeting as the school does.
Good Luck and Hang in there!
We've tried all that. When we redid the 504 in the beginning of this school year my mom gave the school a detailed list of accomodations, the school said they needed to simplify it so the teachers would understand. They changed "A list of the week's homework assignments will be provided at the begining of the week" to "A copy of homework assignment will be provided" and "A copy of classroom notes will be provided to that day's instruction" to "Notes will be provided when indicated". My family and I are working with a learning consultant who's telling us everything we need to know but the school just won't do any of it.
I did ask my mom the other day about setting up a meeting to work out the problems now before I go back to school next year (I'm on homebound now) since we don't have any teachers to deal with at the moment. But the school just doesn't want to come to a compromise.
I don't know, I guess I was hoping somebody that had been in the same situation had a tip to solve the problem without going to court with the school.
Thanks for the advice and listening,
HI Skye, Im a newbie here searching for answers as you are, for my 13-year old son in 7th grade. He is on a 504 now for absence seizures, but getting help with his ADHD has been a nighmare! The school would not even do an evaluation for him, we had to do it on our own. We'll see what comes of it, and the 504 plan. but, from what I've seen so far, we are going to have as much luck as you getting help from his teachers. They have 35 kids in each class, and are stretched to even do the basics, so asking for one more little thing ain't gonna happen, despite all the ASAP meetings and their willingness to help. Which dissappoints me terribly, because in our state, we spend millions of dollars and energy on helping ESL learners, leaving the English speakers with challenges way behind.
No advice, but at least know you are not alone. Stay on board, and let us know what, if anything is working for you at school. it is so sad you have to face difficulties with your teachers on top of the ADHD.
IMac,
I'm currently on homebound instruction because no, i wasn't doing well in my core classes while I was in school... Hold on, I'll explain:
Okay, I can do the work, I have the brains for CP classes, but I also have ADD and other delays (including terrible recall skills). If the teachers followed my 504 and gave me the extended time and leverage I need then I'd do fine. But they don't. I have migraines as well as ADD so extended time is needed for class work, home work, and make up work. If they would follow my 504 then I'd have less stress, less migraines, and better school work. I was put on home bound instruction because the SE department finally figured out that they can't control their teachers or me and my parents so the easiest thing would be to get me out of the school. The teachers that are willing to do home bound instruction are willing to accomodate for my problems (plus I take most of my classes at my Learning Consultants office where they specialize with ADD).
I'm babbling some. My point is, my 504 gives me the accomadations I need in order to reach my full potential. I get as and bs now because I'm getting most of the accomodations. We had hoped an IEP would be more enforced then a 504 and that's why we were going for it, but we've found that in my township they just don't care so it won't make a difference.
(Sorry if that is confusing, I don't feel like my meds are working today)
Oh, and my grades are good because I work hard. I don't functtion like my average peer so I have to work twice, sometimes three times as hard. That stress is part of what gives me migraines. An enforced 504 would give me the chance to at least work a bit more comfortably.
[QUOTE=Marley24365]All right, here it goes...
I'm Skye, I'm seventeen, and I'm in eleventh grade. My school has always refused to recognize my ADD and still is even now. After my mom's insistance the school's evaluated me about three times over the years and always said they saw no real problems (even when it was in black and white right under their noses). When I was in seventh my mom finally got them to give me a 504 Plan, sort of like an IEP but like a step down from it. They didn't give this to me because of my ADD but because of my migrain headaches. Dr.s have been telling us for years now that they can't do much more for me until the trigger for my headaches (stress) is relieved. School is my stress. Just last year we finally got 'Skye has documented ADD' written into my 504. I thought everything would get better. It's actually gotten worse. My family, my learning consultant, me, and the school worked up accomodations for my 504. The problem is that the school made the wording on the 504 so vague that the teachers can interpurt everything the wrong way so I'm not actually getting the accomodations I need. Last year all of us agreed that the reason the 504 hadn't been working was because of a lack of communication and a lack of enforcment, this was supposed to change. It hasn't. I go to my counsler with my problems and she tries to help but she doesn't have the autority to enforce anything and the people that do won't. I'm now on homebound instruction because the school doesn't want to deal with me and the problems with the teachers, but what I really don't get is, HOW CAN THEY BE LIKE THIS?!
If they didn't want to help kids why did they get involved with high school education and half of them with Special Education?!
Anyone got horror stories of their own or any advice?
Thanks[/QUOTE]
How can they be like this? You ask. It's because they can. No one cares to do their job right, or what is right for someone. Why do they do it, you may think too, because people just don't care, and they get a kick out of being a jerk towards others. It's a real shame.
Why did they get a job in education? You ask. One: for the money. Two: they get the summer off.
Go read how my friend's son was mistreated in school that I posted. Read this and you will know what I am saying is the truth. People don't care.
[QUOTE=Marley24365]IMac,
I'm currently on homebound instruction because no, i wasn't doing well in my core classes while I was in school... Hold on, I'll explain:
Okay, I can do the work, I have the brains for CP classes, but I also have ADD and other delays (including terrible recall skills). If the teachers followed my 504 and gave me the extended time and leverage I need then I'd do fine. But they don't. I have migraines as well as ADD so extended time is needed for class work, home work, and make up work. If they would follow my 504 then I'd have less stress, less migraines, and better school work. I was put on home bound instruction because the SE department finally figured out that they can't control their teachers or me and my parents so the easiest thing would be to get me out of the school. The teachers that are willing to do home bound instruction are willing to accomodate for my problems (plus I take most of my classes at my Learning Consultants office where they specialize with ADD).
I'm babbling some. My point is, my 504 gives me the accomadations I need in order to reach my full potential. I get as and bs now because I'm getting most of the accomodations. We had hoped an IEP would be more enforced then a 504 and that's why we were going for it, but we've found that in my township they just don't care so it won't make a difference.
(Sorry if that is confusing, I don't feel like my meds are working today)
Oh, and my grades are good because I work hard. I don't functtion like my average peer so I have to work twice, sometimes three times as hard. That stress is part of what gives me migraines. An enforced 504 would give me the chance to at least work a bit more comfortably.[/QUOTE]
To get what you want in life (a good education.. one of them) you almost have to be tought at home. You know the old saying, don't you? If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Good for you ! You showed those people they were wrong. 
about you.
I'm going to be on homebound next year as well. I'll be taking most of my classes in my Learning consultant's office with her tutors. After my Mom sent a letter to the Super Intendent they just wanted me out of the school and began doing whatever we want. The 504 is still crappy but I'm hoping that will change in college. Has anyone worked with the Special Ed. department or whatever they're called for college?You need a iep a 504 doesn't have the same inforcement. Call se and explain to them what you need to help out in school. A iep has to be inforced or it's a crime. .IMac38947.8429513889A 504 has to be inforced or its a crime too! It's a binding legal document. But they don't care. There's a bunch of kids I know that have ieps and they're not followed. My so called case worker even admitted that an IEP wouldn't make any difference. Also we've tried for three years (once we gathered from my jr high experience that a 504 wasn't gonna be followed and I went to HS) for me to get an IEP, but they say I don't meet my school township's... deficet maybe? I don't remember but they tweaked the scores (because my private learning consultants individual evaluation proves I do meet the 22 score) so that I wouldn't qualify. We let it go and were planning to take them to court since they were obviously not going to cooperate, but that's not a option now.
And IMac,
, don't worry, nothing is keeping me from going to college. I've worked against the man and am surviving high school with As and Bs, I'll make it to and through college. The best motivation is the dream you make and someone telling you you'll never make the dream reality. I was told I just wouldn't be good at math, that I just wouldn't be able to read or spell, that I couldn't complete College Prep classes, WELL GUESS WHAT?! I was just three points shy of an A in Algebra II this year! I can not only read and spell but I spell above my average peers! And I have had College Prep classes every single year of my high school education! And I'm passing them! I'm only half of the difficulty, the other half is everyone stereotyping me as a delayed ADD girl! I just can't wait to wave that diploma in there big ugly faces!OldTimer, I've seen a lot of your posts, who exactly are you? Someone with ADHD or a parent, teacher, doc, what exactly?You go Marley! You've got a great attitude, and that in itself will get you places. The world is at your feet.