School is no help | ADHD Information
I am new so please bare with me. My son who is 9 years old was diagnosed with ad/hd and odd at the age of 6. Since the diagnosis we have been trying to get his school to give him some extra help. The school keeps saying that they dont think he needs it because his grades are not terrible. He was also diagnosed with a mild auditory processing disorder at the age of 6. Even though the school did their own testing and found that he does have a problem in certain areas they decided he doesn't qualify for any special designed instruction(for the auditory processing). They then wanted to do their own testing to see if he needs specially designed instruction due to the diagnosis of the adhd. They will not accept an outside report by his dr. The principal even made the comment they people pay drs alot of money to hear what they want to hear. I'm sorry but who wants their kid to have these problems?? His grades are slipping each week and he is getting more and more frustrated. We have a meeting on Monday at the school to discuss their results from the school psychologist but I have a feeling they will say the same thing. We have a very difficult time with him at home getting ready for school, doing homework and so on. They claim they dont see him as an adhd and odd kid. I think they are full of it and are trying every way to get out of helping him. Does anyone have any suggestions they can give me? I dont know what to do anymore!
I have been fighting my sons schools for 6 years. I keep telling them that he needs expert help. They keep telling me that there is nothing they can do! I am currently getting the paper work to file a federal suit against the school district. A co-worker of mine suggested this. She was having the same issues, began the process of filing the lawsuit, let the school know about it, and they immediately began offering special services. I realize that this is a last resort and it may not be appropriate for your situation, but I am desperate to help my son and I am willing to go to any length to get him what he needs. Six years of messing around with them is enough.
I would reschedule the appointment but we have been waiting since December for them to do the testing. The school year will be over before you know it. I just would hate to wait longer. As the days go on the more frustrated my son gets and I hate seeing him that way.
He currently has a chapter 15 at school for his handwritting. That is the only thing they said they found wrong the last time. We think his handwritting has been worse. They only see him once a month for 30 minutes. I dont know if A chapter 15 is the same as a 504 plan?? The accomidations they said they would make like signing the homework book everyday, read him directions orally for understanding are not being done. I should say the homework book is getting signed but not 100% of the time and not by all of his teachers. The directions the teacher says are being read to the whole class and if they have a question they can ask. Am I being picky or are they 2 differant things?? I dont want to come off as a bi*** to the school district but I'm sick of it.
definitely, bring a hopefully feared advocate into your meeting with you and sign nothing until you take the proposed IEP home and read it again and go over every detail with your advocate. Although they may try to make you feel otherwise, you are under no obligation to sign at the meeting. I usually wait a few weeks and check with other sources. OlderMom38800.2874884259Can your advocate attend by phone, or refer you to another advocate to fill in? Can you reschedule the appointment?[QUOTE=OlderMom]The school has to, by law, give equal weight to outside help and equal weight to YOUR opinion. They're giving you the runaround. Call your State Dept. of Public Education and ask for the Special Needs Advocate. They will then contact the school, and are on YOUR side, and they have a lot of clout in school districts. As soon as we called them, my son got everything we'd fought so hard to get and the school changed it's attitude towards us too. My son is now treated like a Prince...hehe. You can't sit back and let them do what they want when it's obviously baloney. Your son needs you to put that armor on and fight for him. Good luck :)[/QUOTE]
THAT IS GREAT! KEEP US POSTED ON WHAT UNFOLDS!
If the school is not fulfilling the requirements of the IEP, it cannot be used to determine your DS's progress. I'd schedule a follow-up meeting few days to a week after this one on a date your advocate will be able to attend, then go through with the meeting the school has scheduled, hear what they have to say, offer no agreement ("I need to confer with our advocate who was not able to be here due to the last minute scheduling of this meeting") sign nothing, confer with your advocate and go to the second meeting fully prepared and ready to deal. That way, you'll know what you're dealing with and be able to prepare a response with your advocate.
BTW, if your DS has an auditory processing disorder, shouldn't directions be provided in writing for him as well as being read allowed to the class so he has something to refer to if he gets confused?
Best of luck, hang in there.
We are already working with an advocate but the school only gave us a weeks notice and the advocate isn't available that day. My husband and i will go and then talk it over with the advocate. If its not suitable we Will disagree with their desicion.
This could have been taken care of before but the school waited until their 60 school days was almost up then did the test. I really dont know what to do with them.