My son has been diagnosed ADD inattentive. He is a quiet child, polite and well behaved.
I know for a fact he is one of the first kids put next to and into groups with behavior problem and hyper children. While this has always annoyed me(why always him),it never impacted me as strongly as it does now that he has ADD.
Id like to put something in his IEP but I dont know how to be tactful. This year the school’s most difficult 4th grader with major issues and a private aide is in his class. Ill be honest-this boy is big and prone to violence. Part of me is just plain worried. But realisticly, this is not the situation a distractible child needs to be seated next to.
I asked he be seated up front 2 yrs ago and was told that was impossible as they changed seats every friday. I backed off then but am really trying to muster the courage to be tougher this year!!
Suggestions? And other IEP ideas helpful to an ADD child. He has more time if needed(nonissue for him), permission to not use cursive, can have nonreading portions of standardized tests read to him.
Re: Anyone written a seating preference into their IEP?
Hi,
Yes, we faced the same issues at one point and had a hard time “getting through” to the IEP team. We then decided to approach it a different way - we suggested our son, to advocate for himself and to “request” to his teacher to allow him to sit at a separate, more remote seat, any time he worked on a task that needed more concentration (ie. tests, silent studies, etc). He has made his way to this separate desk (near the computer area) more often than none, and it has become “William’s seat” for the teacher and the rest of the class. Once in a while he still seats at his “assigned” sitting, but we actually like that. You see, we want him to have to face the other children as well, so that he can socialize a little and develop strategies on how to handle other kids and social situations. Otherwise, when will he ever learn?
It has worked wonders, and at one of our IEP meetings it was mentioned “how well he is doing”, and “how he has found this strategy of removing himself for a quieter area” to get his work done. It is now part of the IEP and the teachers feel great thinking they somehow contributed to his “enlightment”. We are now working on our next move - the headphones. He uses them at home and it works great during homework time. It tunes out any outside noises and distractions and he is able to focus 100%. That will be a very tough one, since the other kids would likely protest this “special treatment”. We have to think a little more about that.
Anyway, best of luck to you! Let me know if you have any questions.
Lorena
Re: Anyone written a seating preference into their IEP?
It is in my son’s 504 plan so I don’t see any reason why it could not be in an IEP. Push the issue, it’s too simple a solution not to do it, even if it is just to shut you up!!!!!
Re: Anyone written a seating preference into their IEP?
I don’t understand your hostility Beverly, since you are not even the person who started this thread. And, who named you this website time controller anyway?
I hope you have a nicer day. You are obviously having a very bad one.
Lorena
Hostility?... or another interpretation
“even if it is just to shut you up” probably just meant she thought that the teacher might go along with the suggestion just to get the child’s mother off his/her case.
No disrespect intended?
I believe Beverly meant that the school officials would put it in so they could keep a person(parent) from continuing to complain to them. I certainly didn’t read it as trying to get you off the board. I haven’t seen anyone get disrespectful on this board and hope to never. I have been lurking here since 1998 and all have always tried to be helpful never disrespectful.
*** Beverly, care to respond? I think you have been misread.***
By the way, preferential seating is, like, the first accommodation on the list for both adhd and capd, so it isn’t an unheard of thing even if the school(or teacher) wants to act like it is.
How about every Friday your kid gets a new front row seat if it seems so important to change seating(which I can’t believe it is anyway). Of course the front row isn’t so important if the teacher’s desk is in the back of the room and she teaches from it!My son had this occur in 3rd grade.By all means put it in the iep, but many teachers will understand if you approach them at the beginning of school and just let them know that it is the best way to engage and keep your kid’s attention.
Re: Hostility?... or another interpretation
My most sincere apologies if I misinterpreted you Beverly. Sometimes my limited Engligh gets the best of me, when it comes to nuances or interpretations.
Again, I am very deeply sorry.
Lorena
Ps: Thanks everyone else for helping me to understand it.
Re: No disrespect intended?
Yes it was misunderstood. I have found that very often the district will do just that, anything to shut me up. Sorry if this was read wrong (or written wrong). Thank-you for the back up.
Re: Anyone written a seating preference into their IEP?
I wanted to jump in here for a moment. Being a parent advocate,and really kind of disillusioned with the enforcement of IDEA rights for children,I must say this:
Being a parent on the “case” of the teacher,school,district,this is one of the STRONGEST advocacy tactics one can use.
Most often then not,the school district isn’t afraid of being disciplined by their state dept. of education,nor are they really afraid of the office for civl rights,both agencies are “suppose” to protect our kids with swift consequences for violating these students rights,BUT they don’t.
Why should the School district comply? Often they only recieve a slap on the hand anyway.
BUT when they become tired of the parents constant requests this is when they will do the right thing. Personally,if they are not willing to write this into the IEP,then I would write a letter requesting why. Burying them in paper,and not being able to shut you up,will illicate much quciker results. Garanteed.
Even in my college classes…My daughter gets preferential seating and it is written into her IEP plan. It is not a problem and I make sure that it happens. You may want to also look into an assistive listening device.