Char

Thanks for your suggestions. I have set up an appt with a neurologist- earliest appt to meet with us in Jan31. I couldn’t find any other offices with better availability. I have a letter drafted to request full evaluation. I need to send it out. Also, psychiatrist finally agreed to change up #mg for my son which was at lowest dose since June. Also added an anti-anxiety. medication because my son says his overwhelm of the final result is really impacting his ability to start projects (even when assignments are small). 
 

With the FB group shitting down, I would love to hear from more people on this— I know many commented in the group and I didn’t get screenshots of many comments. Thank you!! 

Hi y’all- I need help. **Can anyone here help me ask the school 504 team for what could help my son? 

I am a mom to 3 kids all given an ADHD diagnosis & prescribed medication in the last year. My oldest - 14yrs, 5’10” - takes a marginally helpful low dose of Ritalin and we are pursuing support for him in schools. His 7th & 8th grade marks were all over the board & teachers were very concerned— as were we.

In 9th grade, he is not keeping up with homework at all. His ADHD inattentive (same as me) looks like avoidance, difficulty starting, and distractibility once doing work. He was diagnosed PDD-NOS at age 3 which is likely a factor as well, but the school hasn’t considered it & don’t want to evaluate for IEP, only 504. They offered the following after speaking with last year’s teachers:

504 plan: homework check in, study skills class 4xs a week in place of elective, and chunking projects into smaller deadlines. 

However, he is getting notices and emails constantly about missing deadlines & missing assignments. I am reminding, offering to buddy up after school while I work and suggesting timers/scheduled time blocks/movement breaks. 

After school he zones out- It’s as if any energy for school work disappears walking in the door. He gets set up on his school chrome book & when I check on him, he’s on YouTube watching in depth history and mythology videos, writing philosophy, taking personality/political quizzes, anything but the work required. 

I am exhausted. He is discouraged with himself and the school team needs my feedback/acceptance of the 504. I have now researched 504s way too much but am having problems processing that research into a response/ask for different/additional support. 

Can anyone help me to ask the school for what would/could help him? 

He was last tested for possible IEP in this district when he was 6. He took some tests with the school psychologist & they carried on about how smart he was & how high his IQ was — I requested further assessment with a neurologist  but met too much resistance & didn’t have the spoons to get results We don’t have a neurologist, only a psychiatrist- waiting lists are long & many are not covered by our type of Aetna plan (it has a clause that says developmental issues are not covered nor are any co-morbidity diagnoses)