can anyone tell me why education always seem to excuse childrens bad behaviour on a special needs issue adhd?

Question

I am finding it increasingly stupid that the education system excuse bullying by using well of course he/she has adhd or some other special needs issue. WHY??

Answer 1

I am a special education teacher and I will admit that some parents and teachers just say "oh he/she has a (insert disability)" and then use that as an excuse for the behavior.

However, ADHD is a real disability and it does cause misbehavior. I'm not sure about ADHD causing bullying but it may be the child you are speaking of has other disabilities or is mislabeled.


In any case, my advice to you hinges on whether you are a parent of a child being bullied, or a teacher who is dealing with a special needs child.

If you are a parent of a student who is being bullied, then you should ask to speak to an administrator. Students have the right to be at school and learn in a safe environment. Without making demands about the other student, just ask how the administrator plans on ensuring your child's education. Explain that you know the other student has special needs, but that this is affecting your child's learning and safety at school. Be polite but don't leave the office or meeting room without a WRITTEN statement about their plan to ensure your child's safety and learning.

In any case, the student who is bullying others, regardless of disability, should receive some consequence for his or her actions. However, because the disability plays a factor in the behavior, he or she may receive DIFFERENT consequences than a typically developing child.

For the teacher....

Students with behavior challenges should have a behavior plan. This plan should state the behaviors that are being worked on (typically only one or two at a time). It should state what the consequences will be for "good" behavior and what the consequences will be for incorrect behavior. All adults who work with that child should know the behavior plan. It is important to know that the consequences will look very different for each child.

Let me give you an example. Say I have a child who leaves his desk in the middle of a lesson. He does that a lot. I might give him a sheet with 10 green circles on it. Each time he gets up from his desk, I X out a circle. If he has a circle left at the end of the lesson, he earns a reward--candy, art time, computer time. etc. After he can sit through a lesson only getting up 9 times, then I'll take away a circle and he only has 8 chances. It's important to note that some students will never get down to 1 circle. ADHD kids especially, need a chance to get up and walk around a bit.


Also, for teachers, make sure that you KNOW what is going on. Kids know how to get other kids to misbehave and it may be that the "victims" of bullying are quietly instigating things that will get the ADHD child in trouble. I am not saying that is happening for sure, but careful observation and putting on a detective hat is always necessary.



Aggressive behavior towards other students or adults needs to be dealth with in a serious manner. however, what that looks like will be very different for each student.

Answer 2

I am on Yahoo "questions and answers" to submit a software question I have, and in the process, saw your question.

As a mother of three ADD or ADHD children and being ADD myself, I had difficulty in your perception that education "always" uses this "excuse" for bad behavior. In fact, this is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing. It sounds to me like your school's administration is sincerely mis-informed and needs some real education about ADD/ADHD as "bullying" is NOT necessarily in correlation with "special needs issue ADHD". Also, although ADHD children are "lumped" into the "special needs" catagory, their cognitive disability is very different from aggressive, physical behavior (what you call "bullying") or other physical disabilities. In any event, and whether or not the individual in question is ADHD, the "bullying" is NOT acceptable in any situation and I KNOW for a fact that most schools across the nation have rules about this type of behavior. You DO have rights as a parent of the "victim" and you should not accept the response you have received on this issue. IF you still do not get satisfaction to your issue, I would then go to the superintendent of schools where you are and DEMAND that they protect your child(ren) in the school setting (which they ARE required, by law to do, while children are in their "care" and on school property). How do I know this? My son (in particular), has been (and continues to be) the recipient of "bullying", including tripping him in the halls, pushing him our of his chair in class (in front of the teacher), throwing his books around the classroom (in front of the teacher), profane name calling, shoving, pushing, kicking, etc. etc. I too, have gone before the school administration, and currently, have things running on more or less an "even keel". (For the record - my son is very intelligent and a kind, compassionate child). However, I have also reserved the right to hold a meeting (at any time) with any and all the teachers involved, the head of the IEP (special needs) program at the school, the school principal, my son, myself and any other individuals I feel are needed to be present. Unfortunately, to "protect the rights" of the perpetrator (meaning the bully), you cannot have that person(s) in the room, nor his parents NOR are you allowed to know what action will be or was taken with the person doing the bullying (same reason). One other thing - IF this issue cannot be resolved amicably between yourself, the school and the other "bullying" party, you can possibly also then request that your child(ren) be "home tutored" at the expense of the school district (and you may also have to go to the school Board for this. NOT always the case however, I didn't). My son had this as an option about two years ago and took advantage of it for a good portion of the school year while he adjusted to medication for the recent diagnosis. So, you do have some avenues for both support and action. I hope this helps. :)

Answer 3

When my daughter experienced bullying, it was not from an ADHD child! Typically ADHD children are more introverted and shy, thus far less likely to bully other kids. Because of the challanges these kids face, more often than not they are the targe of bullying behavior, not the cause.

As for schools, more and more schools have taken a zero tolerance approach to bullying of any type from any student. Too often, it is the parents of the bully who raise all sorts of hell when their child is disciplined by it. Many parents still see bullying and being bullied part of the normal childhood experience and feel that kids should just learn to deal with it, that's how life is. Unfortunately, that sort of mentality enable the bullies to keep going and the victims to be afraid to com forward.

My daughter was bullied for the better part of her second grade year simply because she was the only white child in her class. The school administration was proactive...contacting the parents of the child who was the main tormentor every time it happened. Notice I say every time. Unfortunately, even as school districts have taken a harder stance, the tools they can use for discipline are being slowly eliminated. Many schools no longer have detention as parents complained when they had to pick up the kids since they could not take the bus. To suspend an older child is extremely difficult and it almost never happens in lower grades anymore. Most schools havegiven up recess, so staying in for recess is not an option. Educational systems have had their hands tied, and our kids pay the price.

Answer 4

I am sorry but I don't quite understand what you are trying to say.

If you are suggesting that schools make excuses for children with ADHD perhaps you are not understanding what they are trying to tell you.
They are not making excuses--they are merely offering an explanation for the problem behaviors typical of ADHD.

Depending on the severity of ADHD some children have difficulty getting along with other children.They have difficulty staying on task, they have very low frustration levels, they have hot tempers. These traits do not exactly make for a congenial playmate.

I always get angry when I see someone say that ADHD does not exist. Some theorize that Perhaps we are just now seeing alot of drug babies hitting the schools, or perhaps there is some credence to the theory that inoculating our children with thimerosol--a preservative made from mercury used in children's vaccinations up until about three years ago is responsible for a high incidence in neurological disorders.
I suppose autism doesn't exist either, we are:however, experiencing an ungodly increase in autism in children.

So the problem is, how do you control a child with an obvious neurological impairment? I'm afraid the jury is still out on that one.

Answer 5

Well, because some cases actually are a direct result of the ADHD. Kids with ADHD struggle with being able to focus and really understand why they shouldn't bully. However, we all need to learn how to work with children/adults that suffer with ADHD. With attention and time many are able to control their ADHD and can stop their bullying tendencies. Sorry that you've had one to many experiences of ADHD being used as an easy out for bad behavior. Try and take each situation at its own face value. Hopefully, with your patience and a lot of effort those that suffer with this have a better chance of controlling it. God bless you.

Answer 6

ADHD is difficult. NOT an exuse for bullying. If your child is being bullied by someone with ADHD and the school is dissmissing it then i think you should speak to the childs parents. MY son has ADHD and has been known to be a bit rough with other children. he is not a bully because i have taught him better than that. What it is is that my son doesn't realise somtimes so he needs explaining to over and over again. I am sure the parents will be ok probably embarrassed. these children need to learn that what they are doing is wrong not just be allowed to get away with it because they have speial needs. if they can't be taught and they are a danger to other children then they should not be in a mainstream school.

Answer 7

First of all, you need to get your facts straight! I have an 8 year old son in the third grade, who happens to be ADHD. Not only does he not bully, he gets bullied. He begs people to be his friend, but because of ignorant people, such as yourself, ADHD kids have been labeled. I suggest you stop judging and trying to pretend you are such an expert in a subject you have no clue about. My son, who has ADHD, just made a 100 (A+) on a geography exam yesterday that contained 25 questions and definitions about equator, climate, longitude and latitude, etc. As a matter of fact he made the only perfect score!!! A child with ADHD. Imagine that? I wonder where he found the time to study, in between bullying and abusing others and authority. You need to educate yourself on this issue before you begin making false and stupid comments!!!!!
Signed,
A very proud mother of a child with
ADHD

p.s. Children with adhd have short attention spans, they fidget or cant sit still. They have difficulty following directions, because they have difficulty listening. There is a website that you can go to that can answer some questions you have about adhd. It is called ADDitude. You will find that these children have difficulty getting along with others, because they are so head strong. There is another disorder called conduct disorder with opposition defiance disorder. These are the children who are more likely to bully. You say you are sick of the schools using adhd as an excuse, ok. I am sick of people labeling kids with adhd. My son is sweet, loving, kind hearted, smart and friendly. The only problem is that when people find out he is adhd, they dont want anything to do with him. As you can imagine, as a mother, this tears me up inside. I understand your frustration and your anger, but you really should read up on this a little before you begin profiling kids with ADHD.