That's probably the most complete list that I have ever seen. It is so wonderful that your doctor provided these suggestions. My dd is doing pretty well without the accomodations. Medication has helped a lot. She is on Straterra and 15 mg of Daytrana. She refuses reduced homework or for me to ask if she can go to her locker more often. We did purchase an extra set of books. I did hire a tutor because dd gets too emotional with me when I am trying to help her with her math. She's average in Math but gets emotional when she has to struggle on a problem. She doesn't get emotional with the tutor so I'm hoping some of that she can learn to stay more calm.
Does your dd refuse to take advantage of her accomodations?
I too regret not being able to get dd on meds sooner. We tried but it wasn't until 5th grade that this all got figured out.
For the most part the other kids do not know about her accomodations. She did resist having her planner signed ... but we had a few major screw ups ... and after the SEVERE consequences she relented.
As I said before we are sort of in a GOOD vicious circle. The more successful she is the more confidence she has the more willing she is to follow "the rules".
And of course I threaten her with an aide if necessary.
When she was young she knew she was different but could not put her finger on it. Now she can understand her brain works differently. And boy she does NOT want to be different.
Really DD accomodations are no skin off the school's back. Nothing we have asked for causes the school to spend extra money or use precious resources.
Something else I have learned since she has a 504 ... they CAN'T fail her. If she is failing a class they must immediately address the issue. So I think the teachers try extra hard.
Things are far from perfect. But from where we were last year at this time I feel like NIRVANA.
I have to say for us the drugs have been a MIRACLE.
We started on Daytrana 10 mg but moved to 15 mg. Although the manufacturer says to wear it for 9 hours we often wear it for 12 hours+. We find it takes 2 hours to REALLY kick in.
That was fine in public school but because she is in chorus in middle school she leaves the house at 7:15am. We found she was having problems in chorus and 1sty and 2nd period. So we added 10mg focalin in the morning. It takes 30 minutes to kick in and lasts 2-4 hours.
Her neurologist wanted her to have a full time aide. My daughter wanted no part of that. So we agreed that we would try other accomodations and if they did not work we would re-visit the aide situation.
These are our accomodations:
An extra set of books for home. So we don't have to worry if she forgets anything.
We have a school planner and each teacher initials their subject every day to ensure that we know what all her assignments are and tests.
We initial any scored papers. That way the teachers know we have seen them. If they don't get the initialed papers back they contact us.
Within 24 hours of a missed assignment the teachers must write or call us.
She can have extra time on tests.
She can have extra time to change classes. Our school has a strict detention policy for lateness to any class. She is exempt.
She has her own locker. Some kids share in our school.
She can go to her locker at any time. Each grade is allowed to go to their lockers only at assigned trimes during the day.
We meet with all her teachers at least once a quarter at the same time. We evaluate her progress and compare notes.
We tell her that on the medication we expect her to step up and behave like the rest of the kids. The accomodations are only a safety net.
I have to say that I lean on the guidance counselor very heavily. She hears from my husband and I often. I have contacted the Vice Principal several times. And the head of counseling services at the Board of education knows my name.
The squeaky wheel gets noticed. I want them to know that if they screw with me or the plan they will hear from me. They know I will NOT hesitate to contact a lawyer.
I know this sounds extreme and it is rather uncomfortable for my husband and I BUT the school system screwed my daughter for 6 years (kindergarten through end of 5th grade). I am just not going to take it anymore.
I am doing my part ... she was diagnosed by 3 different doctors. I even took her to the private doctor that the school uses for evaluations. She is on 2 kinds of medications. She is in behavioral therapy.
The school knows she has to do her part.
One other accomodation we were offered was a "reduced homework" situation. I have not accepted that as of yet. Yes there are nights we spend 2, 3 or 4 hours doing the work. Not often but on occasion.
I know she has a real disease but my goal is to make her a "functioning, self supporting" adult. I do not want her diagnosis to be a crutch.
Her self esteem has soared this year. If I have any regrets it is that I did not put her on drugs and fight the school system sooner.
Hi debby-nj,
What kind of accomodations did your dd need. We meds is she on?
My dd did very well adjusting to middle school regarding finding classes and using an adgenda. We went to the school a couple times before the first day of class so that she would know where all her classes were and learn how to open her locker. We had a map and I just walked behind her so that she could learn to use the map. There were parents that don't do this for their kids even though it is recommended and these kids were a wreck and very embarrassed. There are also a lot of kids that don't care about school and are disorganized because of that. We also met all her teachers and the school psychologist before school started.
The bus is terrible. No violence but there is tons of sex talk, gestures and occasionally inappropriate touching. My dd is very uncomfortable on the bus. We are going to pick her up from school 4 days per week to help minimize the experience. She's not bullied on the bus. It's just disturbing. That's another story. I worry about her feeling about boys. She says they are either over-sexed or they are picking their noses. No boys in the middle. Maybe she is paranoid or most boys act sex-crazed to fit in at this age.
One fantastic thing about middle school is the larger pool of kids. There definitely are quirky artistic and gifted kids that my dd relates to better. She's too shy getting phone numbers but I am going to get after her about this soon. There is a lot of girl-bullying at school but my dd knows how to avoid most of it. Basically she avoid exclusive cliques. Occassionally even a boy attempts to bully her but she seems to be handling it. I have asked for a change of seating two times this year. I need to get my dd to do this herself next time.
Overall, middle school has been better than 5th grade but 5th grade is when she crashed emotionally and we were able to get a diagnosis and medication.
Hi there, I have a very similar daughter, gifted reader, excels academically, but poor socially. My daughter is only in grade three. I had my suspicions in kindergarten that she had ADD, but it wasn't until the end of Grade 1 that we had a diagnosis and anothe year before she was on meds. She has been on biphentin for a year with dramatic results, but still on the fringe socially. I am hopeful that the drugs have improved her reading of nonverbal ques and control her physical impulses enough that she will develop a real friend, but she is such a know-it -all and kind of nerdy, I think that puts other kids off. She seems to develop strong bonds with adults, and she is very adult oriented. Do you find your daughter is that way too? I sometimes wonder if the right place for her to make friends is an academic club of some sort, I don' tknow...I'd say my dd is similar. She may have been little pushy with her ideas in third grade but now her confidence is so low that she is considered "shy". She does best with artsy kids at our local arts center. Half of those kids seem to have ADD and the rest seem to be more open/tolerant in general. She entered middle school this year and is trying to break into a group of intelligent girls at school. They are called nerdy but I think that is only because they are in the gifted program. However, one of them does wear "toddler cloths" my daughter tells me. I haven't met any of them because dd is too shy to get phone numbers. She does develop a strong bond with teachers every year. I'm not sure if it is because she is smart or because they want to look out for her or both. She is very close to me right now. We've not getting the adolescent/parent withdrawal yet. She gets moody but I am still her main confidant even about her rare crushes.
Middle school is great for meeting other like-minded friends but you have a ways to go before that. What I would do is get her into things that she likes. Similar interests often translates into finding like-minded friends.
My son's school will not give a 504 or IEP unless the kid is failing, or close to it, so I know what you're up against. Nothing sucks more than to sit in one of those meetings and listen to them act as if they have no idea what you're talking about, and refuse to admit that your child struggles at all.
A friend who is a sped teacher in my county (and has a child in my son's school)explained the reason that they are reluctant to give kids 504s or IEPs. Under No Child Left Behind each school has to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). If a school has a certain percentage of children who fit certain criteria, like being eligible for free/reduced lunch or special ed, then they have to show that they are making AYP within that subgroup of children as well. This gives schools some incentive to keep those numbers of kids with 504s/IEPs down because the more subgroups they have, the harder it is to make AYP.
My son's school gave him a "Student Support Plan" with accommodations- there doesn't seem to be much difference between that and a 504, except for the legal aspects, which would only be a problem if the teacher refused to follow it. My son has a great team of teachers this year, though, and they've been more than willing to help him out.
You've got to pick your battles with the school. Hey, we must be in the same district!!! Thankfully, the teachers at our school have been awsome also.kate3, it's our district that is the problem not the state. They just try to limit. They do bend over backwards with informal accommodations. Our district has a little more money that most so that probably helps.
Bethann, I know my rights and if I thought dd could receive something useful from a 504 then I'd hire a lawyer and fight on. The one cool thing about all this is that dd is learning how to be ADD in a non-ADD world.
I guess I should re-phrase my statement/question.
Why does anyone need a lawyer for a 504 Plan?
We had an IEP and never hired an attorney.
We just switched over to a 504 Plan and again, never hired an attorney.
I am confused.
I feel bad when they deny children who could benefit from these plans.
And gifted has nothing to do with these either of these. I think most adhd'ers are gifted in one area or another.
The reason you need a lawyer is because they have their own unwritten rules. They don't obey the law. Even an advocate doesn't work. They just tell the advocate that he is wrong and then dismiss the request for a 504 or an IEP. If I hire a lawyer, I would win but I would have spent a lot of money. So it is a battle that I have chosen not to fight unless I can see a real benefit. I'd rather save the money for college. It's not the teachers that are the problem. It is the district administrators that have a goal of limiting IEPs and 504s.
Now if my dd had her ADD diagnosis earlier, she might have benefited from a social skills program that was available to elementary school kids. Unfortunately it took three evaluations to have dd diagnosed because teachers and psychologists around here just can't see how a child can be twice exceptional (ADD and gifted.) My husband is also ADD and gifted but he didn't know about it until recently. Since dd acted like he does, he thought that it was normal and filled out the parent survey very leniently. It took a mental health breakdown, a young enlightened teacher, my husband getting emotional with the doctor and a smart pediatrician to get my dd on meds and save her. I knew there was a problem since Kindergarten but it wasn't until 5th grade that she received her diagnosis. At that age, I couldn't just tell her she was going to have to accept accommodations. I just barely convinced her to take meds. She has chosen to adapt to her environment as best she can rather than have the embarrassment of getting special treatment. I also happen to agree with her that girls are very cliquey at this age and no one wants to look different. It might not be fair but it is reality. They are very afraid that they will have no friends. Now she is in 6th grade (middle school) and it is even more frightening at the thought of having no friends. As it is, she has very few friends but they seem to be very nice.
Now my dd with rheumatoid arthritis could have problems later if she has a flare and an unsympathetic PE coach. It is not a visible disability so historically kids with arthritis have been mistreated by PE teachers who think the kid is faking. When she enters middle school I am going to have a frank discussion with the PE teacher and see what kind of response I get. Her doctor always writes on the school physical form that dd can self-limit in PE class.
So, I am well-aware that both my kids are being denied their rights to legal paperwork but it wouldn't pay to fight it as of yet.
So my DD is 12 and a straight A student. For years they told me she did not have ADHD.
While it is true as a straight A student she is not entitled to learning accomodations she is entitled to physical accomodations.
So here is what we did ... we live in NJ but took her into NYC to get evaluated at Columbia. They required the teachers to complete some forms. the teachers refused but I fought the school board in writing.
Columbia gave me a WRITTEN report that said based solely alone on the teacher's observations my daughter had ADHD with extreme inattentiveness.
I followed up with a local neurologost. She also gave me a written report which included a diagnosis and a list of accomodations she demanded for my daughter.
I took these written letters and mailed them signed receipt to the Board of Education. It is hard for any school district to deny you accomodations when you have a written medical diagnosis from a trained professional.
our 504 Plan has so many things accomodated and he does not even know. that is the good part. we got teacher preference, seating preference, homework lessening, the list goes on. i am glad your is doing well , so is mine but we have back up plans to his actions. i would not pull him out for any resourse because he and i don't want to label him with his friends. noone but the teacher and admin. knows.we are happy so far although i am scared of 6th and middle schools, he is in 4th now.I should have clarified. I am aware that we are entitled to a 504 but I would need a lawyer to get it. I've seen the consequences of challenging the school distract and it isn't pretty. I have a dd with rheumatoid arthritis and I couldn't get any legal agreement with the school. She was so strong academically that they said she could miss the entire year of Kindergarten for health reasons and still not be at a disadvantage. There is no attendence requirement in our state. I had hired an advocate and he was very good. The schoool just didn't relent. They did accommodate my dd with arthritis very appropriately but it was informal. Now she is in remission so there isn't a problem right now. Dd with ADD does not want help from the school. She is actually doing quite well with organization now. Her grades are good. There is a social skills program but she doesn't want the embarrassment of going to the class. Every one knows where the pulled-out kids are going. Other kids are currently unaware of her ADD. She likes it that way. She does have a special relationship with the middle school psychologist and one of her teachers. Adults tend to take care of her. She's lucky in that she isn't annoying or a behavior problem.
How has your son benefited from his 504 plan?
I'm appalled that some gifted kids are denied IEP's! I don't often say good things about the NYC department of ed., but my gifted child does have an IEP for SID (his ADHD diagnosis is recent, so we're in the process of getting his IEP reviewed for that). He gets his services after school hours because he attends a nonpublic school, so there's no "pulling out" for him.
I was told that one disadvantage of gifted kids is that they are often very aware when their functioning is not matching their intellectual capacity - this can cause even more stress for them.
How nice that your DD has some more artsy and unique people to befriend at her new school! Middle school - man, I hated it, and I hate to think of my kids having to go thru those painful years. But we all do it, I guess!
My son is an A, a few B, students. He is exceeding his school's expectations, he is well ahead of grade level.
He just tested out of an IEP and now had a 504 Plan. I have never hired an attorney nor lawyer.
someone is misleading you. Please check further. You and your child have rights!
Hi, I'm a newbee. I have a daughter who is gifted in language arts and has ADD. I'm hoping to network with other parents that have some of the same challenges. Dd's problems are mostly social but she is making progress with the appropriate medications. She takes Strattera with a small dose of Daytrana. She wasn't diagnosed until she had a sort of mental health breakdown in 5th grade. She developed anxiety and depression trying to deal with being disorganized and rejected by some of her friends. She became a loner in her classroom. Thankfully, she maintained one good friendship at that time. The girl wasn't in her class. Well anyway, we don't have academic problems in general. An IEP and 504 are not available to kids with good grades in our district. At 11 and in middle school my dd would refuse any help at this time anyway. She is my oldest so I am learning on her how to parent. I think that is it. I would be really interested in knowing if anyone on this forum has a child with similar issues.
i believe that if it is public shcool, it is covered , by federal law. both the 504 and IEP plans, are defialtly covered, look up wrightslaw on google. you have rights. my son is 9 going on 15 so he knows everything, this week he failed (from A)
i hope this helps with school. we have an 504 plan because me son is so gifted he does not qualify for special ed.(iep)