Anonymous
Post 05/28/2012 18:22     Subject: Parents of ADHD kids... need advice
We are still seeking an appropriate school for our LD 12 yr old ADHD daughter.

Has anyone had experience (+/-) with the Parkmont School in NW DC, Echelon Academy in Olney MD, or the Harbor School in Annapolis & Baltimore?
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2012 22:13     Subject: Parents of ADHD kids... need advice
I have a first grade ADHD child and I just started meds this week after almost two years of struggling for him in kindergarten and up to now in first grade. His behavior got worse at school, not better after therapy, social skills, excellent teachers and behavior charts, laods of reading of books and implementing behavior plans in my house. for what it's worth, he is manageble at home more easily though. I thought he needed a private school tool but my husband says he would behave the same way at private school - he's impulsive and tries so hard not to be.

He's been on meds for about a week, teh effect so far is so good it's startling.

I recommend seeing how he does in kindergarten and workign with the school right away. If his social situation is starting to become a problem and you are considering meds at all - do it - kids with ADHD can have a hard time fitting in with friends.

Your son sounds like mine in first grade by the way, always the class clown, very impulsive and very oppositional and can't control, regulate that well - he's been that way for as long as I can remember - he even had colic!
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2012 00:52     Subject: Re:Parents of ADHD kids... need advice
Anonymous wrote:
What school does he go to?


DC started at Norbel and when they went out of business we moved to Compass Academy in Halethorpe MD[/quote
]

What has your experience Ben like with Compass Academy? We're seeking a school for our 12-tr-old ADHD daughter.


We are very happy with Compass Academy and I would highly recommend it. The teachers focus on giving a truly individualized education to each of the students working to find each child's strengths and weaknesses and then building upon their strengths to help them use those strengths to compensate for their weaknesses. The school is able to work with both academic issues that can come with the lack of focus and attention and also social issues that can result from the impulsiveness and acting before thinking. Also as you note a 12 year old daughter - I will add that Compass has several girls in the 11-13 year age range so your daughter will not be the only girl in a class of boys, that can happen so often with ADHD girls. It is also wonderful to be in a setting where DC can have true friends as the other students have different but similar issues and where when DC goes over to a friends house I do not have to worry as the other parents also get it as their child is like mine.

Compass is having an open house on Sunday 5 May - suggest that you visit and check them out.

http://arbutus.patch.com/events/compass-academy-open-house

Anonymous
Post 04/27/2012 19:07     Subject: Re:Parents of ADHD kids... need advice
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in private school b/c of the huge class size in MoCo. Having toured many schools, there are definitely quite a few boys proportionately in many of the privates, especially in the younger grades. Obviously, not all are ADHD but I think parents realize the benefit of a small classrooms for kids that may be more socially immature or more rambunctious.

Many privates will accept a kid with ADHD but probably not what the private school forum refers to as the big 3 or big 5. It definitely cannot hurt to call around to private schools that interest you for openings.

I would definitely suggest Auburn which has a specific program for kids with ADHD. Lab also accepts kids with ADHD. I would also say look into Harbor, Primary Day, Oneness, Lowell, Sheridan, or McLean, which are not specifically special needs schools but can be accommodating.

I would consider Lab definitely. Not so sure about Oneness, my child goes there, and though it is a wonderful school, I don't think the teachers there have enough training in special education to send a child with a known issue like ADHD there. Also, they do expect a lot in terms of self control and the ability to follow directions, sit still etc even at the pre-k and kindergarten level. Not sure if those are issues for your sons specifically, but wanted to pass this info along.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2012 18:17     Subject: Re:Parents of ADHD kids... need advice

What school does he go to?


DC started at Norbel and when they went out of business we moved to Compass Academy in Halethorpe MD[/quote
]

What has your experience Ben like with Compass Academy? We're seeking a school for our 12-tr-old ADHD daughter.
Anonymous
Post 04/24/2012 22:29     Subject: Re:Parents of ADHD kids... need advice
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, did you son still qualify for a 504 plan though?


Not that the school system made me aware of and they were not offering me anything besides telling me that my DC was a discipline problem. From what I have learned since I could and should have fought more for services, but .... just parenting a special needs child and holding down a full time job (and at that time my husband who was in the military was deployed so I was also single Mom'ing it) I was not up to battling the school system and getting a "degree in special ed law" in the hopes that I would hit upon the right mix that would allow my DC to be successful. So I opted out of the system for private (thankfully hubby and I can afford) and have never looked back and never regretted it. My DC is doing great and is growing into a confident young adult who despite limitations is also aware of what he can do. So for us private was definitely the right decision!


What school does he go to?


DC started at Norbel and when they went out of business we moved to Compass Academy in Halethorpe MD
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2012 10:00     Subject: Re:Parents of ADHD kids... need advice
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, did you son still qualify for a 504 plan though?


Not that the school system made me aware of and they were not offering me anything besides telling me that my DC was a discipline problem. From what I have learned since I could and should have fought more for services, but .... just parenting a special needs child and holding down a full time job (and at that time my husband who was in the military was deployed so I was also single Mom'ing it) I was not up to battling the school system and getting a "degree in special ed law" in the hopes that I would hit upon the right mix that would allow my DC to be successful. So I opted out of the system for private (thankfully hubby and I can afford) and have never looked back and never regretted it. My DC is doing great and is growing into a confident young adult who despite limitations is also aware of what he can do. So for us private was definitely the right decision!


What school does he go to?