Child with ADHD need help with section 504/IEP and school?

Question

My son has ADHD. He is in third grade. He never brings his books home, the right homework stuff home, hardly ever finishes tests, he stays in trouble for talking, tapping, etc etc. His grades are slacking from A B honor roll from a teacher who worked with us last year, to failing this year. We tried him on medication, We began at 5 with it. We could never find something that we felt the benefits out weighed the side effects, some made him a zombie, depressed, ticks, weight loss, insomnia, iratibility, rages, etc. When side effects presented they would just want to add something else for those. We finally decided no more medication and that has his teacher hating us. We're not poisoning our child for her convenience. He's not bad, he doesn't fight or is mean. He's a good kid with a problem. He's gifted, tests 8th grade reading, math and spelling. I've requested section 504 accomodations and an IEP and been denied. Anyone dealt with a similar situation? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

they can't denie your request for an IEP  with the medical records and everythign and dr statment  if i was you i would take it to the attention of the school board and adminstration and basically raise h**l about it until they give you what you deserve and what your son deserves  and especially since it is for hte benefit of him to get an  education good luck with this

Answer 2

If necessary, have him tested outside of schools.  We suspected our daughter was ADHD but school and teachers kept saying no, she's good at maths and language, she's just lazy, etc.  Problem is she was older - her teens, when we had her tested - she went from Honor Society in year 7 to average student over the next few years.  Now, after diagnosis and 6 months into medication and training, she is maintaining a 90+ overall average and finishing most of her work on time - a first for her in high school.  BE PERSISTANT, I think some schools try to discourage parents from testing because it ends up extra work for them (sad but apparently true in our case)

Answer 3

Usually if they are ADHD they dont qualify for an IEP but sometimes they will under OHI.. But you cant have both IEP and 504. When you said you were denied, what exactly do you mean.. Did you bring in documentation from a doctor (preferbly a psychologist) stating his dx. You have to have this..Call up the school and speak to a special ed teacher at the school..talk with them..

I would request a meeting (do in writing and keep documentation) state that it will be to develop a 504 plan for your child. Be prepared for some examples of accoms..

If they still wont, talk with the dir of special ed for the district.. finally if needed, contact an attorney/

I suggest getting him into therapy...find a child clinical psychologist

Answer 4

For you child to be placed SPED due to ADHD there must be a history of the ADHD negatively affecting his academic progress. Depending on the state, you might want to ask about the "pyramid of interventions." This would be the first step in getting your child served. As far as his present teacher goes, I am sorry. Unfortunately there are some bad ones out there.

Answer 5

Why don't you spend the day with him in school?  Don't just spend an hour...spend the day volunteering.  Tell the teacher the physician wants to know is better at the morning and this attention gets worse, how his relationships with friends are, etc. and you feel bad not knowing more about your child's day.  Being there all day should give you an idea of what his day is like.  Do his behaviors really represent trouble in the classroom?  Is his chair in the worst place possible to guard him from distractions?  Is he extremely bored by the material what he really needs is an accelerated class?  Are your son's and teacher's personalities like oil and water?  Give her a couple of day's notice and offer to do the time consuming stuff like cutouts for the new bulletin board, etc.  She'll appreciate the help and relax while you are there.

I suggested this to a parent a several years ago and the seventh grader was great the first ten minutes of every class period.  Then he seemed to forget mom was there and showed himself to her.  She saw how many times we had to speak to him- standing up, calling people's names, interrupting us while we were teaching, even shaking his desk with his feet.  No more parent/teacher issues.

I'd also call the state department of education and ask for someone to discuss the 504 findings.  Many gifted children have 504's.  I think denying your son one is a load of c**p!

Answer 6

Why was he denied? by who? How are his medical records? If the teachers have complained about him, and if he has medical records showing his illness i don't know how or why he is being denied.

Answer 7

try spending more time with him yourself

BTW how does he get on the Honor Roll without finishing tests?

Answer 8

I am assuming that you have a doctor's diagnosis of ADHD. This qualifies your child as a student with a disability and thus he qualifies for at least a 504 Plan. That is all that is required.

You must file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights against the school district. They have an electronic complaint form, but it is better to write a letter clearly documenting the disability and giving information about what the school has told you.

This happens a lot to gifted children. However, they can get an IEP if there is a discrepancy between their ability and their achievement. This can only be found be formal testing. You probably already have the IQ test, but formal academic must be done by the school psychologist.

This school is clearly giving you the run around and who knows why. Your son is being denied FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education) and you need to become his advocate. To get really good advice on being his advocate, got to the Wright's Law website. If you put 504 plan in the search engine, you will find some articles and help on this issue. It will also give you some language that you need if you decide to file a complaint.

Also investigate FAPE in terms of their denying him an IEP. There is a whole procedure to follow and you will find it on this website.

Finally, request a teacher change. It may be that there is another teacher on staff who is better at handling children with ADHD.

Answer 9

I am experiencing something similar in my state. My son has been diagnosede with PDD-NOS and they have the same problem with the meds and teachers. The only thing I can think of to do if they denied your 504 plan and an IEP is to take it to a higher level, like your state school officals. If your son has tested and has documented proof of his disability (yes, it's a disability and it's not a dirty word!) then they have no reason to deny him a different educational program. That's what your tax dollars are working for; to ensure that your child gets the adequate education and attention he needs to succeed. If you have to, and I have seen it work on more than one occasion, talk to them about your attorney and how he thinks you have a case if they don't at least do testing on your son(at their expense). THAT usually puts a fire under them and something starts rolling.

I wish you the best of luck with your son.

This age is so hard for them and transitioning is a big step. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Answer 10

My oldest is ADHD Autistic not extreme but at times. Before we got good help there was a conversation of him not leaving home when he grew up. It was belief ADHD=bad parenting. I don't remember the age anymore but lets say from 4yrs to 6yrs old I was on a personal mission to prove myself right. Refused to acknowledge that it any thing but me not taking care of business. If you are going through what we went through, you feel kind of lost. You don't what to do. He is 11.5 now he has sleep overs regular basis. We camp in the summer he running all the place just like other kids. 90% of the time he is totally normal. Without medicine he would hurt himself. We ran out for 2 days once he had to sleep in our bed and during.......You know. My point is you need to get help. The people involved in his IEP are simply the best.

I understand and would never judge anybody dealing with a situation this difficult. Having said that from my experience I think your making the choice with medicine. He needs something and different Dr might be it. Getting that level of medicine correct is trial and error. When we switched something he wanted us to call if there were reactions.

With what you wrote your school sucks. I thought and then verified with link below they were wrong. They don't make the choice and if they keep this going I see a BIG payday in your future.

You need three things to come together for him to have a chance improve.

1. At home you can't let him get away with nothing. When he is in a rage you hold him down and try not to let any part of his body move. Not a leg kicking around not arm waving. You calmly speak to him in a firm but soft voice. Saying things like "I have to hold you down so you don't hurt yourself." This approach with our permission was done at school too. It might taken place weekly for about 3 months and worked done to really nothing. I think twice last year. When we would go in store I would have him put his hands on an exact place like the a shelf our counter. I let him do anything he wanted as long as his hands stayed there. He was about 9-10 we were in Kohls at this point a lot progress had been made. Just me and him and lady approached me and she said "You boy is so well behaved, I have never seen such a good kid." He was being good and had been for awhile. I have cried 6 times in my adult life and this was one of them. They were happy tears.  

2. The IEP team needs to get a clue. We had like 7 different people spending one a hour week or the day with him. The are key part. I don't what to tell you here.

3. Get a Dr. that will work with you. He needs the meds.

If you want you can email me

Good Luck!

504 plan / IEP

Section 504 is a civil rights statute that prohibits schools from discriminating against children with disabilities and provide

reasonable accommodations. Under some circumstances, these reasonable accommodations may include the provision of

services.

Eligibility for Section 504 is based on the existence of an identified physical or mental condition that substantially limits a

major life activity. As learning is considered a major life activity, children diagnosed with ADHD are entitled to the

protections of Section 504 if the disability substantially limits their ability to learn. Children who are not eligible for

special education may still be guaranteed access to related services if they meet the Section 504 eligibility criteria.

The plans or IEP (Individual Educational Program) for these children are put together by a team of people working with

the child, typically they include:

Parents

Regular classroom teachers

Special Education teachers

School Administrators

Therapists

These teams have been referred to as a M Team. Well thought out and well written IEP’s are critical for these kids. The

IEP’s provide direction to the School System and the teachers, they define specific interventions or special services. If it

is written into the IEP the School system must provide it, or pay for it to be provided by someone else.