Hello:

My son has had ADHD diagnosed since last December, and is just now showing signs of dysgraphia. It has always been there, I think just now that it is becoming a problem. He attends a wonderful private school that we love, and is academically challenging. He is very bright, but I worry because I don't think that this school will be inclined to make any accommodations, and I don't think they have to. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't see my son making it in a public school, not enough individual attention, too many students per teacher, he would get lost.

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Two things, you may have to be a pioneer here as many private schools are reluctant to admit that their students (and teaching methods) require program modifications. However, he who pays the piper picks the song. You may actually have more clout in a private school than a public one. Dysgraphia does not go away, in fact it tends to get worse, especially with boys. Be prepared to go to the mat with this one and liberate your son from his hands. My husband is a sought after world authority in his professional field, but he is the first to admit that he would never have gone as far as he has if he was required to hand write his scientific papers. The man can't even read his own grocery list! Don't let them sacrifice your son's genius to a pair of uncooperative hands.

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This is an issue for most kids with AD(H)D. What I noticed with my 2 boys is that they hold the writing instrument so close to the tip that they really need to put pressure just to hold the item. I haven't been able to get my youngest to hold the item higher to make it easier for him. It's the way they taught themselves and hard to unlearn. He used to have such lovely writing/cursive. They both did.

Also, you could definitely use computer. They kind of like doing that. Just number the answers according to the question numbers and attach to homework sheet. I have done this and signed the papers (both) and stated that this was done this way to assist child IN GETTING THE WORK DONE! With workpage or report. Isn't that what the teachers want anyway.....

As far as your 504, teachers/schools can use what is there, but it is only if they are able to. Most will abide by requests/requirements listed to help the child. If you could get this added to your 504, and even get an IEP since child has other issues too. The school systems around the country will try with 504s first unless your child is outright learning disabled and test scores are way down. If they are near or above average, even a fraction, they claim that your child is academically too smart to use IEP. Garbage.

I alone have been trying to get my youngest on an IEP with just ADHD issues regarding school, behavior, homework, understanding broken up subjects, etc. and they kept saying no, he tests too high. Well, I just found out, having an advocate that used to put IEPs together for her students, that if there are issues beyond testing scores, then there are reasons for IEPs and that a student can have an IEP even with higher level test scores. Also, IEPs follow thru to college, 504s stop pretty much at age 16. That's the way the law reads (see if there is a problem child and schools don't put on IEPs, they can drop 504 and just make it harder for you and your child after they turn 16--at least that is what I have come to conclude). As my school is 'rushing' to get my sons IEP/CSE done in time before his 16th birthday, because now that I have an advocate that they can't bamboozle, they are bustin butt.

Your child can also do oral answers, like a tape recorder. Ask the question, then give answer. Have someone else write it down — word for word, punctuation mark for punctuation mark — etc. It has to be his words, not the scribes is all.

Good luck. I don't presume to know much of anything, but have read all I can find (which seems to be not much even after hundreds, if not thousands of pages of information).

Private schools have to follow the same laws as any other school regarding 504s and/or IEPs. Go to Ed.gov look for NCLB (No Child Left Behind). It explains it there under 300.300-300.end.

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Think about how many brain process it takes to write just one sentence. You have how you hold the pencil, the structure of the sentence, the letters formation, the lines, and then the spelling of the words. No wonder kids with ADHD have a hard time with this. Like has been said before in this topic there are things that you can do to help with each of these process and devlop better pathways. There are many programs out there one we like is Brain Gym and Learning Matters.

Not to promote video games... but if you kid really likes them a great thing to get using all parts of the brain is the Wii. You have to use both hands and most games sitting down is not possible. We worked with this ADHD support group and joking one day were were talking about the Wii. One of the parents looked more into it and found all this support for benefits of it. If your kid is going to play them you might as well support brain development. This tactic for brain development has been used in stroke victims and other Physical therapy. The only down side we have found for it is getting him off. We have addressed that by limiting him to 30 minutes after school before we start homework. We have seen a improvement in handwriting and focus when doing this. It is almost like the Wii gets him moving and crosses the mid line so his brain going so homework is easier. This also gives him down time before homework little dose he know that it gets it all moving.

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