Schools with ADHD programs for 12 year old, Seattle (Bellevue, Sammamish: renting, homes)

[majole]

My son is 12 years old and he was diagnosed with ADHD almost 2 years ago. He goes to public school which they are no help in my opinion. His grades are dropping and his behavior is getting worst especially with us. He is a sweet and caring child with everyone else. I am looking for a school or a center that could help us with his school. With his doctor recommendation we have tried Vyvanse, Adderall and patches. Patches were not working on him and the other medications are making him very sick (mostly Upset stomach, Loss of appetite. Could someone help me please?

[JustCallMeTC]

I wasn't diagnosed with ADD until I was an adult. And looking back it's rather comical how the pieces all fit. A friend of mine whose daughter was ADHD suggested I get tested. So I took some anecdotal online tests and the consensus result was "Get Help!" So I went through the process of being diagnosed. I embrace its positives and live with the challenges. (God love the daily lists and learning to live with piles everywhere!) I can't take the meds as they totally mess with my BP.

Folks with ADD (or ADHD as well) are often highly creative and typically quite bright. Focus of course is always a concern. But that's where the surprise comes.

ADD brings with it an ability called hyper focus. It's kind of a mental zone really. An ability to focus so acutely as to accomplish far more than the average person. As a former motivational speaker I can tell you, when I was on stage, I went there often. And it's the most amazing and powerful feeling one can imagine.

An example of this is the poster child for ADHD and ADD, Robin Williams. If you've ever seen Robin doing stand up, and who hasn't? You may recall when he's on a roll...he's saying one thing, but you tell, his mind is two paragraphs down the road. Robin is in the zone...

Thinking quickly on one's feet is the ultimate gift. As such, those with ADD are often witty and extremely perceptive. They are constantly processing the world and often see things first as a result.

Do your son a huge favor. Understand him by learning as much as you can about how to structure his life in such a way that he can flourish. I applaud your desire to find the right environment. That's a huge deal. But parents themselves do far better by learning about ADD so that they can better deal with its challenges as they relate to the parent. and believe me there will be days...especially in the upcoming teen years. Don't forget to take some time for yourself on this. And help your son embrace the gift he's been given.

Here's a link with some information for the Seattle area.

The Seattle Times: Health: Kids with ADD/ADHD can have a tough transition to middle school

I know as a kid I attended Catholic School. Looking back, I excelled in Math and English. And clearly, in retrospect, it was because those two teachers kept me on task. (with paddle in those days mind you) But nevertheless, it was the structure that did the trick.

Good luck. And for the record, I wouldn't trade ADD for anything. Seriously, it really is a gift.

[jinj]

Good parenting helps.

Use drugs as a last resort, these days it seems like 50% of children are on them.

[secret_squirrel]

Originally Posted by jinj

Good parenting helps.

Use drugs as a last resort, these days it seems like 50% of children are on them.

50% of kids aren't on ADHD medication. And while I agree that medication should only be used as a last resort, the consequences of not using medication when appropriate can be dire, including self-medicating with unsafe and addictive street drugs. You wouldn't tell a diabetic not to take his/her insulin.

This isn't the forum for ADHD debate, but I do think the OP is on the right track about looking for the right school environment. As adults, people with ADD brains can choose where to work depending on what they're good at. But most students in our schools are expected to conform to the same environment as everyone else, sit still, be quiet, turn the page, etc... Public schools are like a factory. It's not really the school's fault. They've got limited resources and realistically can't tutor every individual child with special needs. But if your child can't be pounded into the mold, you've got 3 choices:
1) Homeschooling
2) Private Schooling (Waldorf education is a good alternative and hands-on)
3) Medication

I don't know where you are located, but here are some resources that might help:
1) Alternative School #1
AS1 is a public k-8 school in the Seattle School District. I've heard great things about it.
2) EA2, one-one-one tutoring and private school
Bellevue tutoring services - Seattle tutoring services - Sammamish tutoring services (http://ea2.com/testimonials/ - broken link)
3) Northwest CHADD - Providing Help in Understanding ADD/ADHD The northwest chapter of Children and Adults with ADD/ADHD. Tons of information on all topics.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Like jinj said, the best school for ADHD students is the school of raising-them-correctly. ADHD is usually the parent's fault; a child raised to work for what he wants, who has his TV and video game time limited, and who knows that he has no power in the household will never have ADD.

[Inkpoe]

Majole, does your son have I.E.P.?

I had an I.E.P. and if my grades were slipping, the teacher (who handled the I.E.P.) would then intervene and figure out what's the next course instead of just leaving me to flounder. The teacher would then set new suggestions that the rest of the teachers HAD to follow.

[secret_squirrel]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

Like jinj said, the best school for ADHD students is the school of raising-them-correctly. ADHD is usually the parent's fault; a child raised to work for what he wants, who has his TV and video game time limited, and who knows that he has no power in the household will never have ADD.

LOL

ADHD is a physical and chemical difference in the brain which is tangibly measurable on SPECT imagery (http://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/spect-image-gallery/spect-atlas/images-of-attention-deficit-disorder-addadhd/ - broken link).

ADHD, to the educated, informed person, is also not synonymous with bad behavior. ADHD is not a disability, it's a difference - one that our society has chosen to pathologize for convenience. But, as JustCallMeTC said, it's a gift. In human history, the ability of a hunter to quickly respond to an animal snapping a twig in the forest was an asset to the clan. It took risk-taking men and women to go west into the unknown to explore and settle. Individuals with these characteristics are often uncomfortable in the sedentary environment which has become so common in modern society. And it is downright painful for someone with a fast-processing brain to be stuck in a classroom designed for slow-processing brains.

And yes, the best school is in the home. Raising a child correctly includes raising them to realize that they are an individual. And not all individuals are born to sit in a cubicle all day; society couldn't function completely if they were. We all have strengths and weaknesses; the challenge of parenting is to make sure that their child is in an environment in which the child will flourish and develop those strengths, and not be branded a "failure" at an early age because it wasn't the right fit.

[JustCallMeTC]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

ADHD is usually the parent's fault; a child raised to work for what he wants, who has his TV and video game time limited, and who knows that he has no power in the household will never have ADD.

Your screename says it all.

Seriously. This has to be a troll post.

[majole]

I have a child who 13 year old. He was diagnosed with ADHD several years agao. He is in 7Th grade (public school) with 504 plan in place and he is doing very poorly "D's & F's". His behavior is getting worst. School is not much help.

I feel that I will be losing him if I don't do anything for him now. I think he needs structure & discipline in his life in order to succeed in school and life.

We have tried counseling, talked to his doctors and so on and nothing really worked.

Recently I have been searching the Web for special schools that have programs for ADHD kids "Not troubled kids or treatment centers". I think I have hit a brick wall. Most schools that provide Special need are boarding school which I think it might be a good idea??? but they are mostly in Canada and some that I found in USA do not have the traditional school setting??

I spoke to a school specialist and they charge a fee of around $5600 to research and locate 3 schools for us but we do not have the financial ability to do that. If we send our son to a boarding school we have to down size tremendously, which we are willing to do.

What is your opinion on this matter?? Do you know where we can get little bit more information's about these type of schools either here in Washington or else where??

[deboraharangel]

In the case of ADHD high school students, the supposed "boredom" is induced by ADHD. This is why the parents and teachers must find ways to overcome the attention deficiency symptom by maintaining the student's interest in a task.

More info about adhd boarding school (http://www.teen-boarding-school.com/teen-boarding-schools/adhd-boarding-school-for-boys.html - broken link), visit the links