Although federal law requires local public schools to provide extra educational services to students with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and/or learning disabilities like dyslexia, it's up to parents to make sure this happens.
Here's what to do:
Get an accurate evaluation.
If your child is struggling, his teacher or another member of the school staff may suggest an evaluation to see if he might benefit from special services. If they don't, request one. Should the school decline your request, or if you're dissatisfied with the evaluation's findings, arrange for a private evaluation. (In some circumstances, the school may have to pay for the outside assessment.)
Meet with the evaluation team.
A school-sponsored evaluation is conducted by a multidisciplinary team -- including special-education teachers, the school psychologist, and other professionals -- assembled by school officials. As part of the process, they'll want to meet with you to learn more about how your child functions in school. Come prepared: Bring copies of your child's report cards, standardized test results, and medical records, as well as a log of your communications with the school and other professionals.
Team members will also review your child's academic records, conduct a behavioral assessment, and observe her in the classroom.
Following the assessment, you will meet with your child's teacher, a school administrator, and the rest of the evaluation team to discuss the results. Together, this group will decide whether your child needs special-education services to address how AD/HD impacts her ability to learn.
Be an advocate, not an adversary.
A parent who is assertive, considerate, and respectful while supplying information and requesting services will make more headway than one who is confrontational.
However, if you feel the school is being insensitive to your child's educational needs, don't be afraid to dig in your heels and fight.
If the team decides your child doesn't need special ed, for example, you're entitled to appeal your case in a "due-process" hearing - a legal proceeding that often requires legal representation for the family, testimony from independent experts, and a review of meeting transcripts, test scores, and other documents.
This article comes from the August/September 2006 issue of ADDitude.
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