My son 9yrs old was diagnosed at age 5 with ADHD......He is currently on Adderall XR and doing well with behavior and most subjects in school except reading/comprehension!!! Making a longgggg story short-we finally had him tested for LD--I don't have his academic scores back yet but IQ testing he was very high...So far they are not requiring special education for him, but I am insisiting on an IEP...for the fact: He can not take a test unless it is read to him.. He rarely brings home homework when an assignment isn't finished (so he gets marked down), He is very unorganized in school--and since I can be there due to my work...he forgets EVERYTHING!!! My question is:: What do I push for?? Anyone have a plan in place for similar reason??? Am I doing the right thing??? This is totally new to me...

Any input I would really appreciate it....my meeting is 4/21/04..

Michelle

He may do better with "multimodality" or "multisensory" approaches to reading. This just means that the information is transmitted to him in several different ways: visual, auditory, kinesthetic (movement) and tactile (touch). Your school should be able to provide this type of instruction for him as a classroom accomodation.
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/download/pdf/FF-msr.pdf

As an ADHD child, he probably needs highly interesting, motivating material, too. ;) You will probably have to work with the school to teach him organizational skills from the bottom up, and make sure he is accountable when he doesn't bring work home. He may need explicit instruction on exactly how (and where) to record assignments. Until he learns this, the teacher may need to have him repeat the assignment back to her (after class) to make sure he "got" it. Alternatively, he could use a tape recorder.

More later... ;)

I don't know which state you're in, but http://www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/ has information about iep and 504 plans.

This website has lots of useful info on IEPs.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm

This is a shorter list of suggested IEP goals for reading.
http://userweb.esu10.k12.ne.us/~sped/obj/readlang.html

dear badkat, I also have a son who will be 12 in Oct. but he was diagnosed with ADHD and it was very hard on me to relate to at the time, as my husband David also has a ADHD as well. But our son Davey does have meds and is currently taking Adderal and Wellbutrin and of course allegra for allergies, if you like, please leave me an offline message.

edited by moderator; email address removed

. Thanks , Linda Matteson from Pa

I know that it is past the meeting date but for future reference you could look into a 504 plan (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act). This is used when a child does not qualify for special ed. However, the child is found to have a physical or mental impairment that limits a "major life activity" (ex. learning). A 504 plan allows for "reasonable accomodations" within a general education setting. These accomodations could include using a tape recorder, having a scribe (someone to write for him), extended testing time, taking a test in a separate location, possibly even having some one read to him.
Good Luck!! :o)

My son was diagnosed at 5 as well with his behavior on Straterra. Like your son, mine does good in many subjects, but doing badly with reading/comprehension! His grades are never consistent....
His teacher says he will test too high to qualify for special education, so I have no idea where to turn.
I've read about "classroom accomodations" but have no idea on how they work or how to implement them with his teacher.
Is the IEP only for special education or does it design a plan for "accomodations" in the classroom?
Totally overwhelmed by the information I've read and would appreciate an idea on where to start!

Mentioned earlier, a good website to start your education on IEPs is www.wrightslaw.com

You can request in his IEP a set of school books for home this way if he forgets a book at school you have a backup copy at home.
There are times of day the meds aren't kicked in or are worn off our son is on Adderall XR as well and by the time he gets to his math class at 3:00 its all worn off his school hours are 9-4:00 PM hes in Jr. High.
I had added in his IEP he has the use of the Content Mastory Classroom this way if the regular classroom is to noisy he has the option of going to the much smaller quiter enviroment and this has helped him alot.

Our son is very figity so I also had added in his IEP he can have a worry rock or a stress ball this way when hes feeling alot of tension or stress in the classroom it gives him something to chew on besides his cuticles on his fingers.
Another thing thats very important is the fact that the teachers realize kids with ADHD need positive reinforcement instead of constant negative I am fighting this one right now. This is also in our sons IEP but is not being followed I have a new ARD schelduled Oct 12.

I hope you can get this all straightened out.


Sonya

First of all the teacher has no idea where he is come out on the tests. The tests are given on all reading aspects and if he is low on reading comprehension then that will be dealt with then. No matter what the teacher says if you want the eval. then write the letter and ask for one cause they have 60 school days to do it. Make sure you date it.