Supports for an ADD boy who is "doing well" in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. similar issue. DC is all As, with a few Bs, only in organizational skills, actually, and recently diagnosed with LD. I requested a meeting for an evaluation and school said no need to do an evaluation, as DC is fine and above average. My concern is that DC will at some point, not be fine or above average, and then what do we do? I am not really asking for services, but for an IEP (as it is an LD) to get accommodations. Frustrating that because DC is bright, the LD is not addressed by school. Was told DC has to be two grades below grade level to be considered for an evaluation.

If you only need accomodations, then you need a 504 plan. An IEP is for a child that needs a specific goal to attain. Both can include accomodations.

OP here - thank you so much. I had not heard of a 504 plan before.

[Anonymous]

ASDEC can also help you with somebody to do the evaluation and advocate with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have your son evaluated. My son was doing OK academically in everything but writing (and impulsivity in class). I'm so glad we did a private evaluation. He has a 504 plan. He takes standardized tests privately now and gets to type in his class- those are his main accomodations. They have made a big difference for him. The only way we got a 504 was because his teacher was very, very supportive.

My son has a very high verbal IQ. To have a very smart kid who is 7 struggle to write a sentence is very hard for him and for us, his parents. Most of his teachers and the special ed team thought that was fine.

This is OP. Thank you. I had never heard of a 504. I just checked it out and it looks like it might be helpful. In fifth grade, his best friend helped keep him "on task" by remembering home work, etc., but next year he is in different classes than his best friend and I'm not sure how he'll cope. He NEVER used the agenda, and the teacher did not follow-up to check, despite asking her to. And of course, with my own ADD, I let months go by before realizing he wasn't writing down the assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only advice I can give you is to not expect him to magically develop executive functioning overnight, or even over years. Resign yourself to being the "helicopter parent". THIS IS NOT A BAD THING WHEN YOUR CHILD REALLY NEEDS IT!! Brownose, beg, and wheedle the teacher to put any home work in a separate zippered folder for him, along with a copy of tasks to be completed. Do not expect him to be able to be able write down his own homework. Continue to make him do so, but don't let his success depend on it- get secondary verification. Email the teacher every Friday and ask after missing assignments so they can be completed over the weekend. Do NOT ever let your child be in sole possession of loose papers- zippered folders are miracles of God when used correctly! You need to be your child's forebrain, and don't let anyone tell you differently.

This does not mean you shouldn't try teach your kid organizational skills. Tutor him, strategize with him, show him what to do, but don't take the training wheels off or he'll just fall behind in his work again. You cannot teach these kids executive functioning via "sink or swim".

This is OP. Remember, I have ADD too. So ...do I get my overdue taxes (2011) done, or do I follow-up on his homework? (No worries, I'm not a scofflaw, we pay estimated taxes and always get a big refund!) ANYWAY, even if I did remember to do this, up to what grade can you realistically do this? Next year he is in 6th grade, and will have so many different teachers, changing for each class, etc. Also, my son HATES it when I try to look at his binder or help him. The fact that he can "wing it" in school and do well really hides a lot of the issues.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am in FCPS, not MOCO. I am meeting with the Parent Resource Center to ask about my next steps. Does MOCO have something similar?

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP, I have not heard of it but doesn't mean it doesn't exist - will find out!

[Anonymous]

Good luck. My Dev. Ped told me about the PRC within FCPS. They are similar to advocates and can help you figure out the tide before you get in too deep.

[Anonymous]

Arggh...OP here...we don't have a developmental pediatrician either. I've learned so much from your responses - thank you.