Reply to Is it required to disclose medication usage to public school?

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "Is it required to disclose medication usage to public school?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]PP - how does it benefit the child if his teachers know he is taking medication for ADHD?

I am a teacher, and also a mom of a child who may or may not be taking medication for ADHD.   I'd like to know specifically how you think it would enhance my child's education for his classroom teacher to be privy to his medical information in this case.

Will they teach him differently if the answer is yes or no?

Please be specific in your answer.[/quote]

I would like to think that a teacher isn’t influenced by a child taking/not taking ADHD medication.

Unlike diabetes or hypertension, ADHD has symptoms that impact not only the child, but all those in the classroom.  If a child is taking ADHD medication to control those symptoms, why wouldn’t you inform the person who can best provide you with information on its effectiveness?  Just how do you think you’ll know if you have a therapeutic dose or if there needs to be an adjustment?  Teachers are your first line responders.

Contrary to what a PP suggested, we do not have a rosy view of schools.  Because of the challenges we’ve had with the schools, we had to hire a high priced consultant/advocate who comes with us to every meeting.  No, I have no illusions about the schools.  But, we have to work with the teachers who are in the best position to give us academic feedback on our kids.  Their observations contributed to our decision to use medication.  They were the first to notice when my DS started to develop a tic.  They noted changes in his behavior that indicated a medication change was required and then helped us find the best time/dose to take by reporting their observations and discussing his schedule with us so we, together, decide when we needed the medication to be at peak effectiveness.

How in the world will you know if the medication is effective and if you’re at a therapeutic dose if you don’t involve the teachers?  Why medicate at all if you don’t care how it affects your child’s academic life?
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics