Can school deny 504 or any service to child identified as ADHD by licence Psychologist
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Anonymous
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My child identified by licenced Psychologist as ADHD (2e) (mild case) just in December.
Psychologist has huge list of accomodations that should benefit my child. Child just mooved to new to school district (no info from prior school). No speical education is required. School just wants to wait for 3 months to see how child would do. Child is on grade level, and moving to Middle school next year. Can school deny accomodations to child if child is on grade level but has ADHD? I know without accomodations my child may be on grade level in Middle School, but would have tremendous difficulties in many subjects . Why he has to work twice harder then regular kid and get lower grades, if with some small accomodations this would not be big issue? What is the process to fight MCPS? We need in writing accomodations before Middle School starts, but elementary school says, we would try to see how child will do. They do not care that Middle school is completely different from elementary. Any reading materials? Is it time to higher adovacate? Any advice? |
Anonymous
| You have to wait until there's a problem at school that needs accommodating. |
Anonymous
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OP here.
So if my child is on grade level with low Cs school will deny accomodations with legal diagnosis? Child diagnosed with extremely low processing speed, cannot be trust to bring homework and will not write down homework if it is given orally. Needs extra time with big writing in class assignments (very laboros writing.) Basically if no accomodations are done, there is no opportunity for success. With small accomodations you can get A, B student. So what options do I have for my child to succed and be productive? None? |
Anonymous
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I feel for you, OP. Our 2e kid fell apart in middle school and it was like watching a train coming down the tracks and not being able to move him off of the tracks.
Been there, done that, pulled my hair out. All I can say is document, document, document. I had a school counselor tell me to "let him fail" because otherwise he would get no help. (By the way, this is illegal, but so it goes in MCPS...) So as soon as I saw the Ds from missed assignments on Edline, I grabbed them, recorded them and started the process of saying he was failing and needed help (even though his IQ is off the charts and he can ace a test cold). There is nothing else you can do to fight MCPS. They believe that if they didn't have this access to services gate up, they would be deluged with all kids being classified with SN for IEP/504. The best advice I can give you is to do all you can at home to support your kid, and to get in touch with Marisa (?) of the 2e program in MCPS. You might also want to apply in to the special middle school program for 2e kids. It is so frustrating that MCPS KNOWS so much about 2e - is considered world-class - yet the knowledge does not reach the typical classroom teacher. Would you mind sharing what accommodations the doctor recommended for your 2e child? I am still pulling my hair out and wondering if there is something else we should be doing. |
Anonymous
| The school needs to see the educational impact. Many, many students with an ADHD diagnosis do not have a 504 plan, because their symptoms are controlled through medication or they have learned strategies on their own to compensate. To get a 504 plan, there has to be an educational impact. You can ask for a screening, but without any data, the team is likely to suggest you regroup and meet again in a few months. If I were you, I wouldn't help my child with homework etc.--let them struggle so the impact becomes obvious. I am speaking as a school counselor. 504 plans are for "other health impairments," so, for example, a child who needs to get insulin injections during the school day would have one. However, another child with diabetes who needs no in-school involvement from the nurse etc. would not have a plan. FYI, some kids with ADHD may even have an IEP (individualized educational plan) if the accommodations are not enough. With an IEP, there is a special ed case manager and more direct interventions. Again, the plans are designed to meet the kids' educational needs. A diagnosis is not enough. |
Anonymous
Yes, unfortunately I think this is the case. My son is a 4th grader in the AAP program. He has ADHD and can never remember to write his homework or to let me know when he has tests. Because he is bright, when he finds something interesting in class he gets 100 in the tests. When he doesn't and does not study at home, he'll get a 60 percent. So he averages 80 percent. I have asked for accommodations, to please let me know when he has tests. But unfortunately most of the things that his neuropsych evaluation recommends, requires a 504. But because he does so "well" enough he does not qualify. I can only imagine he would do fantastic if he had a chance to study for his tests. It is very frustrating. |
Anonymous
| School counselor again. Most teachers will implement informal strategies if you ask. If they help, then that is data too. Don't be afraid to ask a teacher to check your child's plan book etc. |
Anonymous
| We are in the same boat.... I was actually told yesterday that if DD starts to fall behind (she's barely meeting standards now), that they will do more. So basically she needs to fail first. Great. |
Anonymous
| PP, this is 12:09. Would you share what accommodations your neuropsych recommended? (Same question I asked OP). We are having a rough time with our 2e DC and I'm re-looking at the entire approach. It was heartbreaking to see him in tears the first day back from winter break. Thanks. |
Anonymous
This really sucks for her self esteem which is already taking a beating.... |
Anonymous
School counselor, thanks for posting and sharing here. This is 12:09 again. In your opinion, what reasonable accommodations do you think most teachers are willing to make for a 2e child? In other words, besides checking a planner (which would be great and maybe I need to ask for that again), what would not be considered an imposition to ask the teachers? I keep getting told that he'll "grow out of it" or "he'll mature" or he "needs to take the consequences of failing grades" but meanwhile he is starting to fall apart again, which really worries me. (He is on medication for anxiety and ADD). |
Anonymous
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OP.
Thanks. Now I know what to do. Starting new quarter I am not checking binder and not reminding my child do any homework. I think we will be two grades below by the end of the year! Then I will higher lawyer. |
Anonymous
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Accommodations will depend of particular child's case.
In our case: Extra time for tests, preferential seating, homework e-mailed to parents; teacher's notes are provided to child (since child can't take notes due to lengthy writing process.) These are the big ones. Our report has 3 pages of accommodations.. Again every child is different, so your child may need very different accommodaitions. Good luck. (We need it too!) |
Anonymous
| PP, what happens when your kid doesn't TURN IN assignments? That would not be addressed by those accommodations listed. This is where our child still struggles. |
Anonymous
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Then you will need accomodation: extended due dates and opportunity to turn in homework electronically (buy a scanner.)
I would stay next to child and see that homework is turned in. Make sure that e-mail leaves output box. We have been there with child without ADHD. |