larbec7
08-24-2007, 12:55 AM
Is ADHD considered a disability?
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bwitht
08-24-2007, 01:17 AM
A disability in what sense? To apply for SSD, to get special help in school, to get reasonable accomodations from an employer?
To apply for SSD/SSI: It depends on how it effects your ability to work (usually have to have other conditions).
Help in school: Definitely - Title program
ADA: Within guidelines
To apply for SSD/SSI: It depends on how it effects your ability to work (usually have to have other conditions).
Help in school: Definitely - Title program
ADA: Within guidelines
larbec7
08-24-2007, 09:52 AM
My daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD for the past 4 years or so. She is 12 years old and struggles really hard. She is VERY bright and is capable of making "A's" in school but forgets to turn in her homework, does not do it, messy, does not pick up behind herself at home....many, many , many things as the list goes on. I am afraid she may not make it in the REAL world.
I was looking to see if anything would be available for her so we can tuck it away iin a bank account for when she gets older to help her out.
Thanks for the reply
I was looking to see if anything would be available for her so we can tuck it away iin a bank account for when she gets older to help her out.
Thanks for the reply
TM1
08-24-2007, 10:22 AM
I think there is a major risk of people with ADD being underemployed. They might not beable to focus on a job that requires their mind and pays well and will be forced to doing boring low paying jobs. People with ADD tend to be very creative I would suggest she develop some creative hobby that could get her a better than minimum wage job that she will find stimulating.
larbec7
08-24-2007, 11:54 AM
She loves to cook and do crafts
tomjayc
08-24-2007, 01:14 PM
I think that you may be selling your kid short. Thomas Edison was a ADD'er. My Father was a high school drop out who went on to be a self made millionaire. I barely made it through school myself and I'm doing very well for myself. After years of not measuring up in school I went on to become a machinist. Now I own a very high tech machine shop with over 35 employees. I know that I'm blowing my own horn here, but I don't think that school grades are a true measurement of knowledge learned for someone with ADD. My 2 cents.
TM1
08-24-2007, 04:45 PM
I went on to become a machinist.
My grand father was a machinist and I do it as a hobby. :)
My grand father was a machinist and I do it as a hobby. :)
frazzledparent
08-24-2007, 06:17 PM
My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD just this past June. She is 19 and had done okay up until college presented her with more challenging workloads than high school. She's been on Strattera for a couple of months and it seems to be helping her "settle down" so she can concentrate and organize her life. She too is very creative and has chosen a field (interior design) that will make use of her talents. I agree with the previous statement about not selling your child short. ADHD people can be successful, with or without college. I think my daughter will make it through college...might take 5+ years...but she'll be fine! Also, ADHD is considered a learning disability, at least according to her University. She had a meeting with someone at the school, in the disabilities department, so she will get some "extra special treatment" due to the disorder. I don't know what that is at this time. I'm trying not to stick my nose in her business too much and I'm letting her handle her life until she asks for my help!
Karen
Karen
Johna
08-24-2007, 11:36 PM
have you applied for SSI?
index.html
08-25-2007, 05:09 AM
I think that you may be selling your kid short. ... I know that I'm blowing my own horn here, but I don't think that school grades are a true measurement of knowledge learned for someone with ADD. My 2 cents.
A very good post (and no, you weren't just blowing your own horn)!
Larbec,
I don't know if you can get SSI for a 12 year old, but I doubt it. But here are a couple of thoughts for you. One is that I think it would be helpful for you to talk to a counselor at your daughter's school. You will find out that this is VERY normal behavior for 12 year olds. They all go through it to a certain extent.
I understand that your daughter has ADHD and that she has it worse than most kids her age. I have a severely ADHD son myself so I know what you are going through. At 12 (and 13, 14, and 15), I was sure that there was no way that he would ever be able to live independently. Now that he's 17, I'm starting to have hope that he MIGHT be able to make it. I still have serious doubts about his ability to hold down a job for any length of time, but he finally is taking enough responsibility that I think he might be able to live on his own. Maybe with a few more years, the other will come...
My point? Don't give up hope yet!!!
A very good post (and no, you weren't just blowing your own horn)!
Larbec,
I don't know if you can get SSI for a 12 year old, but I doubt it. But here are a couple of thoughts for you. One is that I think it would be helpful for you to talk to a counselor at your daughter's school. You will find out that this is VERY normal behavior for 12 year olds. They all go through it to a certain extent.
I understand that your daughter has ADHD and that she has it worse than most kids her age. I have a severely ADHD son myself so I know what you are going through. At 12 (and 13, 14, and 15), I was sure that there was no way that he would ever be able to live independently. Now that he's 17, I'm starting to have hope that he MIGHT be able to make it. I still have serious doubts about his ability to hold down a job for any length of time, but he finally is taking enough responsibility that I think he might be able to live on his own. Maybe with a few more years, the other will come...
My point? Don't give up hope yet!!!
larbec7
08-25-2007, 09:35 AM
Thank you for all the encouragement and replies back, I do want her to live a "normal" life and will do everything I can to help her succeed. It used to be a fight in general just to get her to take her medication.
3kidz4me
09-09-2007, 12:11 PM
I asked my son's therapist about this over the summer because I had people telling me I should apply for disability for him. Therapist said that at this point he would write a favorable letter. Just because a child gets disability now, doesn't mean they will be labeled for life as it is reevaluated every 3 years.
This all came about because my son, 8 yrs old, has been dx'ed ADHD, ODD & GAD. I've had him tested for Asperger's Syndrome. He's been on Adderall XR since 5 yrs old (moved up to 25 mg around 6 yrs) and we just switched to Concerta 36 mg. He's been on Tenex (for anxiety), switched to Abilify the begining of 1st grade (5 mg 2xday). When we switched to Concerta (yesterday being the first dose) we also added Depakote 250 mg 2xday. Our problem isn't in school. His anxiety issues have him so straight at school (uncomfortable) that he's well behaved, gets his work done. But the minute he gets to his "safe zone" he's gets irritable, starts fighting/arguing over doing homework ~ he will actually fight w/ his sister whether or not she brushed her hair. I am also aware that by the time he gets off the bus, the Adderall XR is out of his system. He started having full blown rages on Good Friday of this year in which he needs to be restrained. He's raged on me twice, stepgrandma twice, aunt once, therapist twice and stepdad once. All rages were in response to getting in trouble and not wanting to comply with discipline.
In our talk w/ the therpist about disability, he said he sees my sons future as having problems keeping a job due to anger issues (ODD ~ defiance of authority). When tested for Asperger's, the psych said my son would be the type to get a job as mathmatician, engineer, architect, etc, however, therapist says the problem would be getting the education to get these types of jobs again related to the anger issues of ODD.
I am going to start the disability process (again) this week but my reasoning isn't money, it's the insurance. My son's current private insurance does not cover ANY mental health (visits w/ the psych or therapy). Therapists bill runs $720/month. My son's med copays run $150/month (he's also dx'ed severe environmental allergies). So for us, it's worth a shot. His disability isn't straight ADHD, but the ODD and anxiety that comes along with it.
Good Luck in your journey.
This all came about because my son, 8 yrs old, has been dx'ed ADHD, ODD & GAD. I've had him tested for Asperger's Syndrome. He's been on Adderall XR since 5 yrs old (moved up to 25 mg around 6 yrs) and we just switched to Concerta 36 mg. He's been on Tenex (for anxiety), switched to Abilify the begining of 1st grade (5 mg 2xday). When we switched to Concerta (yesterday being the first dose) we also added Depakote 250 mg 2xday. Our problem isn't in school. His anxiety issues have him so straight at school (uncomfortable) that he's well behaved, gets his work done. But the minute he gets to his "safe zone" he's gets irritable, starts fighting/arguing over doing homework ~ he will actually fight w/ his sister whether or not she brushed her hair. I am also aware that by the time he gets off the bus, the Adderall XR is out of his system. He started having full blown rages on Good Friday of this year in which he needs to be restrained. He's raged on me twice, stepgrandma twice, aunt once, therapist twice and stepdad once. All rages were in response to getting in trouble and not wanting to comply with discipline.
In our talk w/ the therpist about disability, he said he sees my sons future as having problems keeping a job due to anger issues (ODD ~ defiance of authority). When tested for Asperger's, the psych said my son would be the type to get a job as mathmatician, engineer, architect, etc, however, therapist says the problem would be getting the education to get these types of jobs again related to the anger issues of ODD.
I am going to start the disability process (again) this week but my reasoning isn't money, it's the insurance. My son's current private insurance does not cover ANY mental health (visits w/ the psych or therapy). Therapists bill runs $720/month. My son's med copays run $150/month (he's also dx'ed severe environmental allergies). So for us, it's worth a shot. His disability isn't straight ADHD, but the ODD and anxiety that comes along with it.
Good Luck in your journey.

