ADHD Son | ADHD Information

My 9 year old son was diagnoised w/ ADHD at age 5.He was put on ritalin which worked well untill a few months ago.He has been tried on several other medications, now he's on focalin. He only had inattention, hyperactivity, and mild problems in reading and writing.He is now having behavior problems @ school and home.I have been using all the techniques the counselor taught me but he becomes easily angered now. He switched to a new school because we moved and that is when his behavior and anger promblem came about.The last two schools were very supporitive, knowledgeable and would arrange meetings to accomadate my sons needs. This new school in my opinion has not been as supporitive, nor will they schedule a 504 meeting to reevaulate his new problems. His teacher on the other hand has been to the best of my knowledge very supportive and helpfull. Any advice or anyone w/ similar situation please respond. I feel so alone and I,m sure my son feels the same.

I don't know where the law is but here is some info:

Question 14: When a 504 student moves into the district with an existing 504 plan, what is the new district's duty?

When a 504 student moves into a new school district, is eligible to attend and enrolls, the new district is obligated to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE). That may prove a bit difficult since the new district has no experience with the student. The safe course is to replicate the student's services received in the previous district while the new district’s personnel gain experience with the child. After a few weeks, the new district should conduct a 504 reevaluation and make changes to the accommodation plan as necessary. If the student's program from the former district cannot be replicated in your district, approximate it as closely as you can, and during the evaluation process, pay special attention to the student's needs that were met by that portion of the plan which you could not duplicate. The Committee may find that other programs or services might meet the need.

It is also possible that the newly-arrived student, despite eligibility elsewhere, is not 504-eligible in your district. Since every district determines for itself the definition of “substantial limitation” that it will use, differences in district approaches to the same student are very likely.

http://www.504idea.org/504_placement.html

I'm guessing that the new med is causing the sudden behavioral probelms. He hasn't been evaluated for many years. Maybe it's time to take him to a Psychiatrist (with the MD) or a NeuroPsych (Psycologist with a Neurology degree) to double check the diagnosis and make sure nothing else is going on (because stims are bad for other disorders), and then have a Psychaitrist see your child, keep tabs on him, and do the medicating. A counselor can't legally diagnose and doesn't have the knowledge of meds that a Psychiatrist does. It just sounds fishy that he started Focalin and all these behaviors suddenly kicked up. I'd want it checked out. I also agree about getting an 504 or IEP. The school HAS to follow them if you get one. If they say they don't have to do one call your State Dept. of Education. Ask for the Special Education Advocate and tell him/her what is going on. He will then give you names of free of cost Advocates in your area. Schools tend to come along quickly if you attend a meeting with an Advocate.  The school will have to do testing for an IEP, but I personally wouldn't trust them to evaluate and I'd use an outsider too. The school has a vested interest in NOT giving your child services. Accomodations cost $$$. Also, school evaluators don't tend to be the best and brightest, even their Psycologists. Good luck. OlderMom38844.6494328704

I'm sorry I didn't mention this earlier but my son was diagnosed with adhd by a child psychiatrist. He has been under the care of one since his diagnosis and the counselor was just working with us to teach behavior techniques. How do I go about getting his current doctor to give a refferal for my son to see a NeuroPsych as our insurance is very strict? As for the school my son does have a 504 plan in place which was working well at the other school. When I requested a 504 meeting at this school to address his new problems , I was told by the principal that a 504 meeting could only be called once every school year. I then called the special edecation cordinator for our city and she is still working on it. I have been unable to contact her for a decision. THis school situation has been going back and forth for 2 months now. My son also made the A B honor roll this six weeks but was denied a certificate from the school. Their explanation; "your son didn't do the work on his own and therefore isn't eligible for recognition". His 504 plan has an accomadation written in stating that he may recieve one on one help from the special Ed teacher. I have the cordinator of special Ed looking into that too, but have yet to see any results. Please forgive me if I have mispelled anything as I am very new to computers.

PanikMom38844.6661458333Hello! I am a mom of a 9 yr old boy, I as well go through alot of stresses with my son the behaviour 's are unbileavible, and the school is in no way supportive of us at all.....my son has gone to school saying that we beat him and we just terrorize him in any way shape or form we have social services involved and it's dragging our family into turmoil and all he can do is sit back and think it's a joke, he as well is on ritalin we also try to keep any sugar and red food dies out of his diet but we still have alot of troubles.What harm does Ritalin do? Someone please tell me????Breanna, that sounds like A LOT more than ADHD--to lie about your family to that extent and have CPS involved. It's your choice, of course, but I'd re-evaluate this child for more than ADHD. I'd want to see a Psychiatrist (with the MD). The Ritalin, and all stims, could be causing more harm to him than good. Good luck.