My ADHD/LD Son is Thriving at his Title 1 School

Prior to moving to Virginia in December 2007, my ADHD/LD son attended a brand new $11 million school. It was state-of-the-art with all of the bells and whistles. Even though the lights turned on automatically when entering a room, the special education services were lacking to say the least. Yes, the school made adequate yearly progress each year, but that did not benefit my son in the least.

He had an IEP, which was rarely followed by his teachers. He saw the resource teacher for two hours each day but continued to stay well below grade level in every subject. He felt like an outsider and was well aware that he was "different."

Since moving to Virginia, his entire school experience has completely changed. The school he attends now is a Title 1 school.....

Please visit Trusera to continue reading this post. :)

IEPs as seen by Dr. Seuss

We've all been there... the never ending IEP meeting. The countless pages to sign. The draft, second draft and maybe the final copy. Even though IEP meetings are a necessary form of punishment that we as parents must endure, that doesn't mean we can't find a little smidgen of humor in them, right? As evidence I offer the following.

IEPs by Dr. Seuss

(author unknown)

Do you like these IEPs?

I do not like these IEPs

I do not like them, Geez Louise

We test, we check

We plan, we meet

But nothing ever seems complete.

Would you, could you

like the form?

I do not like the form I see

Not page 1, not 2, not 3

Another change

A brand new box

I think we all

Have lost our rocks.

Could you all meet here or there?

We could not all meet here or there.

We cannot all fit anywhere!

Not in a room.

Not in the hall.

There seems to be no space at all.

Would you, could you meet again?

I cannot meet again next week

No lunch, no prep

Please hear me speak.

No not at dusk. No, not at dawn

At 4 p.m. I should be gone.

Could you hear while all speak out?

Would you write the words they spout?

I could not hear, I would not write

This does not need to be a fight.

Sign here, date there,

Mark this, check that

Beware the student's ad-vo-cat(e).

You do not like them

So you say

Try again, try again!

And you may.

If you will let me be,

I will try again

You'll see.

Say!

I almost like these IEPs!

I think I'll write 6003.

And I will practice day and night

Until they say

"You've got it right!"

Virtual Schooling for ADHD Children

In my local paper today I read an article about virtual schooling. It is offered in a nearby county. Non-residents of that county (and reside in Virginia) can pay a fee of $600 per child and attend the virtual school as well.

The article mentioned two children who began the school 2008-2009 school year in an actual public school. However, after suddenly hating school after previously loving it, the children's mother took them out of the public school. She paid the required fee ($1200 total) and enrolled them in the virtual school. After eight weeks, she reports that her children are much happier and performing better academically.

I know what you are thinking... what is the difference between home schooling and virtual schooling? Per Answers.com, homeschooling is "An educational alternative in which children are educated at home and in the community, in contrast to a compulsory education which takes place in an institution such as a publicly-run or privately run school." Virtual schooling on the other hand is a web-based program where students complete the required work at home. The students are under the supervision of an accredited teacher.

The school mentioned in the piece, Bedford Academy of Virtual Learning, has students enrolled from 20 counties in Virginia. The Academy is a part of the Bedford county school system. Therefore, enrolled students are required to take the standardized Standards of Learning (SOL) tests like other public school children in Virginia.

I can definitely see how this type of learning environment could benefit some ADHD students. Many are well behind their peers and perform below grade level. While IEP's can help some ADHD students who are struggling, teacher cut backs and lack of funding can often make individualized attention impossible. Many ADHD children also have low self esteem and are targets for bullies. By attending school virtually, this problem would all but be eliminated. The only drawback I can see is not being able to participate in extracurricular activities. However, this could be attained through community activities I suppose.

My ADHD son is happy in public school. In fact, he absolutely loves it! He would absolutely hate to be taken out of it. But, if your child is struggling and you have wondered what other options are out there, you may want to consider virtual schooling as an option. For more information you can visit the K12 website (this is the curriculum that Bedford County uses).

Bridging the Gap Family Forum

If you are in the Roanoke, VA area, you'll want to attend the Bridging the Gap Family Forum that is coming up. It is being sponsored by Family Service of Roanoke Valley.

Who should attend: Families and caregivers raising challenging children, including those with special needs, educators, and community members who support vulnerable children.

When: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Where: Roanoke Plaza Hotel, 2801 Hershberger Road (formerly the Wyndham)

Fee: Free

You can pre-register online at http://www.fsrv.org/. For more information please visit the Family Service of Roanoke Valley's website. See you there!

Homework & Your ADHD/LD Child

I have just completed a two-part story about homework and your ADHD/LD child on the health site Trusera.  Part one details general views about the demands of homework currently placed on students.  I also offer my own opinions on the subject.  In part two, I share homework tips that I have successfully used with my ADHD/LD son for over five years.  I invite you to stop by and take a look.  Feel free to let me know what you think.

Back to School Tips for You... the ADHD/LD Parent

Not only is it important to prepare your child to go back to school, but you need to prepare as well. These are the things I do to prepare myself for a successful school year:

• Purchase a monthly calendar - I use this strictly for school related activities. I record my son's upcoming tests, project deadlines and activities. It's an easy way to he and I top see what's coming up on the weeks ahead.
  


• Update your Resource Notebook - I make sure all paperwork and report cards from the previous school year are included. I also check to make sure all information is up to date.

• Schedule a teachers conference - I like to schedule a meeting with the teacher about one month after school has started. This allows the teacher time to get to know my son and his abilities. I meet with her to get her feedback on his behavior, social interaction with new classmates and academic progress. This information provides a baseline for the teacher and I to base the rest of the year on.

• Schedule an IEP meeting - I usually do six to eight weeks after school has started. This allows the IEP team, me included, to review his IEP and see if any changes need to be made.

• Discuss the new school year with my son - After a week or two my son and I have a light-hearted, yet in depth discussion about school. I ask him how things are going, what he likes best, what he dislikes, what changes he things could be made to help him, etc. I use this information when I meet with the teacher and IEP team.

• Volunteer - I firmly believe that being active at your child's school will improve his school experience. I volunteer in the classroom, library and cafeteria. I am also active in the school's PTA. By doing this, you will form a stronger bond with the very people you entrust your child to on a daily basis... teachers, principal, school nurse, etc. Your presence will also allow you to get to know your child's peers. I have found this to be a wonderful way to combat bullying as well. The bullies are more apt to leave your child alone if they know you will be at the school on a regular basis. They will not see your child as an easy target. Plus, my son loves it when he sees me at school. It brings his two worlds together and makes him feel more at ease.

• Don't forget the picture - I always take a picture of my son on the first day of school. To easily tell which year each picture was take, he holds up the number of fingers that correspond to that year's grade. These are priceless photos that I've cherished throughout the years. Plus, it's amazing to see how much he grows from year to year.

For additional tips on getting ready for the back-to-school rush, visit these sites:

• Back to School: 10 Conversations to Have with ADHD Children


• A Back-to-School Checklist for ADHD Children


• Back-to-School Preparation for Children with ADHD

Here's to a great school year for you and your ADHD/LD child!

Back to School Tips for Your ADHD/LD Child

My ADHD/LD son will start back to school in just three short weeks. It's incredibly hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. However, he couldn't be more excited! In spite of the numerous academic difficulties he has, he absolutely loves school. He thrives on the social interaction. Regardless of his enthusiasm, there are still several things he has to do to prepare for his return:

• Return to school year bedtime routine - During the summer he is allowed to stay up as late as he wishes, which usually does not go past 11:00 pm. We will begin returning him to his usual bedtime (9:30 pm) slowly.

• School supplies - He loves getting stocked up on school supplies. As soon as our local stores begin stocking their shelves he is ready to fill up our cart. However, this year I used an online service, EZ School Supplies. They have a comprehensive site full of every possible school supply your child could need. Their prices are also comparable to local stores' prices. It was fast, easy and convenient.

• Clothes - Since it seems like my son grows every single night, I always go through his clothes and check to see what still fits and what does not. Since he is very rarely able to wear clothes for two seasons, now is the perfect time to make any necessary clothing purchases. All of the major retailers general have back-to-school sales and bargains are easy to find.

• Meet the teacher - This is a night my son looks forward to. His school holds a "Meet the Teacher Night" a few days before school starts. This allows the students to get acquainted with their new teacher, classroom and classmates. We always make every effort to attend this all important event. It helps relieve some of the back-to-school stress.

• Homework space - Now is the perfect time to restock your child's homework supplies for home. Make sure he has all of the pencils, paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, erasers, etc. that he will need to complete his homework assignments. We have a designated area in our home, next to my home office, where all of the supplies are categorized and stored. I usually wait until a week or two after school has started to stock up on these supplies. That is when most of the major retailers slash the school supplies prices in order to clear their shelves. I generally purchase enough to last the entire year at this time.

What Exactly is IDEA?

If you have been in the ADHD/LD arena for any length of time at all, you've inevitably heard about IDEA. But, do you really know what it is? How it affects your child? Did you know there is more than one part?

According to the IDEA website...

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

IDEA governs the entire special education process. IDEA also promotes the use of assistive technology in teaching children with disabilities.

The nine basic steps of IDEA are:

1. The child is identified as potentially requiring special education support.
   
2. The child is then evaluated. The evaluation will include the school team and the parent.


3. After evaluation, the eligibility is determined. Qualified professionals and the parent will determine the eligibility.


4. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is scheduled.


5. The IEP is written.


6. The plan is carried out - Services are provided.


7. Ongoing measurement of progress and reporting to parents.


8. The IEP is reviewed.


9. Reevaluation.

To read more information about each step, visit About.com. Wrightslaw.com also has a comprehensive list of articles about IDEA that you can access for free.

Tips for an IEP/504 Meeting

Going into an IEP or 504 meeting can be intimidating if you aren't prepared. Below are a few tips to help you prepare that I recently read.

• Do your Research! Go to the public library or call your state's Parenting Training and Information Center for suggestions, advice and information.
• Nobody should be developing your child's IEP or Section 504 without you! If this happens, do not sign anything and tell them you want to schedule a meeting to help develop this plan.
• If you aren't satisfied at the end of the meeting, ask for another meeting.
• Bring a tape recorder to meeting. Tell them that you are going to bring one. If they say you can't, ask them to provide you with documentation that prohibits tape recorders. Tell them you will make copies for them. The reason for a tape recorder is to allow you to go over meeting at a later time. These meetings can be stressful.
• A few days before a meeting, make a list of everything you want to discuss and make copies for everyone. If you can't get to everything on your list, request a second meeting to do so.
• Bring an advocate that knows the ins and out of Special Education if possible.
• The night before a meeting, put everything you want to bring in a folder.
• If you do not understand something that is being said, do not hesitate to interrupt and ask it to be explained to you. Don't leave the meeting confused.
• You can request that specific people be at this meeting and if they have confirmed and dropped out at the last minute, ask to reschedule meeting.
• Go to the meeting prepared and with a positive attitude. Show them that you are more than willing to work with them and that you want them to work with you. After all it's about your child.
• Make a list of what works for your child. Have it added to the IEP or Section 504 Plan. Do not sign until it's added.
• If you feel the plan isn't being met, remind the teachers to read the plan. You can also make a copy of what is in the plan and put it in your child's binder. Let the teachers know it will be there for their review.
• Keep in touch with teachers. Call them, write notes or letters. If you are concerned about anything, request a meeting.
  

Just remember not to go into the meeting expecting the worst. Go in prepared with the knowledge you have obtained and advocate for you child. You are an equal participant in an IEP/504 meeting. You have every right to make suggestions, modifications, etc. as you see necessary. Also, I highly encourage you create a resource notebook. You find it will be an invaluable tool on your journey.

Raven's Guide to Special Education

Today I came across a wonderful resource for anyone that is remotely associated with special education. If you are a teacher, parent, grandparent or know anyone that is involved with special education, this website will be of use to you. The name of the site is Raven's Guide to Special Education.

The intent of Raven's Guide to Special Education is to make this complex educational system more understandable and workable for the people who help children with disabilities. Within this online guide are concise summaries of special education laws, regulations, procedures, and disability categories; teaching, discipline, and inclusion strategies; a glossary of special education terms; links to related Internet sites; and more.

The author, Richard Flagle, is a School Psychologist. He provides information on regulations, disabilities, evaluations, IEP's, programs, teaching, discipline, mainstream, ESY, transition, glossary and Internet links. You can also utilize the Google search feature on the site to search for a specific topic.

Also, to help you navigate and better understand the special education maze, you may find this list useful:
A Parent Primer on Special Education Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions. It provides a comprehensive list of virtually every abbreviation that is used in the special education system. You can also print it out and keep it handy for future reference. I have also added a link in the sidebar under "Resources" so it will be easy for you to find as the need arises.

How to Overcome IEP Meeting Hurdles

Do you have an IEP meeting coming up? Are you almost certain that you will hear why your child's school can not possibly give your child the accommodations that you are seeking? Have you heard "Our teachers can't do that, they are over worked as it is" before? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is help. The NCLID has compiled three lists full of "courteous, yet assertive" responses that parents can use when confronted with excuses from school administration. They have also provided relevant information from sections of the special education law and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to supplement your responses. I highly advise you to review the lists carefully so that you can be prepared the next time you are scheduled to sit across from the IEP team . Don't be afraid to advocate for your ADHD/LD child!

• List 1
• List 2
• List 3

You may also want to review posts that I have written in the past that pertain to IEP meetings.

Special Education Laws quiz

Want to find out how much you know about your ADHD/LD child's rights under the law? Take this short, ten question quiz to find out. Let me warn you though, it's pretty tough. I learned a few things! If you don't score well, please don't fret. Use it more as a learning experience as opposed to an assessment. It is good to have background knowledge when advocating for you child's rights.

Back to School Tips for ADHD & LD students

It's hard to believe that summer is over already. Time to pack away the beach towels and pool toys. As the majority of kids usually are, my ADHD/LD son was ready to go back to school. He misses the structure and scheduling that the school year provides. I have found several useful articles to help prepare you and your ADHD/LD child for the new school year. First, ADDitude Magazine offers a Back-to-School Checklist:

1. Review your child’s IEP or 504 Plan.
2. Organize school systems together.
3. Stock up on school supplies.
4. Consider this year’s after-school activities.
5. Find a tutor or homework helper.
6. Make a calendar.
7. Review medication.

To read details about each tip, visit ADDitudemag.com. This site also offers a sample letter that you can give to your child's teacher. This letter is to introduce your child to his teacher as soon as the school year begins. You should explain your child's strengths and weaknesses. Also, let her know what has worked for your child in the past. I have also provided a copy of the letter I give to my ADHD/LD son's teacher each year in this previous post. Another useful and informative article entitled Getting a Fresh Start at School. It details how to get past a bad school year and look ahead to the new one.

If you are scheduled to attend an IEP meeting at the beginning of school, you can find a wonderful list of accommodations here. You can use this list to advocate for you child and get him what he needs.

We all know that with the start of school also comes homework. To help your ADHD/LD child with this nightly ritual, provide him with everything he will need. This article, entitled The Homework Supply Kit can help you with this.

Lastly, Schwab Learning has a Back-To-School Kit posted on their website. It is a comprehensive list of back-to-school topics ranging from "Learning and Attention Problems 101" to "Working with the Teacher." It's a good read and contains loads of helpful information.

I hope you and your ADHD/LD child the best for the 2007 - 2008 school year. I will be posting more school related topics soon, so stay tuned.

Five Steps to Becoming Your Child's Best Advocate

Yahoo Education gives the definition of advocate as follows: "To speak, plead, or argue in favor of. One that argues for a cause; a supporter or defender. One that pleads on another's behalf." Who better to argue for, support and defend your child than you, the parent? No one else will care as deeply or believe in your child more than you. That's why it is of the utmost importance that you take your role as advocate seriously. Here are five steps to help you do just that.

1. Start with the assumption that you are an equal partner in your child's education.


2. Deal with your perceptions or feelings about yourself as a parent of a child with ADHD/LD.


3. Acquire knowledge. You don't have to memorize everything, just be aware and ask questions. Learn about the IDEA 2004, how the system works, and know the people involved in your sons' educational decisions.


4. Improve your skills.......communication, documentation, letter writing, and record keeping.


5. Participate. This is the most important thing you can do for your child. Participate in the development of your child's IEP. Share your ideas, ask questions, and attend all meetings. Also, participate in teacher conferences, parent group meetings (PTA), and school functions.

Always remember that you are an equal partner and do not be intimidated. Your child's school will more than likely welcome your advocacy and fully understand your doing so.

(Adapted from Pro-Parents newsletter, Spring/Summer 2007)

From Emotions to Advocacy

If you've ever attended an IEP meeting, you know how easy it is to become emotional. After all, the "student" you are there to advocate for also happens to be your child! However, in order to be considered an equal with the other professionals at an IEP meeting, you need to keep your emotions in check. Authors Pete and Pam Wright have written a book entitled From Emotions to Advocacy to help you do that very thing. According to Lisa at Ideal Lives (they are currently having server problems, but keep checking back) here are a few of the books pluses:

• It's chock full of great information.
  
• It gives you a step by step blue-print that any advocate can follow.


• It's written with Pete & Pam's wonderful combination of practicality, humor & wisdom.


• The information is presented in a clear and concise format.


• It's filled with tips, tricks, and techniques and an immense wealth of resources, from Internet sites about disabilities to advocacy organizations to worksheets, forms, and sample letters.


• It explains the importance of testing, and what the results tell us.

Parent's IEP Report

KidsTogether.org has a 16 page document entitled "Parent's IEP Report." This is a free document that you are welcome to print and use as you prepare for your child's IEP meeting. Information is included about the following topics:

• inclusion


• changing the IEP meetings to change the outcomes


• determining your child's strengths and needs


• writing goals


• related services


• modifications and and adaptations


• appropriate placement

This site also offers additional article that you may find useful while preparing for an IEP meeting: "Tips for Getting What Your Child Needs, and "Ten Common Mistakes Parents Make During the IEP Meeting."

Learning Disabilities Checklists

Have you ever wondered how to describe your LD child's strengths and weaknesses? I have personally struggled when it comes time to discuss this at IEP meetings. I'm never quite sure how to word things to get my point across adequately. Well, About.com has compiled checklists for this very purpose.

These observational checklists will help you determine where your child's strengths and weaknesses are. Check the appropriate items and bring forward to your IEP meeting or for a parent/teacher meeting.

These checklists cover a wide range of topics....written skills, reading skills, math skills, fine and gross motor skills, listening comprehension, oral language development, social skills, and behavior. In addition, they provide an extensive list of possible accommodations that may be beneficial to your LD child.

Inclusion vs. Self Contained Classroom

Does your child have a learning disability? Are you being faced with having to make a decision between inclusion and self contained classes for him? First of all, let me give you the definition of each. About.com defines inclusion as:

...a term which expresses commitment to educate each child, to the maximum extent appropriate, in the school and classroom he or she would otherwise attend. It involves bringing the support services to the child (rather than moving the child to the services) and requires only that the child will benefit from being in the class (rather than having to keep up with the other students).

Furthermore, they describe a self contained classroom environment as:

...a self-contained classroom means that your child will be removed from the general school population for all academic subjects to work in a small controlled setting with a special-education teacher. Students in a self-contained class may be working at all different academic levels, with different textbooks and different curricula. Self-contained classes offer structure, routine, and appropriate expectations, but some students may require a higher level of specialization.

Here are a few articles relating to both. I hope they help you in making your decision:

• Inclusion website


• WEAC.org


• LDOnline.org

For a related article, read Redefining an Integrated Classroom at The East Hampton Star.

Preparing for your first IEP meeting

It was 2003 when I attended my very first IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting. My son had just been diagnosed with three learning disabilities. And, only six months before, came the diagnosis of ADHD. Being new to the whole process of an IEP meeting, I was pretty much clueless. I thought I went to the meeting just to see what the teachers thought would be best for my son. I didn't know that I, as a parent, had an equal voice at this meeting. Since that time I have researched, learned and prepared for each meeting. I go armed with my resource notebook, questions, suggestions and concerns. I have requested certain accommodations be added to his IEP, and they have been. We (the school officials and I) work as a team. If you plan to attend your first IEP meeting in the near future, Great Schools has a wonderful resource on their site that you will want to review. It is an "e-ssential guide" entitled Preparing for Your First IEP Meeting available for download free of charge. The topics covered are:

• An overview of the IEP process, including your role as a parent
• Things you can do before, during, and after the meeting to make it successful
• What makes IEP goals effective, and how to monitor those goals
• A glossary of frequently used educational terms
• Effective ways to talk with family and friends about your child’s learning problems
• How to talk with your elementary-age child about his learning difficulties
• Recommended resources, including books, articles, and websites

Also, you may find these previous posts helpful:

• IEP Meetings
• The Resource Room
• Parents as Advocates

Early on I purchased a book entitled "Nolo's IEP Guide: Learning Disabilities." It has been an invaluable resource that I have referred to often. I first checked it out from my local library. I knew right away that it was a book I needed to have for future reference. I then purchased it through half.com at a very reasonable price.

IEP Meetings * Update *

This coming Monday I have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting for my nine year old son. I tend to get so frustrated at these meetings. It seems that the only time any of them are truly concerned with his progress is at these meetings. They lay out a vague plan for his accommodations and suggested progress for the coming year. We all sign the bottom and that's it. It is then up to me (his only true advocate) to look out for him. I make sure the teacher is following the IEP, I aggravate the resource teacher because she isn't on the same page as his classroom teacher, and the vice principal and psychologist are not heard from again until the next meeting. In addition to these frustrations, I'm also going to request that he be retested before the end of school. His last assessment was three years ago and I believe it is no longer accurate. His needs have changed. I'll let you know how it goes and what I do (or do not) get accomplished. In the meantime, here are a few online resources that I have found to be helpful in the past when preparing for these meetings:

• NCLD article
• Education World
• Schwab Learning
• Kid's Together

And, on a lighter note....the Top 10 signs that you are going to have a bad IEP meeting.

*UPDATE* - The meeting went very quickly. They totally agreed that he needed to be retested. He is scheduled to have this done the first week in March. We will meet again after that to discuss the findings and change his accommodations if necessary. Stay tuned!