ADHD & a 504 plan???

[camreesmom]

Does anyone have a child with ADHD who has a 504 plan? I am so frustrated with my daughter's school at this point and they have done absolutely nothing to help. I have to meet with the principal tomorrow because they want to put her in an "alternative educational facility" for discipline problems. I'm talking about problems like talking too much, forgetting to turn in assignments, coming to class without her supplies, etc. I am about to pull my hair out. I plan on going to the school first thing in the morning but I was just wondering if anyone else has any experiences with this that they'd be willing to share.

 

[vettechick99]

Something doesn't sound right. That seems extreme for what you have listed.

Is she on medicine?

 

[lovetoscrap]

Have you looked at Wrightslaw.com? It is an incredible resource for education. There are some very specific laws that need to be followed when placing a child with a diagnosis in an alternative school.

 

[Holly]

How old is she?
Who diagnosed her ADHD?
Has she had additional testing for any learning disabilities?

What's in her 504 plan? When you say they've done nothing to help do you mean that they aren't following the 504?

I know that's a lot of questions but I think those things will help you get more helpful answers.

It seems like a jump to go from a 504 to being sent to an alternative school. I don't blame you for being upset.

 

[camreesmom]

Something doesn't sound right. That seems extreme for what you have listed.

Is she on medicine?

It is VERY extreme. I toured the facility on Thursday and it's like being in prison. They are searched every morning when they arrive.....in one or all of 3 ways: pat down, metal detector and/or drug dog. They are not allowed to take any money with them. They have to wear a uniform. I have been crying about this since Thursday.

And yes, she has been on medication since 2nd grade. We have been working with the doctor this year because the one she had been having a lot of success with is no longer working so we've tried two different medications already this year. We still have not found the correct medicine or dosage yet this year.

 

[camreesmom]

Have you looked at Wrightslaw.com? It is an incredible resource for education. There are some very specific laws that need to be followed when placing a child with a diagnosis in an alternative school.

I've been on Wrightslaw most of the weekend. I am fortunate that I have a sister that has a Ph.D in special education. Unfortunately, she lives out of town but I have talked to her several times since Thursday also.

No, we don't have a 504 plan in place. She is 11 and is in 6th grade and the jump from elementary school to middle school has not been easy for her. I plan on going to the school in the morning to ask for a functional behavioral assessment and hope to get a plan in place soon. She was an excellent student in elementary school and went from being an A/B student to C's and D's this year. She just flat out cannot sit still and be quiet for an hour. It is physically impossible for her. I'm just upset that after I practically begged the assistant principal for help for several months, I get hit with this alternative school plan out of the blue.

 

[krcit]

Have you looked at Wrightslaw.com? It is an incredible resource for education. There are some very specific laws that need to be followed when placing a child with a diagnosis in an alternative school.

Good luck OP.

 

[clh2]

I hate to make this suggestion...but I'm going there anyway.

If you do not feel that the school is honoring the 504 plan - get a lawyer.

Flame away. I don't care.

A lawyer will be able to represent YOU. The school is supposed to do what is right. Unfortunately, the school will push to do what is convenient for them. You need an advocate for you and your daughter.

I personally do not need experience in this type of situation, but my sister/nephew benefitted greated from the intervention of a lawyer, in an ADHD-related matter.

Once the attorney was involved...THEN (and only then) did the school district take my sister's concerns seriously related to her 504 concerns.

Good Luck!!!!!

 

[kirstenb1]

If she doesn't have a 504 or IEP, then I don't understand how they recommend her for alternate placement. If there is no accomodation, then I'm thinking they have never done a formal assessment?

It doesn't sound like they've even evaluated her? OP, have you tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? I have a neighbor, who did that in conjunction with meds for her son, and it did help. Anyway, just trying to look at different possibilities. In our school system, there is a separate building for alternative learning. But that seems to be for extreme circumstances, usually behavioral.

 

["Got Disney"]

Does anyone have a child with ADHD who has a 504 plan? I am so frustrated with my daughter's school at this point and they have done absolutely nothing to help. I have to meet with the principal tomorrow because they want to put her in an "alternative educational facility" for discipline problems. I'm talking about problems like talking too much, forgetting to turn in assignments, coming to class without her supplies, etc. I am about to pull my hair out. I plan on going to the school first thing in the morning but I was just wondering if anyone else has any experiences with this that they'd be willing to share.

Is she in therapy?

It is VERY extreme. I toured the facility on Thursday and it's like being in prison. They are searched every morning when they arrive.....in one or all of 3 ways: pat down, metal detector and/or drug dog. They are not allowed to take any money with them. They have to wear a uniform. I have been crying about this since Thursday.

And yes, she has been on medication since 2nd grade. We have been working with the doctor this year because the one she had been having a lot of success with is no longer working so we've tried two different medications already this year. We still have not found the correct medicine or dosage yet this year.

WOW!!!! that is extreme! Have you tryed Vyvanse as a medicine yet???? is works great for my son. How old is she? Your daughter has a chemical imbalance but seems that they want to treat her as if she is a criminal.

Sounds to me that you need to go to the superintendent of the school district. Does this school not have a special education dept within it...and does she have an IEP? sounds like that may be what you need.....also are you sure she has ADHD and not Bipolar...they mimic each other a great deal and many kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD when it is really Bipolar......if she is Bipolar than the treatment will be different. I would check that out if you have not yet and that may be where your problem lies. Still treatable but with a whole different kind of meds.

I would not put her in that school. Again how old is she?

 

[SandiH]

DO NOT let them put her in an alternate placement!!!! Insist on an evaluation for special education services. As a student with a diagnosed medication condition that is affecting her in the classroom, bare minimum is she qualifies for a 504 plan. She may even qualify for an IEP depending on if she needs specially designed instruction. It does sound like she needs an FBA and supports put in place and tried before they even suggest an alternative placement. What you described sounds appropriate for students with behavior disorders, not ADHD!

 

[cdsulhoff]

Does anyone have a child with ADHD who has a 504 plan? I am so frustrated with my daughter's school at this point and they have done absolutely nothing to help. I have to meet with the principal tomorrow because they want to put her in an "alternative educational facility" for discipline problems. I'm talking about problems like talking too much, forgetting to turn in assignments, coming to class without her supplies, etc. I am about to pull my hair out. I plan on going to the school first thing in the morning but I was just wondering if anyone else has any experiences with this that they'd be willing to share.

OH My this sound all to fimilar! To talk to someone who can help you Look up User aprilandtommy2005 on here! Shes my cuz and she has a son who is not only ADHD but has some other issues. Well She can help you with some questions that you will need! I will let her know about this post as well tomorrow when I talk to her!

 

[cdsulhoff]

OP also know your rights!!!

Also I believe your child will need medical papers for a 504 plan! My cuz had a hard time getting the 504 plan together for her kid! because the School staff was too damn lazy to do their job! The 504 is a lot of paper work on the teacher, counselor, and principle end!
Just remember the squeakiest wheel gets oiled! In other words keep on it and dont stop till you get your child the help your child needs!!!

 

[disneymarie]

Does anyone have a child with ADHD who has a 504 plan? I am so frustrated with my daughter's school at this point and they have done absolutely nothing to help. I have to meet with the principal tomorrow because they want to put her in an "alternative educational facility" for discipline problems. I'm talking about problems like talking too much, forgetting to turn in assignments, coming to class without her supplies, etc. I am about to pull my hair out. I plan on going to the school first thing in the morning but I was just wondering if anyone else has any experiences with this that they'd be willing to share.

Often parents run into the schools dropping the torch on kids for 504 plans. I had to hire an advocate to help me. It is too much to ask to make a support plan and not dump a kid into a learning environment that is far beyond the needs they really should have.

A TSS with some time during the day to prompt books for home work, assignments written down, and a supportive friend. Then take it from there.

I ended up doing cyber school for dd.

I initially called an educational attorney that referred me to the Advocate I hired but the school people that were all about their self and not my dd, were trembling and gathering the troops for my meeting. The meeting I had with principal prior to this meeting showed is void in administrating...
The guidance councilor tried to change the appointment.

Boy did heads start swinging and help start. Unfortunatly it was too little too late and dd was diagx school phobic by this time. I hold the principal responsible for not addressing the bullying, and bullying me in front of dd. She could not even get in the doors, with a plan.

She loves cyber schooling. Very bright, but I have to push her to structure. When I work days she waits until I get home to go online doing the printouts and reading I leave first.

She will not talk to the teachers unless forced afraid they are going to yell at her. Not one would....they are very attentive to her anxiety panic.
She is 9th grade now. 5th and 6th were a misery for her.

The referral for the woman to help me battle was worth it. She just had her second IEP 504 plan with the cyber school this spring and working well with it.

 

[rie'smom]

OP, that's the age when my daughter's meds stopped working. We went through several when she was in the 6th grade. It was so hard. Her doctor said when girls hit puberty, hormonal chnages can interfere with the meds. It was a roller coaster.

Since my daughter was in private school I can't help with suggestions except to suggest you do not allow them to move her. I can also suggest calling your state dept of education. When my daughter had problems with a teacher- the teacher was fighting us the whole way- I called the Dept of Education in Washington DC. When I went to the meeting with the teacher and principal I can tell you they were pale by the time I unloaded and told them that after having spoken to Washington, I discovered their federal funding could be cut out entirely. If it had been a movie their scrambling would have been a comedic scene. We had no problems after that. Public schools can also lose their funding if the school is not in compliance. Something like a teacher making comments about a student with learning problems can bring down more trouble on a school than they want to have to deal with.
You may want to contact a lawyer who deals with education or family law as well. School boards hear lawyer and usually back down.

 

[camreesmom]

OP, that's the age when my daughter's meds stopped working. We went through several when she was in the 6th grade. It was so hard. Her doctor said when girls hit puberty, hormonal chnages can interfere with the meds. It was a roller coaster.

This is exactly what has happened. She was on Adderall XR from 1st grade thru 5th and she was a completely different child. Once puberty hit though, it didn't work at all and our doctor told us that hormones and Adderall do not mix well together. She's on Intuniv right now but it really seems like the higher dose she gets, the worse her behavior is. The school counselor said that it seems to her that DD11 could actually be having a reaction to this medication.

Just remember the squeakiest wheel gets oiled! In other words keep on it and dont stop till you get your child the help your child needs!!!

I kept trying to play nice with the principal and teachers but they are going to see a completely different person tomorrow! I'll probably end up missing several days of work before this is all over with but it will be well worth it in the end. Like I said earlier, my sister is a special ed specialist who unfortunately lives in another town but she said she would be happy to have a phone conference with any of these people. She told me that placing her in this alternative school for discipline could be a civil rights violation.

She has not been evaluated since she moved to middle school but the teachers and the principals all know that she is on medication for ADHD. One of the assistant principals actually had the nerve to tell me that my child needs to learn how to act because when she is an adult and ends up in court for something, the judge is not going to listen to "I didn't take my medicine today."

It's definitely ADHD. She's been diagnosed by 3 different doctors. When the Adderall worked, it was amazing. She WANTED to take the medicine because she knew how miserable she would be if she didn't. She wanted to behave but it was like she was physically unable to sit down and be quiet. I strongly believe that with some accommodations at school and the right medication, she can be a straight A student again.

So, #1 on my list is to go to the principal tomorrow and let her know that my daughter will most definitely NOT be going to the alternative school and #2 that we want a functional behavior assessment.

After that, I am headed to the pediatrician's office to get whatever documentation I can get from her showing that my daughter needs accommodations because of the ADHD.

I really think it boils down to the teachers and administrators taking the easiest route for THEM, not the student.

 

[rie'smom]

This is exactly what has happened. She was on Adderall XR from 1st grade thru 5th and she was a completely different child. Once puberty hit though, it didn't work at all and our doctor told us that hormones and Adderall do not mix well together. She's on Intuniv right now but it really seems like the higher dose she gets, the worse her behavior is. The school counselor said that it seems to her that DD11 could actually be having a reaction to this medication.



I kept trying to play nice with the principal and teachers but they are going to see a completely different person tomorrow! I'll probably end up missing several days of work before this is all over with but it will be well worth it in the end. Like I said earlier, my sister is a special ed specialist who unfortunately lives in another town but she said she would be happy to have a phone conference with any of these people. She told me that placing her in this alternative school for discipline could be a civil rights violation.

She has not been evaluated since she moved to middle school but the teachers and the principals all know that she is on medication for ADHD. One of the assistant principals actually had the nerve to tell me that my child needs to learn how to act because when she is an adult and ends up in court for something, the judge is not going to listen to "I didn't take my medicine today."

It's definitely ADHD. She's been diagnosed by 3 different doctors. When the Adderall worked, it was amazing. She WANTED to take the medicine because she knew how miserable she would be if she didn't. She wanted to behave but it was like she was physically unable to sit down and be quiet. I strongly believe that with some accommodations at school and the right medication, she can be a straight A student again.

So, #1 on my list is to go to the principal tomorrow and let her know that my daughter will most definitely NOT be going to the alternative school and #2 that we want a functional behavior assessment.

After that, I am headed to the pediatrician's office to get whatever documentation I can get from her showing that my daughter needs accommodations because of the ADHD.

I really think it boils down to the teachers and administrators taking the easiest route for THEM, not the student.

I understand the trying to place nice- been there. The problem is some people mistake niceness for ignorance. It's great that you have realized that they want to take the easy route. Bust them on that. There are laws they have to follow. Get your ducks in a row and then take no prisoners. It breaks my heart that your daughter is going through this and that your are too. School is hard enough for our learning differences children w/out having pompous idiots to complicate things further. You are both in my prayers.

 

[Kat77]

Intuniv is a new drug (well, not new but the the newest one being pimped). It could be an adverse reaction. I would wean her off and look for another option.
If no agreement can be made about her placement I would also withdraw her until the medication is worked out. Ask for a medical withdraw form.

 

[camreesmom]

Intuniv is a new drug (well, not new but the the newest one being pimped). It could be an adverse reaction. I would wean her off and look for another option.
If no agreement can be made about her placement I would also withdraw her until the medication is worked out. Ask for a medical withdraw form.

You hit the nail on the head - Intuniv is definitely being pushed big time. It works very well at the lowest dose for DD8 but we haven't seen any positive effects at all on DD11. And for anyone thinking that we just don't have patience with our kids & want to medicate them into zombies.....we have 8 kids.....only 3 have been diagnosed as ADHD. When medicine works, it is amazing but when it doesn't, it just kills me to see my daughter struggling like this.

I read on one ADHD website that with discipline issues like this, the school personnel tend to look at it as non-compliance, instead of an incompentency. Her science teacher sent her to the office 3 times in one week for not having her supplies with her when she got to class and the teacher wrote on the referral paper "refuses to bring her supplies to class. Defiant like this on a daily basis." Then she calls and leaves me a message saying that she "cannot get along" with my daughter because of this. I will definitely be requesting a teacher change also.

Thank you all for letting me vent. It really helps.

 

[clh2]

Like I said earlier, my sister is a special ed specialist who unfortunately lives in another town but she said she would be happy to have a phone conference with any of these people. She told me that placing her in this alternative school for discipline could be a civil rights violation.


I really think it boils down to the teachers and administrators taking the easiest route for THEM, not the student.

I paraphrased your update. I am so glad to hear that you've got someone in your corner who is knowledgable on this topic, as it relates to the laws. (In which case - I retract my "lawyer up" comment" from an earlier post.

Which leads me right into - the school wants to do what is easiest for them...Sad but true, in many school districts.