Special Ed/ADHD help (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: school district, university, live)

[loveinbloom]

Hey all!

Does anyone have info on services provided at private schools regarding ADHD...also does anyone know a kid friendly occup. therapist? Any support groups for kids/parents? Thanks all! Any info would be very helpful. BTW, I am in Scranton!

LIB

[TERMINOLOGY]

Our child was diagnosed with ADHD several years ago. The school we attended at the time was private. The school was able to receive a $500 grant per semester, from the state that at least helped out with tutoring.

Our success came through small lifestyle changes. We of coarse had to be more patient with ourselves; this helped us deal with our child’s handicap. Help with organization skills are the first step I would recommend. Our child was very deficient here. Constant reminding about what they need, where they need to be, what time, did you forget, etc.

In school, we had to invest in tutoring for the week subjects almost every day. In the end, our child went from a D-C student to the honor role.

Lot's of work and patients. Our child does not have a severe case, so this has to be taken into consideration.

Recommended reading "Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.

[irishLASSIE333]

Hi! My advice would be to call the education department(s) at Marywood and/or UScranton and ask to be connected with/given the contact info for a special education professor. They will know about local programs in public and parochial schools and may even have information regarding secular private schools, and they should be able to give you good information about OTs who specialize in pediatrics

Marywood University Special Education Homepage

The University of Scranton - Education Department

I just completed my first semester of graduate work in the Education field, but as I am new to the program as well as new to the area, I'm afraid the above advice is the best I can give you. Good luck!

[loveinbloom]

Thank you both~

[poconosmama]

I'd start with Lackawanna County early intervention(not sure how old your child is sorry) and let them start recommending you to places. The aaron center in dickson city is great, st joes has therapists too. I have the # for the services after a child turns 3 because my child will be 3 and going to private school in lackawanna and receiving services. I'll dig it up

[tinman01]

Be happy that you are not in the wyoming valley area.
My daughter is autistic.
Let me start with the orgs that are complete failures:
1. LIU
2. MHMR
3. Pittston Area School district
4. Childrens service center
5. Children and Youth Services.
Pittston area: They ship the special needs children to any school district with a spare room. Managed by the LIU. These rooms are dark little dungeon like rooms. Almost as if our kids are a dirty little secret that should be hidden. Liu offers a minimum of services and are less than honest about what they actually provide.Life skills class was about sitting for hours in these dark rooms. Not much else was done.
MHMR our kids are a number. Great at lip service very very short on follow through.
Children and Youth: On 2 seperate occasions didnt even assign a case number after a team of Doctors from Geisinger Danville filed a medical neglect complaint against my ex wife for gross neglect.
MHMR was well aware of the enviroment my daughter was forced to endure and did nothing about it.
Children service center was most likely the greatest failure of all. My daughter needed specialized care and theropy. They assigned a different TSS every week and without notice of change. A stranger would show up every week.
The conditions my daughter lived in. A 10x10 room knee deep in garbage. (Literally) A bed that had been urinated in and left un cleaned. Rotten food in the form of rancid hamburger was provided for her.
I broke the law and removed her myself. 30 grand in legal fees later she is safe with me now. She is clean and well cared for. She is happy.
She attends Tunkhanock School district. They are 50 years ahead of the valley. They treat their special needs children like human beings and actually teach them life skills. They learn to cook, wash dishes, set the table,wash clothes, go shopping, count money, tell time etc. I hope that scranton is better than the valley.

[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.

[irishLASSIE333]

Oh yes, advocate, advocate, advocate! But I am sure you already know that, especially since you posted this thread.

A lot of gen. ed teachers who have been in the field for a little while were not required to take many special ed classes for their degrees. . .not that taking a course equals understanding of special needs, but it does not hurt!

I observed a third grade teacher last semester in the Wilkes-Barre area. She has been a teacher for over 10 years, and she was talking to me one day about Autism. She said "Well, I don't know if Autism is neurological or not, but it's definitely a learning disability." What?! I do not mean to imply that this woman's frightening ignorance was indicative of teachers as a whole in the area but, rather, that you must NEVER overestimate people you are dealing with. Find people you trust and respect, but never be afraid to stick your neck out, because even some well-meaning people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

[loveinbloom]

Originally Posted by tinman01

Be happy that you are not in the wyoming valley area.
My daughter is autistic.
Let me start with the orgs that are complete failures:
1. LIU
2. MHMR
3. Pittston Area School district
4. Childrens service center
5. Children and Youth Services.
Pittston area: They ship the special needs children to any school district with a spare room. Managed by the LIU. These rooms are dark little dungeon like rooms. Almost as if our kids are a dirty little secret that should be hidden. Liu offers a minimum of services and are less than honest about what they actually provide.Life skills class was about sitting for hours in these dark rooms. Not much else was done.
MHMR our kids are a number. Great at lip service very very short on follow through.
Children and Youth: On 2 seperate occasions didnt even assign a case number after a team of Doctors from Geisinger Danville filed a medical neglect complaint against my ex wife for gross neglect.
MHMR was well aware of the enviroment my daughter was forced to endure and did nothing about it.
Children service center was most likely the greatest failure of all. My daughter needed specialized care and theropy. They assigned a different TSS every week and without notice of change. A stranger would show up every week.
The conditions my daughter lived in. A 10x10 room knee deep in garbage. (Literally) A bed that had been urinated in and left un cleaned. Rotten food in the form of rancid hamburger was provided for her.
I broke the law and removed her myself. 30 grand in legal fees later she is safe with me now. She is clean and well cared for. She is happy.
She attends Tunkhanock School district. They are 50 years ahead of the valley. They treat their special needs children like human beings and actually teach them life skills. They learn to cook, wash dishes, set the table,wash clothes, go shopping, count money, tell time etc. I hope that scranton is better than the valley.

All I can say is OMG with my mouth hanging open. I am truly sorry to hear of your daughters ordeal. I am glad she is in a much better placement.

[loveinbloom]

Originally Posted by poconosmama

I'd start with Lackawanna County early intervention(not sure how old your child is sorry) and let them start recommending you to places. The aaron center in dickson city is great, st joes has therapists too. I have the # for the services after a child turns 3 because my child will be 3 and going to private school in lackawanna and receiving services. I'll dig it up

Ty very much for your effort. My son is seven, and as cute as a button. I think the sad part of his ADHD is he knows he is "different". He has a hard time making friends which I understand is typical for children with ADHD.

I was watching a show on Autism and a woman who was unable to speak but communicated via computer said, "...for all you Neuro typical people..."LOL one of the best descriptions for us "normal folks"