Special Education Plans

for an IEP?

My DS(8) has been diagnosed with ADHD. He is currently on medication and going through counseling. He is doing really well in school, and was even being tested for the gifted program. I don't feel at this point he needs one, but I am hearing from others that I should get one. I have a very open line of communication with the teacher, and if a problem comes up, she's right on it.

So...at what point do you ask for an IEP?

Well imo IEP's are extremely important to have.  Because it's a legal document that must be followed.

You have legal rights that say you can request one (do so in writing) and the school has to do it.  Make sure they cover it all.... academic, speech, Occupational therapy.  It's not unusual for a child with ADHD to sometimes have problems in the other areas.  I remember when my son had his first IEP when he was in 2nd grade.  I believed he had a learning disability and was shocked when he qualified for Speech.  He had articulation problems that I never picked up on.  Unfortunantly they did not correctly "find" my child at that time so it took many years of him struggling to finally get it right for him.

Another important thing to know is sometimes the other tag alongs that can come with ADHD might not show up yet, such as Learning Disabilities ect.  Those also can tag along with the Gifted too, and because the child is gifted, he has been able to mask over some of these problems in the early years until the work gets harder.

Remember that in order to prove he needs special education and related services, the disability has to affect his education and this cannot be just for good grades or advancing from year to year.  They have to look at the emotional and social picture for him too and take that into consideration. 

If he doesn't qualify for an IEP after they do the appropriate testing, then you can always get a 504, which basically allows him to have classroom accomodations that will still help him in learning and protect him from discrimination.

I know he has a great teacher now who sounds wonderful, but unfortunantly someday you could get the bad apple that can make life really hard for your child, so I would definetly PUSH for at least the 504.

I hope I helped

Lainie

You need to get an IEP...request it in writing.  The reason I say this is b/c eventhough his teacher is great this year you are not guaranteed it for next year.  My son's teachers in 1st grade was wonderful but once he got into 2nd grade, eventhough his teacher was good I knew he was going to need extra help.  I made the request for assessment, he started being tested right away and then receving services and Occupational Therapy for a week fine motor skill.  I was so happy :)  Last year, we wouldn't have made it through w/ out our IEP and then this year after he was tested and diagnosed w/ dyslexia in Sept. we updated the IEP.  His teacher is great this year too but w/ out the IEP he wouldn't have the special accomadations he has. 

I really urge you to do this....it will be something legal and written you can depend on to make sure he is always getting what he needs.

You can't always get an IEP for straight ADHD, but you should be able to get a 504. Once the school figures out which (it's the same "ask for eval" thing for each), you get that great teacher to write down everything she does. The basic point is that it's alot easier to get it in place now, with a teacher who is succeeding, then later.

504, you don't have as much "clout" if they violate it, I suppose, but honestly, my ADHDer was IEP, then 504...now looks like back on IEP. The difference was direct services, for elementary school. No clue what the dividing line is for middle school--we redid the eval & he'll be on an IEP now. It's easier to go 504->IEP, than nothing->IEP.

Do you have standardized testing to be concerned with? (statewide stuff, I mean)