It’s taken months to complete the evaluation process and now my 15-year-old son is classified as other health impaired - ADHD inattentive. I have a list of 13 recommendations from the independent learning consultant who conducted the academic testing.
Besides these recommendations I really have no idea what type of services I should be looking for at the IEP meeting. The director of special services made it pretty clear that a 504 plan was the best I could hope for – Personally I think that the school did not address the issue of ADHD in their student interview, speech and language and functional analysis of behavior evaluations All along they made it pretty clear that all I could hope for was a 504 plan. The classification was a surprise. Hmm…I think the state investigation helped them to change their minds.
At the end of the special services determination meeting I handed them a letter outlining the deficiencies in their tests and asked for a full battery of independents. They have 20 days to respond.
I’ve hired a private math tutor during the evaluation period and I see that my son really needs help with English, writing essays etc. Can I ask for tutoring in English? Can you direct me to some books or sites that addresses ADHD & IEPs? His organizational skills are poor and he needs help with time management, note taking, and study skills, reading textbooks (outlining) determining salient information etc.
I observed an inclass support Algebra I class today. The regular classroom teacher seemed to know her stuff but all I observed the Special education teacher doing was checking to see if kids had their homework and asking some students to be quiet. My son has a friend in the class so I will talk to him about the class to get some more information later today.
If any of you have a teen that is in a similar situation, could you please tell me what types of special services are in your ADHD teen’s IEP?
Do you have transition plans that include vocational testing? My son has absolutely no idea about a career. He’s good in instrumental music and may be interested in digital arts. So a 2-year college might be his best bet. Thanks for your help. I look forward to your replies.
Re: Finally classified now for the IEP
I can tell you what I do when I go into an Algebra I class as the resource teacher. I make sure they have their homework. Since the teacher doesn’t collect homework on a daily basis I collect assignment from my kiddos as soon as they’re done (eliminates their chances of losing it.) I work all assignments and put them in a notebook they can use as a reference if I’m not available. I also pull students for work time so they can get one on one assistance and aren’t as likely to get distracted. The regular education teacher tends to give quizzes where the student can pick what problems they want to do. I work the problems in advance and eliminate any that are likely to give them problems from the list of choices.
A suggestion for transition. If you have a 2 year college in your area. Take a tour. I took my students on a tour last year and it really help them in making some decisions. Also contact the department of Vocational Rehabilitation. They provide transition services for special ed. and disabled kids. They really don’t do much until the junior or senior year but contact them NOW because they might have a waiting list. In Iowa for example I try to get parents to apply in 8th and 9th grade so the kid is at the top of the list by senior year.
Hope some of this helps
What works for my kid is a “study skills” class— otherwise known as the resource room. She uses this period to get help with what she needs help with, as well as learning study and organizational skills. In 7th-9th grades, they focused on notetaking and test prep, and she was allowed copies of notes at her request. All juniors take the ASVAB (Armed services vocational aptitude battery) and may ask the counselor for an individual consultation to go over the results. There are a number of career inventories that the counselor should be able to administer and interpret. She also participates in a vocational course that sends them out to work sites M-TH, then does career exploration and preparation (i.e. interviewing, dress for success) on Fridays. She is planning on attending a 2 or 4 year college.