Hello: I can hear the frustration in your post and know that you're working hard to get your son the accommodations he needs to thrive in the classroom. You were smart to research the IDEA guidelines, and now the challenge will be communicating effectively with your son's teachers and school administrators so that they see how working with you can benefit everyone. Not easy, I know, so I've researched a few ADDitude resources that you may find useful...

A Parent's Guide to ADHD School Accommodations: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/749.html

Standing Up for Your Child’s Educational Rights: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/959.html

Is Your Child's IEP Working? Checking Up on ADHD Accommodations: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/943.html

Helping the Teacher Help Your Child with ADHD Accommodations: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/744.html

Talking With Your Child's Teacher: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/697.html

I hope these help!

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I've been there as a parent, and I'm a SpEd teacher, too. To get the attention and get a meeting with the IEP team, all you have to do is request an IEP meeting. Parents have the right to call these meetings. Normally, you can simply request the meeting through the special education teachers. However, if that does not work right away, you could mail a letter to the Director of Special Education for your district requesting the IEP meeting to address your son's behavioral issues. At the meeting, find out the particulars of the behavioral problems the school is encountering. If it appears to you that your son's behavior problems are persistent, request a behavior improvement plan for him. In Texas we do a functional behavioral analysis and then use that information to develop a plan to address the priority behaviors. There are a multitude of interventions that can be used with children who are having trouble with behavior. All that said, you will be working with these people a long time. I suggest you simply stand your ground politely, but firmly.---even though the advocate in you is furious. People will listen more closely and be more willing to work with you if you approach them from that standpoint.

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I was just wondering if you have looked into schools that are specifically for ADHD, ADD children. These schools know exactly how to help our children in an enviornment that works for them. You may want to check it out if you are not getting anywhere with your current school. Good luck.

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I would request another IEP meeting. I would make the request in writing and keep a copy of the letter. I would ask that the school psychologist or social worker be present at the meeting.

If the issue continues where you don't feel your concerns are being addressed you could contact the school board.

I would just keep track of dates and document as much as you can. When you have to address concerns with school officials I have found it helpful to have specific examples.

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There is also something else you need to request from school psychologist, principal, teachers, etc. and that is what is called an: FBA = Functional Behavior Assessment. It should break down what the behavior issues are with your child. Each school district apparently can set up their own style forms. Mine didn't want to do one and just copied info. from general report. Okay, they still had to do one. It should also stay w/your child for transition purposes and after school (like college - yes, there are helps there too!)

Look up FBA or Functional Behavior Assessment on any of the 'legal' sites (it is also in the NCLB sections-just look for FBA, functional, assessments for starters). If they don't have one done before your IEP/CSE meeting, you have the right to walk out immediately stating they they did not do an FBA (It shows them that you are no dummy as far as they are concerned and that they haven't completed their part of the process yet). Ask for a new meeting date with a completed FBA. It usually gets them moving. Also, they should pay for general behaviorial therapy (they try to get around all of it because of cost to district) if behavior is something that they are really concerned about. Ask for it! They won't volunteer it, just make comments about it. Making you feel like an 'idiot'. Which we are not. If they are unable to document behavior issues, then somebody needs to be called out. And principals can be the worst when it comes to some of this. They sign off for their particular school and can be real pissy because it goes against their budgets, and whatever else is important. The goal of IEP/CSE many times is to keep the cost minimal for the district, not necessarily what to help with what you need. See an outside advocate, many districts parent reps (sorry, but true) are there at the behest of the committee and you probably won't get much help from them unless it is off the record out of the meeting.

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I totally understand your frustration. I'm a single mother with a 9 year old that has ADHD w/ combined ODD and Aspergers Syndrome, depression and anxiety. He has had an IEP in his school for the past years and not only does it have the learning but it includes the behavior but you have to be very involved and make sure they stay on top of everything. He had a teacher this past year and she didn't make any improvements and even with his goals placed on his IEP she couldn't comment all year with any progress. If you are being ignored and no one responds to your request not only write to the principal and school board but cc your local state representative. I did that once and after that the school woke up and took action. I didn't hear from the representative but that fact that she was included the school didn't like. You can also go to your library and check out books on how to implement an IEP and anything else regarding IEP's. Be strong!

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