I’m having a rough time trying to get my son assessed for ADHD. I’ve asked his teacher who in turn asked the princ. and they claim I have to take care of this myself. I live in TX and I have searched the internet that we have rights to have our children referred to get evaluated. I’ve put a call through the Texas Education Agency and awaiting a response. Can anyone provide help as far as procedures go to get a school evaluation. I do plan on having him see his pediatrician but thought that any information from the school would be great. HELP!
Re: ADHD ASSESSMENT
I would suggest that you write down all of the things that lead you to believe that your child has ADHD. Take him to his pediatrician and share the information that you have written down. Ask him for a referral to a pediatric neurologist who is the professional who DIAGNOSES ADHD. After you have a diagnosis of ADHD you may request your school, in writing, to test and evaluate your son with a complete psychological and determine his eligibility for an Individual Education Plan. He should be eligible under OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRED and can receive modifications and or services. If he has the diagnosis, they MUST test him. Good luck to you.
Re: ADHD ASSESSMENT
First of all you need to contact your school districts office of special education at the unit office. Demand that your child is tested. If the school’s mdc committee or pps committee says your son doesn’t need testing, then go to the state level, but not just the education office - the office of special education. You need to get an arbitrator in on this. I am so sorry you live in Texas - George Bush probably cut that budget too. You have rights under IDEA. My son is ADD and has dyslexia and I had to fight the system every step of the way. Be an advocate for your child, you know him best. Go to the Council for Exceptional Children - web site and look there for help, they can give you laws etc that should help you. Do not rely on a family dr. or pediatrician to diagnos your child. You need a pediatric neurologist, and a psychologist at a large hospital. That’s what we did first when we couldn’t get the school to test our son. A big important hospital can make all the difference, and medication is not something you just want a general dr. to give your child especially for this disorder. You really want someone who knows his stuff. My son is on Ritalin and it has made all the world of difference for him, but others don’t need it or react badly to it, and you just want to be sure it’s the way to go for your child.
I wish you luck in your search. Melanie
Re: ADHD ASSESSMENT
I concur 100% with Melanie— as a parent of two ADHD daughters and as a professional myself. You will have to advocate, advocate, advocate. Absolutely pay for private pediatric neurologist/ neuropsych testing and take it to the school. In my experience, even obtaining the 504 plan (other health impaired) can be a hollow victory. Getting the teacher to implement and comply is another story; but at least you are on firmer legal ground with it in place.
Re: ADHD ASSESSMENT
Just a short opinion of TX schools. My son was dx adhd by a developmental ped in TX in first grade. In k-garten, things were warm and fuzzy but 2 weeks before school let out I found out he apparently didn’t learn all he should have. In first grade he was given 30 words a week to learn(10 reading, 10 spelling, and 10 phonics) which he couldn’t cause he still didn’t know all the sounds of the alphabet. He got letter grades and thought F stood for the last letter in his last name (at least for the first 3 weeks of school). They told me at the time they couldn’t test for lds at that young an age(I have since learned better). Suffice it to say that my son learned how to read in VA in the 2nd grade and now in the 6th grade he is still catching up. We were in El Paso. I don’t know about Bush’s impact on TX now, we were there with Ann Richardson. Computers in every k and 1st grade classroom. Write to Read program. It looked good, but didn’t work for my kid.
Hope you have better luck than we did in TX.
Re: ADHD ASSESSMENT
Agree 100%. Schools in Missouri make is so difficult to acquire testing through the school. You name it, they give the excuse: we are winding down for the school year; he’s just a boy; you don’t want your child labeled LD. WHY of course I do, if he is, how else is he going to get the help?
One reason why the schools in MO, or in the particular school district that we are in, don’t want any more ADHD students is because of the funding that they “don’t” get to address the problem, only minimum dollars per month to tend to their needs. Really not worth the extra teachers needed to help out. AND it prevents the schools from attaining the “gold star” status.
In Wisconsin, generally a family doctor makes the diagnosis of ADHD. Schools can help with anecdotal records and checklists. HOpe this helps.