No school for my kid

[Anonymous]

I would focus on medication adjustment. A minority of kids with ADHD get more anxious and emotional on stimulants, which may be part of the issue. Strattera and guanfacine are non stimulant options for ADHD that usually help with emotional regulation, and then there are things like Zoloft to help with anxiety. Is he in therapy? Something like SPACE might be helpful. It sounds like he has low distress tolerance and a lot of attempts to avoid anything that causes anxiety. Hope you're able to find something that helps soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Linder?

I’m still confused about why people are posting random privates instead of OP coming back to explain what the MCPS IEP team has offered wrt placement.

OP: IEP team has not had any options for placement. They think in middle school bridge will be appropriate but nothing for elementary and it is clearly not working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like your child may have rejection sensitivity dysphoria. If he were to receive treatment for that then he his school options would broaden.

Not OP: What treatment works for rejection sensitivity dysphoria? I thought this was just part of ADHD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would focus on medication adjustment. A minority of kids with ADHD get more anxious and emotional on stimulants, which may be part of the issue. Strattera and guanfacine are non stimulant options for ADHD that usually help with emotional regulation, and then there are things like Zoloft to help with anxiety. Is he in therapy? Something like SPACE might be helpful. It sounds like he has low distress tolerance and a lot of attempts to avoid anything that causes anxiety. Hope you're able to find something that helps soon.

OP: I will ask my psychiatrist about strattera. He is in CBT and DBT-C right now. I agree that anxiety is a big part of it, but there is more going on that we are trying to figure out with medications and therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Linder?

I’m still confused about why people are posting random privates instead of OP coming back to explain what the MCPS IEP team has offered wrt placement.

OP: IEP team has not had any options for placement. They think in middle school bridge will be appropriate but nothing for elementary and it is clearly not working.

Did you visit the program? Sounds worth trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Linder?

I’m still confused about why people are posting random privates instead of OP coming back to explain what the MCPS IEP team has offered wrt placement.

OP: IEP team has not had any options for placement. They think in middle school bridge will be appropriate but nothing for elementary and it is clearly not working.

I believe next year would be 5th grade for your son---correct? If so, then you're options are Connections, SESES, or non public placement if Connections and SESES are not good fits. Waiting until MS for bridge for another year is a long wait.

Have you asked your IEP team about Connections and/or SESES? Has someone from these programs observed your son so they can make a recommendation if he would be a good fit for the program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am heartbroken. My child fits no mold and is struggling with being successful in any setting. At school it is the demands that set him off so he leaves class. He went to PHP and was triggered by the kids who have outward behavior issues and had panic attacks. He gets overwhelmed at school and cries and cries. He is cognitively very bright but has ADHD and can be disruptive. Any corrective feedback he views as hostile and he feels attacked and cries and cries (loudly) and leaves class. What school can accommodate a sensitive kids with so many needs. He is also socially fine (when he is not upset) and cognitively gifted so he needs a social group. We are in MOCO. Where would you send him to school?

+1 we are in the same boat in MoCo. Struck out in public, private, and non-public.

There are no options for 2Es that seem to be working out for kids like ours. Non-public placements seem to be in two categories 1) for students below grade level 2) behavioral based and “jail” like.

+1 this is so true. I am in the same boat, it’s very very hard. in fact I do not know if such school exist, to give my child social emotional support, EF training and challenge his academics that match with his cognitive ability at the same time. We parents always have to do way more, this is an issue that our society needs to address, yes there are a few above and beyond, but they are full! This unique population is getting big. Ugh… I can’t focus on my work, trying to solve the same problem - no fit school for my child

[Anonymous]

NP: What is RICA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP: What is RICA?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rica/about/

[Anonymous]

I would ask the psychiatrist about a medication like Risperidone. A tiny dose can help a lot with the emotional dysregulation.

[Anonymous]

I personally would forget about trying to find an option with accelerated learning right now. You say he's very bright and needs to be challenged, but he can catch up on that stuff in middle school or later. For now, I would focus exclusively on emotional regulation issues and keeping his self-esteem intact. Mental health, to me, always has to come first.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, homeschooling. I know it isn't possible for everyone, but it has been the best for my 2e kid. There are lots of 2e kids in the homeschool community.

[Anonymous]

OP: We are trying SESES next year. He is working with a psychiatrist and is on a small dose of risperidone, a stimulant and SSRI. He is in therapy with two different therapists. He is doing a little better. I am hopeful that he will not be kicked of his camps this summer and we can continue to tweak the medications and work with therapists and have a great year next year. The perception of any negativity as hostility is the hardest thing for him socially and the chronic irritability and emotional regulation struggles are the hardest to parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Any corrective feedback he views as hostile and he feels attacked

This is the problem, his life-long problem
- not 5th grade

This is known in ADHD as “rejection sensitive dysphoria” and it can be addressed by medication. IMO, the extreme difficulty fitting in to any school is a sign that medication should be strongly considered. IME, various family members (adults and kids) have tried medication and either or Zoloft have been tremendously helpful in reducing the sensitivity to criticism, oppositionality or task avoidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally would forget about trying to find an option with accelerated learning right now. You say he's very bright and needs to be challenged, but he can catch up on that stuff in middle school or later. For now, I would focus exclusively on emotional regulation issues and keeping his self-esteem intact. Mental health, to me, always has to come first.

Disagree. For someone with ADHD, not being challenged can lead to depression, withdrawal and makes it harder to emotionally self-regulate. Also, bright peer group is important - nothing is worse for an ADHD kid to have to hang out all day with students and engage in boring social norms. Being intellectually challenged is part of mental health for those with ADHD.