Parents need Organization on these Issues

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, CHADD is one such advocacy group. Do you have a local group?

Yes, I have jioned the web site and get important messages regarding laws and legislaive reviews. The closest office is about 50 miles from where we live. Do you know of any groups that assist with attending meetings and so forth for us parents that are not up to speed with the rights of the students and parents? I seem I am always out numbered in our meetings and intimidated. Don’t get me wrong, we (the SST Team) have come a long way. But they insist that I will never understand what the laws are and that they too have trouble keeping up with what regulations they need to follow. I just feel that a group of parents together can make a difference. I especially would like someone with a truly biased oppinion to observe the class. Someone that the teacher wouldn’t know and wouldn’t know who they were observing. Then report back to the committee.

you are right. There should be advocates for these kids. Alot of them get lost in our school systems and end up dropping out. I know because I have adhd myself as a parent and have past this to my son. There is no one to help him. All me and my husband hear is that he is a behavioral problem and a distraction to others. the teacher says he is at the bottom of the class. and the school district would not qualify him for special ed. yet my son cannot cope or keep up in a class room with 32 other students. Me and my husband know he has rights but don’t know how to get across to the school what our son needs. they suggest grade retention. Really? what is that going to do but make sure he is board and allow him an opportunity to act out even more because nothing is challenging him. By then it is all review. He already thinks he is stupid why add to it?These kids need someone who can stand up to the schools districts and not take any doo doo excuses regarding our kids education. Some one who knows all the laws and won’t give up. I know sometimes I have thought about home schooling. But then we would have social problems and my son has this already. he is the last one picked first one picked on.

there is also a group called TASK team advocates for special kids although I have tried to contact them and get a responce and have not. It seems like there is only 1 person working who is never available but maybe in other states this group exsist.

I know I will have to go to another meeting soon. I have all the papers they have requested to get them to do some LD tests. But I know they will end up saying he is learning and it is all behavior. I wish we (parents) didnt have to make them do the right thing. I am in GA, is that TASK Team Nationwide or just in particular states? Maybe I could start a local committee, They would probably say that it’s against the childs privacy rights to have a bystander in the meetings and help sort thru their work. At my sons school, they dont want anything to leak out about how they handle stuff. They have let me know that some issues can not be discussed in the SST meetings and basically what I can bring up and what I can’t. It is very hard to do that because I think the personel problems are all hand in hand on how well or worse the kids going to do.???

sandy,
I don’t know if it is nation wide but here is a phone number here in calif.(714)533-8275 maybe they can refer you to someone in your state through them or another advocate group. Check your local C.H.A.D.D. group that is where I found our advocate and she is ausum! they know all the laws and how to fight for these kids. Hang in there I’ve only been working on this for 3 days and am finding out that the support is there you just have to be sneaky how you look. Call you local hospital ask for referral to such support groups. Call you state disability office. I know that chadd is for adults with add/adhd they can also help you find good jobs and education. they do alot of seminars all over the country.they also help with advise for raising children with this disability. Its a real tough fight to get what your child needs but fight long and hard its their future. If enough of us parents cry out then maybe our states in which we live will hear us loud and clear and do something about it. Hopefully we can make school and other places a positive environment for these kids instead of a place of complication and targets for teachers and other authority figures.

I’m sorry did I understand you to say they told you what you could and could not say about what is going on with your child?

I had the principal go thru a list of things I could not say in the SST (Student Support Team) meetings. Things that I felt was a big part of some new behaviors that my son started to show.

Very good point! did not think of it that way. This makes me mad. I need to address this issue immediatly. Thanks for pointing out the ammo!

so how did you handle this? I sometimes am intimidated by the district and principle. on one hand they want to help but, on the other they want to cover their own fanny’s. And that is a big area to cover hahahahahahahaha! just a little humor to lighten the load.

The point is it’s always an on going issue. When he told me that (back in November) I was scared to death. I do not have a lot of trust and with good reason. I have felt the need to tape our meetings just so what we talk about is recorded properly. I try to not say certain things in the SST meetings but if it is something I want to express, I go directly to the Principal or VP . The VP has been very helpful. She is very trustworthy and has to go in and check on the status of the SST and questions staff members about why things arent up to date. Reminds them that they need to do this and that. She is very helpful. The problem is she isnt at the meetings. She had facilitated the meeting once and read the notes. She did a good job and I felt comfortable with her. You could just tell that there was a true interest in what was going on and she didnt just go thru the motions. It takes alot of thought as to what not to say. So I try to write a list of questions and concerns and stay on the list (whenever I get a chance to talk) and if its something that may embarrass the staff, I go directly to the P or VP. I have always been an upfront kind of person. I feel like I am going against the teams back on some things. He feels that somethings need to be addresses to him only. As long as he takes care of the problem, i am fine with it. But like I said it is not easy.

well you hang in there. I’m having to toughen up when it comes to the schools. I have a very gentle disposition but am gaining back bone and am trying not to get mad or intimidated by them. Remember this is your baby you have to fight, they are too young to fight for themselves and need your help. Keep this in mind and you”ll stay tough. You have the right to direct your childs education.
They are counting on you to.

Thanks Tamara, We had a bad day yesterday. Its nice to have encouraging words. My son came home saying he was a loser and he was stupid. This was very upsetting to me. I know he was very upset and I sometimes feel like just letting him be him and not spend so much time giving his academics and behavior issues so much attention. Its like an additional 24 hour job besides the two I already have. I just stayed worried all the time and so stressed out about it. Somedays I just want to come home and relax with my kid and not do much of anything but have some fun.

Look up Parents Educating Parents and Professionals www.peppec.org