Special Ed/ADHD help (Denver, Trainer: renting, homes, pre-school)

[memoriesbre]

He is now almost 25 years old and is doing great. The teachers called when he was in second grade. We went to a physcologist and he stated that he had ADD. He actually sat and played games with him everytime we went. Sort of silly to me and my husband and son. They suggested putting him on Ritalin and we reluctantly did.
The schools wanted to keep raising the dosage but we refused. We didn't give it to him on the weekends either. We took him off the ritalin when he was in middle school and he still did fine. He was in a special class in NJ but when moving to Florida he was mainstreamed. He had to take all the standard tests to graduate and did so with flying colors. It was hard for him but he did it. He is a very creative and talented young man. Slyvester Stalone had ADD too and look where he is today!

What you need to do is be patient and use your own judgement when doing things for your child. Remember, this is YOUR child, not anybody elses.

ADHD is not so bad. Before all the doctors and specialists gave this form of behavior a name, we just thought that some children were overactive. That sounds so much nicer anyhow. I remember when I was back in school where kids were always being told to pay attention. They weren't labeled as the children are now. I just shake my head when I see a new medicine for some kind of new sickness advertised on TV. It makes you wonder if they don't come up with new things to make a new medicine for, how would doctors stay in business LOL

Just have patience and make your child look at you when you ask for something to be done. Children with ADHD/ADD need things to keep them interested in. That is why they like video games so much, it's fast moving and never boring!
Hope this helps

[karen_s]

Just wanted to offer my support! My older son has ADHD and Asperger's and attends private school. We have had nothing but success with this approach and he feels much more accepted and fits in pretty well there (I read a statistic recently that 90% of children on the autism spectrum are bullied at some point in school but luckily my son has escaped this). My son truly needs medication to function - all of our attempts to help him with diet, vitamins, exercise, anything natural have just not worked unfortunately.

This is probably much too far for you, but we had, in the past, obtained most of our son's services through Good Shepherd in Allentown. It was far to drive but there was nothing that great locally. He needed social skills/pragmatic language help most of all. His school is small and all of the staff have been wonderful in helping with him.

My hope is that as children on the autism spectrum and with ADD/ADHD increase in number/are better diagnosed that there will be more offered to these children.

Tinman, I am so sorry to hear what happened with your child. It has been my experience that many of these agencies do not work as they are intended to.

[poconosmama]

My son is non verbal as well, I like the neuro-typical commentKatie Couric has a special tonight my sister told me but Im not sure of the topics being covered...

I think there are some great services in this area without having to travel more than an hour away, but it requires many phone calls and research on the parents part. Just the other day I had a meeting with my son's behavioral special and she handed me a folder of local information that I had never seen in the past year.

Inclusion is hard on the kids but for the teachers as well. I know before I was a special mom I was a regular ed teacher and looking back I can identify a few kids that were 'quirky' but now I know were much more than that and needed a different type of attention. I was only required to take one half semester course in special ed, worth one credit in undergrad and I got nothing out of it. I know a few parents that have had problems with local districts when their kids are mainstreamed but from the teacher's point of view they arent trained for those situations. Now of course there are those teachers that accept and embrace change, take classes to further themselves with these situations, but like anywhere else there are plenty that just shut down, say they did their time taking classes and refuse to change.

I agree with Karen, more diagnosis, early intervention, better services. I've read that PA is one of the most aggressive as far as getting these kids what they need, MA covers every cost we have, and hopefully with the new laws being passed insurance will widen coverage as well.

[ScranBarre]

Tinman, I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences, but as a recent graduate of the Pittston Area School District (2005) I can't say I'm all that surprised. Our school was lacking academically and socially in many areas while just across the river our rivals at Wyoming Area seemed to be much further ahead of the curve. Our school district cares more about making a fuss over having a winning football team to "motivate the children to learn" (even though I couldn't care less if the team even folded in on itself) than it does about striving to excel to become a local leader in education. It's a shame too because Pittston Area's enrollment is growing now between the consolidation of the parochial schools and the rapid residential growth in the district. A lot of newcomers are going to get some VERY negative impressions of our community based upon our lackadaiscal school district. Some of the best veteran teachers the district had retired between 2001-2007, and I'm worried that their replacements may be less experienced and less qualified.

[loveinbloom]

Thank you all for your insight! My lil' man has problems with attention. He was tested with a TOVA test (Test of Variables of Attention) and it showed that his attention span is in the 1th percentile. Medication will be required for the forseeable future.

He was just at the PEDS today...we are again doing the full round with the Neuro and I was just told he has a heart murmur as well. I pray that it is the "innocent type"!

Ot seems to be his most urgent need. His Ped doctor is wonderful and calling for his appointments.

His school is doing testing as well so we will see. Thanks again!

[tinman01]

Originally Posted by SWB

Tinman, I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences, but as a recent graduate of the Pittston Area School District (2005) I can't say I'm all that surprised. Our school was lacking academically and socially in many areas while just across the river our rivals at Wyoming Area seemed to be much further ahead of the curve. Our school district cares more about making a fuss over having a winning football team to "motivate the children to learn" (even though I couldn't care less if the team even folded in on itself) than it does about striving to excel to become a local leader in education. It's a shame too because Pittston Area's enrollment is growing now between the consolidation of the parochial schools and the rapid residential growth in the district. A lot of newcomers are going to get some VERY negative impressions of our community based upon our lackadaiscal school district. Some of the best veteran teachers the district had retired between 2001-2007, and I'm worried that their replacements may be less experienced and less qualified.

I went to Wyoming Area. LOL its sports programs are also a priority. But they do push acedemics as well. At every EIP a rep from pittston area was supposed to be there. Not once did they ever show up on time. Normally a half hour late. Carrying files of other students. They would actually be reading said files while everyone else was talking about my Daughter. I threw him out of the last 2 meetings because of it.
Pittston is a fine example of what corruption has done to our public school system.

[tinman01]

Originally Posted by poconosmama

Gosh Ive never heard of such awfulness in this area! Sorry to hear you had to go through all of that. We've been very lucky with wayne/pike, but I'm a huge advocate and tend to get quite pushy. If you're not pushy for your child no one will be.

I agree. I read a book that I would recommend to anyone with a special needs child.
Autism a Fathers Story by Bill Davis. Quite frankly the best book I have yet to read. Not a how to book... Its a book about what it takes to be a good parent to your autistic child. Had I read a book like this 10 years sooner I would have been even more hated by the school district as well as the MHMR. It is filled with helpful suggestions. The best for an autistic child who elopes or is a runner? Take pictures of the child to all the local police stations, even take the child. Let the police know your child. If they ever see the child unattended they will know this is not acceptable. Take Info about autism to them, teach them. Autistic people don't like to be touched and confuse easily. This advice has paid in dividends....

[loveinbloom]

Thanks for sharing and I will pick up the book. While lil man does not have Autism, one of his cousins do.

[poconosmama]

bloom- does your son go to a developmental pediatrician or can the regular ped give whatever he may need? We go to a devp ped in Danville that has been great so far.

[loveinbloom]

Originally Posted by poconosmama

bloom- does your son go to a developmental pediatrician or can the regular ped give whatever he may need? We go to a devp ped in Danville that has been great so far.

So far it seems as if the new Ped is covering all the bases...I will send you a private message if it turns out he is not the best suited for lil' man's needs. My son really liked this doctor and for him this is a major step!

Thanks again~