What State?

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I Googled the Thompson Center.

If you are in MO, try..

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/parentresources.html

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/Compliance/documents/ParentGuide.pdf

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/Compliance/Proc_Safe/index.html

http://askdreric-schoolpsychologist.blogspot.com/

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I live in Pulasjki County Missouri. Thank your for the resousces everyone is providing,

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OMG, I've already replied to 2 of your posts, and didn't even realize it was the same person! OMG, your' me, a few years ago!!!! Okay, one of 2 things needs to happen here. Either you need to hire someone (a professional educational advocate, your tutor may know one) OR, if that's just not possible (it was totally out of reach for me) your going to need to familiarize your self with some of the basic vocabulary and issues, here. Actual laws involved would be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), IDEA (forget what it's for, but it's the one that allows for IEP's in the first place) and the :"No Child Left Behind" law. If your son were in public school, I'm sure he would be entitled to a "free and appropriate public education". I'm pretty sure he still is, technically, but I'm not exactly sure how that plays out in the private school environment. You want to check out "Wrightslaw" regarding how all of these ACTS and Laws play out in requesting an IEP, and in getting all of these (often expensive) evaluations. I think it's just "wrightslaw.com" and then you've got plenty of ways to search out information specific to your situation. Also the CHADD website (you may want to join if you haven't already)-there's directories on that site of professionals, including educational advocates, that may be able to help. It's such a trade off, either deal with public school and all the issues that come with it, or go to a better school, but they may not be wiling to meet your son's needs. Another alternative is to see if there are any private schools in your area that actually specialize in AD/HD and learning disabilities, etc. However, if you want to stick with your son's current school (and this is true in every school) your going to have to specifically point out HOW his learning problems stem from something other than laziness, attitude, just not being up to par, etc. and don't be afraid to list EVERYTHING you've done to try to get help for your son. You may need to get a private evaluation, however, since it is not a public school. (It's recommended that you do anyway, even when the school is offering one for free). That way, you've got a professional, who knows the system, putting 2 and 2 together and making real recommendations to the school of what needs to happen there for your son to succeed. I know the clinical social worker I'm checking out to see my daughter this year is able to do independent evaluations, you can usually find out who does just typing ADHD and your zip code into google. Your asking the right questions, no doubt, but it might take some doing to come back at the school with something really effective (for the right reasons) at the drop of a hat like that. If your not able to get help soon enough to meet with the school, stick with what you know best--how much you've tried, and how it hasn't worked so far. That should be enough to perk them up a bit. Stay away from quoting anything legal, as school personnell get real defensive about that, just familiarize yourself. Try asking questions, like what exactly does an IEP do? Who is it for? What's the purpose of a 504 plan? (It's actually to prevent discrimination based on disability) and you'll be opening the door in such a way as to not come off threatening, but to let them know your eyes are open now. If you don't mind saying what part of the country your in, maybe others can steer you towards specific people or organizations in your area that can help. I know that there is some kind of provision, that says that your public school system still has to provide some services, even if your child is in public school. I would ask about that, open the door and let the school walk through it, so your getting what your son needs, without being one of "those" parents. Good luck , and God Bless!!

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I meant, there's a provision that says that the public school system has to provide certain services even if the student is in a Private school. I'm not sure what that's called, but "wrightslaw.com" probably has several articles on it. The point is, subtly let them know your really looking at options. Don't just stick with where ever they want to send you, so you really get the whole picture. Even the best school is not going to volunteer any more information than they actually have to. It's just how it is. Oh, and I think there's a directory on this website too. Even a therapist should be able to support you in getting appropriate educational accomodations and interventions in place.

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OMG. I just thought of this. Last year, when my daughter (finally!) got moved from a 504 to a real IEP for "other health impaired" I actually made a really big deal out of her emotional state. (not that I really had to, I just stopped telling her to try harder to cope with everything and brought it up to the school) and I got the child psychiatrist that prescribes her medication to actually call the school. The fact that she was developing "secondary" symptoms of AD/HD put the school under enough pressure to acknowledge that the whole combination made her eligible, no matter how smart she is, or how good some of her test scores are. They finally caved and suggested the IEP themselves, so it got done. I'm really looking forward to this year (hopefully) being different. "Other health impaired" is the category under which you CAN get an IEP for AD/HD, even if there are no co-morbid conditions, or specific learning disabilities. If you can't get an official IEP yet, get a 504 and keep requesting meetings to add to it until it just becomes easier to transfer it to an IEP. No way is the school going to get by with denying a 504, even in a private school.

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