I am a single mom seeking help on getting some information on how to get the school from expelling my son everytime he gets into trouble. He has ADHD, Tourett’s Syndrome, and Bipolar. He is very depressed all the time. He feels like he is a failure in everything that he does. So he figures, why not get into trouble, that is the only way anybody will notice that he is there. I have been to so many doctors on this matter to help him. Now everytime he gets into trouble at school they just kick him out for 3 days. He has had this problem for 8 years. Do you’ll have any suggestions on where I might get some help on getting to school from kicking him out all the time. Any answers would be greatly helpful.
Thanks,
Eyvette
Re: Finding help from the Education System
Sara, Thank you for your help. I will try all of these suggestions….
Re: Finding help from the Education System
I am NOT among the experts on special ed placements, rules, etc. However, it’s pretty clear he can’t learn in this kind of enviornment, so I wonder if you’ve considered a different placement (specifically the day treatment programs that offer higher levels of support for kids with these kinds of issues). I have one friend with a kid who has had 2 very good years at a private residential (5-day) facility at the public system’s expense (this was after going through all the other levels of resource, day programs, etc. etc. none of which worked).
Re: Finding help from the Education System
Have you tried getting him into an intensive daytreatment program which has a school attached to it?
Re: Finding help from the Education System
Does your son currently have an IEP? If not, you need to request the school to have a special education evaluation done and request an IEP to be constructed. In the IEP they should have listed the types of behavioral intervention to be used. The school district is accountable for the IEP and might be more likely to try other methods than suspension when dealing with your sons behavior. If you already have an IEP and it’s not working, check if your state or county have alternative schools that specialize in children with behavior issues. My friend recently got her daughter, who has Oppostitional Defiance Disorder, into a NYS BOCES school for children with behavioral disorders/issues. She is very happy because she no longer feels “different”. Most of the kids have the same type of problems she suffers from. Best of all they mostly use a reward system based on good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. If all else fails, research as much as you can on the internet. I am sure there are other alternatives that you just haven’t come across yet. Good luck.
As long as he remains in this setting, it’s likely they will have this response. I trust that his doctors feel his medication levels are appropriate and are supporting him adequately.
Are there any alternative schools within your district? Sometimes there are. You might want to ask that question. Are there any other options for him?
If it is really an attention-getter, you might want to point out to him how counter productive it is. (does he enjoy his three days at home - my son would love it)
If he does not and you feel this behavior is in his control, encourage him to think about the results he’s getting.
Maybe there’s one small piece of the school day that could be made better for him so his sense of failure wouldn’t run across the board. Is there one subject that you like or felt good at that you could sit down with him and tackle that one subject together? Is there one teacher (even) who might do that for him?
It can help a lot if even there’s just one place where a student can say, “I’m not good at other things but I am good with ______________.” And sometimes that place doesn’t need to be in school. My own son with his own issues takes a martial arts class that has carried him through years of struggle in other areas of his life.
Good luck to you and your son.