what is the limit of accomodations in public school for a child with ADHD?"?

Question

My child qualifies under Section 504 for accomodations in school. So far, this is the first time it is being tried with him.
He has been on many or most of the medications and only one really worked well for him for over a year but it is no longer doing the job.
Now we are trying another medication and we still aren't sure if it's going to help. So, we are basically tweaking it little by little to try to get it just right.
Can anyone please give me any information on how they have helped their child with ADHD? We don't have the trouble with him at home that they have with him at school.

How far does the school have to go to accomodate?

At what point can they say, "Well, ok we have tried this and that and nothing is working"?

Or can they just try modifications ONCE and say, "Well, we tried that and it didn't work, sorry, there is nothing we can do"?

Is there ever any point that they have the right to kick a child out of school because of a disorder that he cannot help

Also, I'm not saying that we NEVER have any problems with him at home but that they make it sound like the teacher can't function and do what she is supposed to do with him in class. But we just don't see that side of him at home. I don't know if that is due to more distractions at school than at home though.

Answer 1

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 3. I never really had a problem with her at home, either. School was another story. When she started school, I would go meet her teacher(s). I would let them know what she had and how I dealt with it. Keeping any child busy is difficult, but one with ADHD is triply so. I brought workbooks and extra paper and colors so they could keep her busy when she finished her work. She is now 13 and in the Gifted and Talented program now, but it took a lot of trips to the school and wonderful teachers who took the time to understand what she needed. Without those two things, I am not sure my daughter would have made it.

Go talk to the teachers and the principle. See what you can work out. With ADHD there is usually one thing that holds their interest, like art, find out what that is for your son. Take extra supplies to school so he can do something besides get into trouble. Explain to the teacher that it doesn't have to be for a grade, it is simply busy work. Talk with your child each night to discuss how things went at school.

Answer 2

To the best of my understanding, the process works as follows:

They try to keep the child in mainstream classes, whether or not he's on medication. If he's losing ground academically they may add some limited Special Ed help, which gets him into the Special Ed program.

If that doesn't work they may recommend full-time in Special Ed, and after a while if he's too disruptive for Special Ed classes they may recommend he attend a special school elsewhere.

If the law has not changed since I first learned about it, the town is required to pay for the child's education at the special school.

In the Special Ed program parents to have some say over what they'll accept for their child, although I can't say I know how it works if the child is too disruptive in school (rather than just being a child who isn't learning).

If the doctor who is tweaking the medications continues to be involved that will be a factor. If the doctor says there's no more tweaking that can help (which is unlikely, I'd think) that would change what the school is faced with as well.

You need to just talk to the school people and ask them, "If such and such doesn't work - what next?"

The law requires that every child be given an education. In general, it can be hard to get approval to send a child to a special needs school because the cities/towns don't want to pay for it. If, by any chance, anyone believes home-schooling may work better for your son the school system would work with you.

Answer 3

Hi... gee, i'm sorry your child is suffering with ADHD....

If you have concerns about your child's school situation, perhaps talk with the school counselor, and also the superintendent or whatever administrative staff is in place to talk with parents and help them solve issues which arise.

I'm sure they'd work with your child and you.

And i hope things work out. take care ok?

Answer 4

Each school is probably different. Ask the principal at your child's school what is acceptable and unacceptable for your situation.