We live in Michigan. My son has severe ADHD, and we've had to fight the school every step of the way- first with his diagnosis, then with what types of help they can offer. I was lied to at first about them being able to help with a diagnosis. I was lied to next about him not qualifying for counsling at school if I want him to have it.
I've read in the past through many different services that ADHD students who can not ride a regular bus can be put on a special education bus. When I brought it up last year, they refused to help me. Now, my son is being threatened with being expelled from the bus for the year because the bus garage supervisor does not like him. I know he acts out, but his bus driver has said twice he would NOT be written up (my older daughter witnessed that), only to have him turn around and write him up anyway.
Federal law mandates children with disabilities get access to services. Can ADHD be classified as a disability? And how?
2006-12-06 09:08:37 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
ADHD is legally considered a disability, as are other learning disabilities. I'm dyslexic, and get extra time on exams for it, and the letter that goes out to all my professors saying I should get extra time starts off with "Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act legally obligate us to provide appropriate accommodations to minimize the impact of a qualifying disability." Granted that's for dyslexia, but it's the same deal for ADHD. Your son automatically qualifies as "disabled" just by having been formally diagnosed as having ADHD - you don't have to do anything special to have it count as a disability.
The tricky part, though, is getting them to enforce it. The only way to FORCE the schools to do anything is to take them to court. And even then, if the school can argue that it's not fair to the other students to let him disrupt their class/bus ride/whatever else, so they have to separate him. Ideally they should make modifications to the environment so that he CAN function in a normal school setting without disrupting the other kids, but that requires that whoever's making the decisions be minimally competent and intelligent, or that they even care. With the public school system as it is, don't count on that. In fact, it's probably don't even worth hoping for.
My mom has a friend who is a very high powered and pushy disability rights attorney, and her son has a pretty profound verbal learning disability. She fought with the school system for years, and even she couldn't get him the services he was entitled to. She eventually had to put him in a private school, which the family can't really afford. The point of all that is that while your son is absolutely entitled to services, I honestly don't think it can be done.
2006-12-06 10:21:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Hi, I don't have an answer for your question! But I just wanted to tell you that I know how you feel! My Step daughter has severe ADHD too! And it is a metal disability! Lots of people do not recognize this and judge you that your a bad parent or your child is bad! People don't have a lot of information about ADHD! Then don't understand unless they have a child or work with a child closely with ADHD! There brains are not wired right and then can not think of consequence of there actions, only the here and now! I know how you feel! Chin up and I hope you get the help you need! Take Care
2016-05-23 01:44:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe so, I know it's considered that here in Canada. I'm not sure about the U.S.
2006-12-06 10:08:03 · answer #3 · answered by One Hand One Heart 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/add.index.htm
This should help
2006-12-06 12:42:59 · answer #4 · answered by Jess 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋