hi, all. I'm new here. I'm a mom of an 8yo boy who we finally got diagnosed last school year as having adhd. We had alot of problems with the school and my son's teacher constantly calling me about his behavior and the kids in his class constantly picking on him for his behavior problems. I was so relieved when school was out for the summer. Luc, my son was taken off the strattera for the summer by our ped, which i didn't like, but didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing at the time, anyway we started him back on his medicine about 2wks ago and i'm worried because he doesn't seem to be responding as well this time and school starts tues. so in short i'm really dreading this school year. we went open house saturday to find out who his teacher was etc. and i asked about getting the IEP done for the upcoming school year and i was told the teacher would have to determine if there was a need again. unfortunetly we live in louisiana and in a bad school district and we had to fight them to get the last IEP and 504 done and then the teacher wouldn't follow it. so my ? is has anyone else had this experience with an uncooperative school system and how do you make it work?
sorry to rant, but thanks for any advice you can give me.
Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in dreading the school year - me too! My DS will be going into 7th grade. Last year we moved to a new state and hence a new school. We got a terrible teacher and principal. They were not interested in helping my DS at all (it is a long story but he wasn't even causing any problems - he was bored and having trouble paying attention. He was also bullied.). Nothing my DH and I did seemed to help very much. I did eventually reach out to a guidance counselor who was somewhat helpful. Finally in about February our pediatrician sent the principal a certified letter (DS had begun to develop anxiety, things were so bad) and that really angered the principal but it did seem to get them to take me a bit more seriously. They took the bullying more seriously and worked to get it "toned down". It never completely stopped. I requested an IEP or 504 (not because I really thought he needed one - he never had one at our last school and he did fine - but because I thought they might take me more seriously) and they did some testing, etc. We had our meeting about the results on the last day of school - a lot of good all of that did!
Anyway, I don't have a lot to offer because we never really got the help we needed. If possible get your pediatrician or whoever diagnosed your child involved. That might help. I have read of some people getting an advocate involved (hopefully someone will chime in about that). Take it up the educational ladder (teacher, principal, superintendent, school board). Get a lawyer. Go to your state's education departments website and see what is required by the state. Dig through the school districts policies as well. I did both and felt that gave me knowledge and tools to work with. I know there are people on this board that will be able to give you some suggestions - you are not alone in this. You may want to post in the "school" section as well and go back through some of the old posts there.
Good Luck!
my sons school got so bad last yr that we had to pull him out and homeschool him. the teacher and the principal were monsters!! i went to meeting after metting and got a phone call everyday from the teacher only for her to blow off everything i said to try to help and just stuck my son in time outs. he ended up geting a 2 hour time outs (which i didnt know at the time) and they did it over lunch and he would have to eat with 4 grade and he was only in kindergarten!! and thats not everything but it would take me ALL day to get it all out! so luckily we were moving this yr to a diff city and he got to start off in a diff school. we also got him diagnosed and just think we finally found the right med for him in time for school. he has started on monday and this week has been like a dream so far. no bad reports no phone calls. we actually have a teacher and principal that care. do u have any other choices for schools near u?? if its really bad for him can u homeschool?? can u try another med and see if that works out. or maybe a different dose from the last yr?? im not sure how strattera works so i have no advice for that but maybe try a diff one and see how it goes. i know my son being on meds is mostly what has saved him this year. and if they fall through i feel like i will actually have support and help to figure out what will work for him in the class room. i also feel like a big part is the teacher they end up with. i wouldnt want my kid to be in a school with ppl like that that dont care if he learns or want to help him. i dont understand if these ppl are teachers why they wouldnt try everything they can to help teach a child!! your ds school sounds like my ds old school. i know on the school forum they know more about legal things u can do and things that have worked for them. i havent had to exp an iep or 504. i wish u the best of luck. sorry for rambling! i hope everything works out for your ds.
kim
Hopelee9101- welcome to the forum. You will receive a lot of support here. I also took my 8 y/o son out of school toward the end of last year and am now homeschooling him. I was sick and tired of the public school and the private school not providing a secure and nonthreatening environment for him to learn. Schools, BY LAW, are required to provide a secure environment for our children.
You can contact the Americans with Disabilities folks and use them to exert pressure on the school. You can contact your representative or senator (state or federal). You can write letters to the newspapers or suggest they do a story on what the schools are providing for special needs children.
BUT FIRST - have your doctor write a letter stating your child is ADHD and needs an IEP or 504. Then YOU write a letter stating that you expect his needs to be met and you demand no bullying or other threats to his person- physical or emotional. If you can volunteer for the school during school days do so. Be proactive. Request a meeting with the principal and his teacher ASAP. Look at the thread that Mike Phelp's mom wrote that is at the top of the list of threads in this section of Parent's with ADHD children and copy what you need to bring with you to the meeting. Give copies to the teacher and principal. BE PROACTIVE! The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Also, talk to your doctor about other meds that might work for your son. You may want to try one out on the weekend. With stimulants you can see immediate results so you will know if it is working before Monday. Also, set some expectations from your son: Being respectful, keeping hands to self, no screaming is a good start.
Best wishes! All of us can do this for our children. They are not perfect - we use Saturdays to make up work our children have not finished during the week. And major transgressions are dealt with immediately: we were going to take them to the beach today but Jon acted up and now they are staying home.
Randy
thanks for the replies. I'm glad to know others out there know how aggravating this is. We have an appt with the ped in 2 wks to decide whether to keep the strattera or not, i'm leaning toward not, it doesn't seem to do a good job in helping with the impulsivness, which is a big part of luc's problems at the school. unfortunetly moving isn't yet an option for us, we have to stay in this district for one more year, due to a variety of reasons to numerous to name. We are just going to have to make the school listen and do the right thing, whether they like it or not. i am definelty going to check into the regulations and requirments on the IEP's and such. and i think i'll put the school board on my cell speed dial!!! maybe i'm just worrying for nothing there is a new principal this year i hope she is a little more helpful than the last. thanks for all the replies and the good ideas. good luck to you in your upcoming school years.
Wow. You are getting scammed.
IEPs fall under federal law, and they follow you from one school district to another, even if it's in another state. Based on your initial post, you already have one. When SPED kids move to a new different school district - in the same state or a different state - the new school district has to provide services comparable to the services in the previous IEP. He doesn't lose SPED eligibility.
I suggest that you draft a letter and with a legal quote. This would definately need to be sent by certified mail to the principal or you need the office secretary to sign acknowledging receipt. Here is a quote from Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition (you chose depending on whether you've moved to another state or you are in the same state):
"In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in the same state, the LEA (school district) shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previously held IEP, in consultation with the parents, until such time as the school district adopts the previous IEP or develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP that is consistent with Federal and State law."
OR
"In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, who enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in another state, the school district shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previous IEP, in consultation with the child's parents until such time as the district conducts an evaluation, if determined to be necessary, and develops a new IEP, if appropriate, that is consistent with Federal and State law."
You could tack this quote in as well:
The IDEA also states that "the new school shall take steps to promptly obtain the child's records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education and related services to the child..."
Your closing paragraph is that you look forward to receiving the IEP Meeting notification, and working with the team. Attach the most recent IEP and the last report card.
BTW, teachers don't "decide if there is a need." The parent requests testing, and either the child meets the legal criteria or he doesn't. The teacher's opinion doesn't come into play when determining eligibility.
When you have an IEP and a teacher is still calling you daily and complaining then you respond by either 1) changing the medication; or 2) requesting more and more services be added to the IEP. You ask for a 1:1 aide 30 minutes daily, you increase that time up to 3 hrs a day, you ask for increasing RSP time (in or out of class), ask for a reading specialist, OT services, anything needed. You just redirect the teacher's torrent at the IEP team, since they are suppose to be addressing the problems once you agreed to put your child into the SPED system. They are accountable. Each phone call from the teacher generates a written request for an IEP meeting from you.
Jessica N39683.3647916667Hopelee,
I would recommend you find an ADHD specialist to treat your son,typically this is a psychiatrist but can be another type of doctor. The reason I am recommending this is that pediatricians are good for general health care and can treat simple ADHD. But ADHD is rarely simple. ADHD specialists have a broader background and experience with the types of meds used to treat ADHD. They will work harder to find the right med for your son. My son now takes a mood stabilzer that I know the ped would have never given him. I realized this when his psychiatrist was out of the country and we needed a refill. The ped asked me 20 questions about the med and why he was taking it. I still go to his ped for all his other health issues.
I will say my son is happier now than he has been in a long time.
I solved the school problems by homeschooling. I don't dread those phone calls or notes. I realize that this is not a option for all parents in today's economy. If you can, you will see your child bloom. They can still have socail interaction through Scouts, sports and church.
Strattera takes a while to start really working I believe. Have you tried