I have a child diagnosed with ADHD, his taking Ritalin and he is in ESE (Exceptional Student Education). His mayor problem is reading & comprehension. He has improved, but he is not in the level where he is supposed to be for his age & grade. I'm worry that this situation can lower (even more) his self-esteem, for not been able to get the same achievements as other. This is frustrating for students, for parents & even for teachers. Parents are blamed; Children are blamed or labeled. Schools are blamed. This is a neurobiological problem. This is nobody's fault. But, we all can do something, let put pressure in our political leaders so these kids can get more help. I think by preparing a special program/classes for this kind of disability (with psychologists, neurologists, teachers and parents input)Having these kids in a full time (separate) school with a fully trained personal in this matter & where they don't see themselves as “retarded” because the rest are doing great and they are getting D's or F's, will help so much! If the government has money for special schools & programs for "gifted" students, why not to invest in those who are in a "bigger" academic need. In my opinion everyone will benefit from this, even students who are not ADHD. Medication should not be the only solution, after all, they have side effects, too.
There is between 3%-10% of students with ADHD in US. Isn’t that enough to at least try with a pilot school to see if it work? We need to put these kids back in their normal life, faster and with less medication.
I think people aren't posting because unfortunately schools aren't meeting a whole host of needs and ADHD kids are not high on the priority list either. In my town they are always threatening to cut the Academically Talented programs. They also will fight special ed parents tooth and nail forcing the parents to sue to get the most basic services. They play on parents emotions in PPT 's relling how great their kids are doing even if it's not true so they don't have to pay for anything. The chances of them offering special classes geared for ADHD kids are basically not very good in light of all the budget cutting.
KH
I hope you are getting the message that from the NO RESPONSE you are receiving that perhaps people dont agree.
Be patience and read the entire letter!! Print it and read it later, if you don't have the time now, you might find the answer to your frustations(if any) here....
It is amazing to see how many parents don’t want to admit their children have ADHD. I don’t think you should stay with one opinion. You should, also, try to find other reasons for your child’s behavior or bad grades before medicating him/her. The reasons could be endless, but if you finally see, it is nothing but ADHD. Instead of hiding it, like some parents have suggested in this board; open your mind for possible solutions. You might not find “the cure” but you could find an easier way to deal with it.
When I read about parents or people that have a “panic attack” just by thinking others could find out about their ADHD child, I wonder: What would they do, if they have a Down’s syndrome child, a blind child or a child that is missing a leg or arm? Would they hide them? What if there is cure for that? I bet they won’t try to bring these kids back to health because “the world” might find out that they have a problem. What about if somebody sees you at the doctor’s office? They are more worry about the short-term “trauma” of accepting “a condition” that about a “solution” that will resolve the problem forever (or at least reduce it to a minimum). What is more important your child or the opinion formed by ignorant people, who don’t take time and care to judge?
A trauma can go away, a problem won’t go away unless we confront it and resolve it.
Those people who think I’m traumatizing my son about his ADHD problem (disability, disorder or whatever you want to call it). NO, I’m not, because I don’t talk to him about this all the time, when I do, I tell him: Everybody has a talent, do your best with the talent you have, strive toward a goal and never give up. Maybe, Math and Reading are hard subjects for you, but you must learn them because those two subjects are very important, you will use them all your life. If others learn them faster than you, it is ok, there are a lot of things you can do better than others (I give him some examples) You can’t be good on everything, but try to be the best in whatever you can do. I accept my child as he is, but I try to find an easier way for him, the family, the school and the society to deal with his (ADHD). I can try to deal with his symptoms, but I want to find a “system” that teaches him how to control himself (his impulsiveness) and how to concentrate better. I love him and I accept him, but people “out there” won’t tolerate anything from him because of his “problem” especially if “we insist” that this is not a disability. I’m not totally happy about his ESE classes and Ritalin, but I don’t take him to torture him, it is the best I can do to help him at this time (besides giving him love and support). That is why I’m looking for a better alternative. I wish I could find a less traumatic one, but I will be happier if somebody finds a “solution”, “cure” or “remedy” (or however you want to call it) even if I have to deal with a little trauma for a while.
IN REFERENCE TO WORD DISABILITY it can be confusing for some people:
Disability: Something that disables. Disables: to make unable Unable: not able
I have a question:
Just because you are not able to do something that means you is not able to do anything?
A blind child is not able see, but that doesn’t mean he can’t walk, talk, learn (with a different system, but he learns) work, get marry, have kids, etc, etc.
If your child has a learning problem because he is not able to learn at a normal “speed” or with the traditional system, what is so wrong about trying a different system (special school, as I suggested) That, you have to accept he/she has a disability? So what? What is so wrong with not been able to do something. Maybe, he is going to feel “different” than the others... Probably the same thing happens to a blind kid, and he has to learn to live this his disability. After all, every person has “abilities” and “disabilities” in my case; I was good in school, excellent behavior, A’s and B’s. However, I have never been able to get speed in typing or learned the keyboard (as you probably have noticed) and my fear for the altitudes makes me unable to enjoy the rides in the amusement parks. If I “keep thinking” I would probably find as many disabilities as abilities.
My son, on the other hand, is not able to read fast, but he has the ability to learn by himself all technical parts of a computer and enjoys all the rides in the parks because he does not have fear for altitudes.
So, I’m not embarrassed by his disability because I know he has disabilities and abilities.
Even professionals and successful people have or had a disability. That is the case of my ex-boss, ADHD child, didn’t not even graduated from High School and he is making over 0,000.00 dollars a year. He is an excellent salesman and co-manager in a company. My cousin, ADHD student, and recently graduated from University of Miami. If you make some researches you can find hundreds of famous people that had have learning problems in their childhood.
In that case, I will tell my ADHD kid: I know going to a different school or different learning system maybe a little be traumatic, but be glad that, this “learning system” will correct or reduce your problem, blind kids or kids with Down’s Syndrome go to a different school, different learning system and, at the end, their disability never disappeared or gets reduced. You have problems learning some “subjects” in a traditional way or set up, but you have the ability to learn other “things” (music, computer, etc) faster than other people do.
PARENTS: Let all make sure that our kids are not left behind. For those afraid of discrimination in the future in universities or jobs, let fight for their rights. Let’s put pressure in our political leaders to have laws that protect them from discrimination. “Hiding” the problem is not the solution. We can demonstrate they might learn a little bit slow in certain subjects (maybe faster with a different system or set up), but they can do excellent in others. I believe they can have brilliant future. . There are millions of cases to prove that, these children deserve a chance because with a little patience and some help, they could be successful people. (And have a less frustrating childhood) The Dept of Education should invest on them as they “invest” in “gifted” kids. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SAYS: Earlier identification of children with ADHD can lead to greater understanding of child needs and the adoption of environmental, behavioral, and medical interventions to manage symptoms and facilitate learning.
____________________________________________________________ _________________
To facilitate their learning we must emphasize on their “abilities” and work a little is harder in their disabilities. Maybe an intensive low-speed program in the subjects where they are showing problems (for a while) will put them back in track. Less students in their classrooms. Teachers with more patience and understanding of this disorder. An ADHD friendly classroom set up.
Classes with more illustrations and videos (most of these kids learn more visually). Now, I’m not a psychologist, I’m only giving my opinion. If you are not sure a “special school” could work, I advise you to consult with friends, family members or maybe your child’s doctors. I know these schools have worked for some people. The only problem, at this time is, if you happen to find a school with these “qualities”, to be able to register your kid, you have to be rich or you have to spend a few years in prison (for getting into the biggest fight of your life with the school board). That is the reason I think those schools should more accessible to everyone who “believe” on them, as a better alternative, like, one of the message board members who wrote the following:
novelexpectatio:
I live in Rockland County in NY. We have a school for children with special issues. Fortunately my son qualifies. He is in Second grade in a group of 8 children with 5 adults and he learns and learns and learns in a non judgemental environment. The school has standard setting programs and is considered a model for the country. The school's Mission statement is to bring them in and mainstream them out within 2/3 years to their zone school.
This is how this school works:
The school provides a highly structured and individualized school program of remediation and therapeutic rehabilitation. The Birchwood School is for students ages five through twenty-one, whose disabilities require a special educational setting and related services to meet their unique management, academic, physical and social needs.
Birchwood creates a supportive, reassuring environment for school-aged children having significant emotional, behavioral and learning problems. It provides an environment, which responds to a child's needs with compassion, understanding and guidance. The school provides a psychotherapeutic approach for the child both in school and at home
At Birchwood, students have the opportunity to succeed by allowing them to proceed at their own rate. Students know they can turn to caring people for help in dealing with the many challenges they will meet in their everyday lives within their home, school and community.
The Birchwood program has a fully accredited staff of specialists in both clinical and special education disciplines that work too effectively integrate educational and clinical services. Birchwood's goal is to prepare students to return to an appropriate program provided by their home school district. Tuition for students attending Birchwood is paid for by their home school districts.
Do you think this will work for your child? I think it will for my son . I don’t know what you are going to do, but I will be trying to bring this to my community... even if have to meet with the president. I will be busy for a few days, so you might not see my comments for a while. GOOD LUCK. I’ll never thank you enough for this, novelexpectatio. God bless you for helping me make clear an idea that I have and I did not know how to present it. If you want to know more about this school go to: http://www.ccsd.edu/birchwood/