Results are in - ADHD & Dysgraphia - now what?

[4forMe]

I decided to start a new thread since I don't know how to change the title of my old thread to show an update.

I had posted a couple of months ago regarding my DS8 undergoing a neuropsych. evaluation. We recently received the results - he was diagnosed with AHDH - combined type and dysgraphia.

My friend who has a son with ADHD told me our school district is very good about giving an IEP for ADHD under OHI.

My first question is do I contact the district now to try to set up an IEP eligibility meeting and request for the OT evaluation or should I just wait until the first day of school in the fall since we have less than one month left?

Can you let me know what type of accomodations you have on your IEP/504 that you have found to be helpful in addressing your child's AHDH? Some that were recommended were preferential seating, extended time on tests, study guided in advance of tests, organizational assistance, etc. I would like to have a complete list of appropriate accomodations before setting up the IEP eligibility meeting. It was also suggested that medications be considered if behavioral interventions do not succeed.

Regarding the dysgraphia, it was recommended that we have a separate evaluation by an occupational therapist - does the school do this or do we need to seek out outside resources? Does insurance tend to cover an OT evaluation?

Finally, how did you discuss with your child their diagnosis of ADHD? They recommended some books about ADHD by Russell Barkley. Any other suggestions would be highly appreciated.

DS is continuing to be defiant and I need to get a behavioral plan into place. I thought I had found a good incentive that would work for him (extra reading time in the evening), but for example, yesterday he continued to refuse to participate in swim practice for the second day in a row. Punishment doesn't work with him and I am trying so hard to figure other things out. It's also starting to take a toll on the other kids since DS8 is requiring so much of my attention lately.

Thanks ahead for any advice/suggestions.

 

[millerpjm]

Hi there,

Taking Charge of ADHD by Barkley is a very good book. I also like
Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach by Vincent Monastra. One of the things that may help you is that one chapter has a huge list of sample accommodations for an IEP/504. He also has a sample letter to the school requesting the evaluation.

I would also recommend a psychologist to help you set up a behavioral plan. Find one that specializes in AD/HD. Our psychologist has been very helpful in helping us figure out a plan.

Good luck....

 

[mommatomase]

I don't have alot to say about ADHD and the issues you will face in school. However, I do know... don't wait until the start of next year to get things in place. A written letter from you requesting a meeting to set up his IEP should be sent to the school as soon as possible. Also, send copies of the reports you already have so that they know that testing has already been done. Be very specific and as detailed as possible in your letter so that the district can't find any reasons not to start the process ASAP. Make sure you keep a copy for yourself... ALWAYS make copies of EVERYTHING you send to the school from this day forward.
School districts have a certain amount of days that they can wait until they hold the meeting you request, why not get those days counting down now so that services can begin as soon as possible in the next year.
Good luck. Some districts are wonderful to work with and others will fight you all the way...

 

[starbox]

Ask your school about using an Alpha Smart for the dysgraphia

 

[itradehilton]

My DS goes to OT but it was a huge fight with the school district. Now he has an IEP and gets OT but my MD gave me a refferal for a private OT and luckily my insurance covers the private OT. With the added services we have seen great growth in his written work this year. I also bought a program called C0-Writer, it works with a word processing program and helps him when paragraph writing on the computer. His IEP states the school district will have a computer available for his use in the classroom. The alphasmarts don't work well for him since you can only see a few lines of text at a time.