Iep - ADD / ADHD Message Board

mamu710 · 11-19-2003, 01:24 PM

Hi Everyone,
First off, I've been reading along for a while and want to thank everyone for all the useful information.
My son is 15 and was diagnosed officially 4 years ago with ADHD. He's been struggling in school since Kintergarden. We held him back in Kindergarden and he still continued his struggles. He's had tutors since 1st grade. He was in a perochial school and we just this put him in public. He loves it so far. He takes Straterra right now. After trying many differend meds, that seems to work best with minimal side effects.
My question is this; I had him tested for learning dis. right off the bat so I could get him the extra help he may need. I wasn't sure if he was just adhd or was also learning disabled. Anyway, I have an appoint. tomorrow at school for an IEP. has anyone here been through this? Is there certain things I should ask for. I've read up a little but any extra thoughts would be appreciated.

* Free ~ Spirit * · 11-19-2003, 07:24 PM

You need to ask for basic accomodations that you/he/his teachers/and his doctors feel will help him to get the most out of his school experience. It sounds like he could have learning disabilities along with his ADHD which is making it even harder for him to do well in school.

What are the subjects he has trouble in? What is the hardest part of school for him? Would he rather read or listen? Does he like looking at a picture book/graph, or listening to the teacher explain a word problem? You need to figure out all these things and think about how he learns best then incorporate it into his IEP. For example if a kid with ADHD studies better with sound/music they may have in their IEP "permission to use walkman during in seat work time"

serenitee · 11-19-2003, 09:04 PM

IEPs are Individual Education Plans that are written for students which cover all areas of the disability including a plan for goals that should be covered for the duration of the IEP (usually a year). You have probably already been to your meeting and discovered that it is less intimidating than it sounds. If your son is 15 already, then he must be about ready for HS. These plans are usually begun much earlier on when the child is much younger. I hope that it works out for him.
SSB

mamu710 · 11-20-2003, 06:19 AM

Thanks for the reply Free Spirit!
He did test low average. Low enough to qualify for help. His worst subject is reading and math. He doesn't retain information. He seems to get it one day and then the next it's gone. It's been a problem deciding if he ever understood... or did he just forget. The school psychologist said he would qualify for books on tape. He seems to learn better from verbal instruction. Lectures being the worse. His science teacher teaches that way and he is struggling in his class. He does like him and he likes science so I am hopeful that he will do ok with some help. His math teacher has been wonderful. She's the one that is pushing this through for me. I only wish I had changed schools a long time ago. Hindsight right!
Anyway, I go for the meeting today at 12:30. I wish my husband could go with me but he had surgery a couple days ago so I am on my own! Wish me luck. Thanks again for your remarks! I'll post and let you know how it went.

mamu710 · 11-20-2003, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serenitee

IEPs are Individual Education Plans that are written for students which cover all areas of the disability including a plan for goals that should be covered for the duration of the IEP (usually a year). You have probably already been to your meeting and discovered that it is less intimidating than it sounds. If your son is 15 already, then he must be about ready for HS. These plans are usually begun much earlier on when the child is much younger. I hope that it works out for him.
SSB

Thanks serenitee
He is in eighth grade this year. That's why the psychologist is trying to get him started asap. so, when he enters high school he will be more prepared.
I should have done this a long time ago. I know now that I waited to long. I tried several times to get help. Had him tested only to be told that he was low average but not learning disabled. I guess the school just didn't have the means to do much. He plugged along with my help and a couple of others. Enough to get by. He's a great kid so he takes it as it comes...but the last couple of years his self esteem has really suffered.
I did meet with the psychologist already once. But, this one is with everyone. So, I wanted some last minute advise. I've been blown off before after getting my hopes up, I just don't want that to happen again.Thanks again!