Now I've got two IEP kids

[Brightsy]

My older son (9 1/2 yrs. ADHD) finally got an IEP.
For years we didn't have one for him, he's doing really great academically. (straight A's last report card!) He's made Student of the Month at least once each school year. He's a great kid, when he's on his meds, w.out those and that'd be a whole 'nother story.
Anyways, he's in the 4th grade now and we noticed (we being his teacher and I) that he's struggling in some areas. Mostly it's his handwriting, it's ATROCIOUS, he's the only person I know w/ worse penmanship than mine. He was also showing a few other signs of potential problem. When we took his case to the Child Study Team they told me my son is a challenging case. He has no behavioral problems, although he is slightly socially delayed, and his grades are great. But we went on with things. He went through some evaluations and qualified for the IEP due to his ADHD. It doesn't really change much for him. He's already in an inclusion classroom, but now the sepc. ed. teacher will work with him (and a few others in his class) a few times a week. Mostly for my son she'll be helping him w/ organizational skills and she'll introduce some social stories and such for his social awkwardness. They're going to give him some accomodations for written exams (more time) and reformat his worksheets so he'll have more space to write. They'll also let him use a computer for written homework (except for handwriting specific assignments). The best part is now he'll finally get some OT! Yay! I've had such good luck with the CST for my kids, I haven't had to fight for anything. I ask and they do their best to give. It helps that I know them all pretty well from delaing w/ my younger son. And somehow I've got them all thinking I'm the best mom in the world! LOL! (I guess my college education is coming to some use after all!)

 

[rjthkids]

I have four with special needs. One DD has only medical needs (heart issues) but the other three would qualify for IEP services if we used the school system (we homeschool). ROP, CP, ASD, MR, DD....we love alphabet soup over here, lol.

It's so nice to see our kids get the kind of help they truly need.

 

[teachallday]

And somehow I've got them all thinking I'm the best mom in the world! LOL!

Okay, now can you convince the kids grandparents of the same thing?

 

[mechurchlady]

Congratulations on getting the IEP. Hugs and time to break out cookies, dole whips and hot fudge sundaes

Hugs
Laurie

 

[bookwormde]

Brightsy

I do not know it he has assistive technology yet but getting him his own keyboard/computer should not be a big issue.

Hopefully the team will be experienced and educated enough to weed out the differences between ADHD and EF issues and provide the appropriate supports and modification for each. It already sounds like your son is a self-adapter so with a formal program for social skills he should be able to fine-tune his skills, abilities and adaptations.

The test accommodations are really helpful also if well applied.

One thing that is often found is that once the accommodations and supports are ramped up, anxiety levels (even if he hides them well) will decrease significantly and medicine levels can often be lowered and in a significant percentage of cases eventually ended entirely.

One thing I would suggest at his age is to start to educate him about neurovariations, especially when if relates to broader indications of a family genetic basis. I can not adequately tell you what a positive impact this can have on individuals, their self esteem and the reduction of anxiety and the ability to make well informed choices about how they will choose to “live” their life.

bookwormde

 

[Brightsy]

My son is aware of his condition. He learned about it at an early age, partly due to his younger brother having autism. I'm ADHD and dyslexic and I remember how and when I learned about it. I'd been on Ritalin since early on, about 6 or so. I didn't know, at first, what I was taking or why. When I was 8 my parents explained it all to me. I had come home upset about things because a kid teased me about the meds at lunchtime. (Back then my parents gave me my mid-day dose in a baggie that was in my lunch box and I took it at lunchtime. No nurses or anything... things sure have changed, huh?) Anyways they told me that the medicine helped me stay focused and sat down w/ me and told me all about my condition. At 12 I was taken off the meds when I hit puberty. I had a friend in a similar condition. The difference was I knew about things and she didn't. I coped w/ things a lot better than she did.
Anyways, sorry about the tangent. My son knows he has ADHD and knows exactly what the meds do for him. On non-school days he's already making the decision about whether he wants the meds or not. He's learning some compensatory behaviors for when he chooses not to take the meds. He also knows that right now, the way he is, he needs the meds for certain functions, school, more "formal" occasions where his impulses need more control, stuff like that. If we're just hanging at home doing nothing major he'll opt to not take the meds. He's only tried to use his ADHD once or twice, he didn't like the consequences so he doesn't try it anymore. (I mean, the old "I broke the vase because I have ADHD and couldn't control myself when I threw the ball in the house" thing. I told him I full well understood how hard it can be to keep oneself in check but he was still going to his room and his allowance would still be garnished to pay back the vase. That lesson sunk in... he still has control issues sometimes, but he doesn't try to lay the blame on his ADHD. And I do take into account that it's harder for him to think things through sometimes.)
Oh gosh, I really am on a ramble aren't I?
We have also told him that his ADHD is something that can run in families, I mean, I'm ADHD, my Momma is ADHD, the child I gave up for adoption is ADHD. His younger brother isn't, far as we can tell, ADHD but he does have Autism, so... At least my boys dodged the dyslexia bullet! *whew*

 

[ireland_nicole]

Hey Brightsy; we have this in common too- 2 kiddos with IEP's. Don't worry, you're already a pro at this, and as you know, the IEP provides legal protections for him. Remember, It'll be ok, even when it isn't!