ADHD BreakthroughsAs in other states, Michigan schools are seeing more and more parents of disabled children pulling them out of public schools, providing alternative private education, and then suing the Michigan Schools to foot the bill. It has become a problem and growing expense for public schools across the nation, ever since the passing of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which states that public schools are required to provide special education students with a free, appropriate public education. Disputes arise when parents and school administrators are in conflict over what is appropriate.
The Michigan Schools recently had its Birmingham school district sued by parents of a 17-year-old son with bipolar, obsessive compulsive and Asperger’s disorders, as well as other impairments. Andrew’s condition has become more serious in recent years, though Andrew’s daily regimen of pills control his otherwise violent and uncontrollable episodes.
His parents believed he would be better educated at home with one-on-one instruction, where there would be few distractions. Andrew had attended Groves High School in Franklin; however, his parents took it upon themselves to pull him out and provide his education at home through private teachers.
Michigan schools officials in the Birmingham district believe that Andrew would do better being educated at the high school with other students, where he could improve his social skills. The dispute between parents and Michigan schools administrators became a legal battle, with the parents seeking compensation of $113,000 to pay for the at-home private teachers and therapists for the past three years, as well as to cover these same expenses for one additional year.
The Michigan schools district in Birmingham charged that they had provided the Lipsitt boy with appropriate educational opportunities by shortening his school week and providing classes with opportunities for him to learn to socialize (some in regular classroom settings). They made numerous attempts to create a special educational program for Andrew, all of which were rejected by his parents, who wanted him home schooled.
This is not the first such case for the Michigan schools that currently have 242,000 students, who receive special educational services, and the number is growing each year. In the 2005-2006 school year, the Michigan schools saw 110 formal complaints over special educational services. There were only 77 such complaints just nine years ago. Though most cases are resolved before ever going to a hearing, the Michigan schools are seeing more and more parents pulling their special needs children out of the public schools first, providing alternative education, and then suing the Michigan schools’ districts for compensation.
Some cases do not even involve services that the Michigan schools are obligated to provide. One family with an autistic 12-year-old, for instance, was told by their doctor that their son needed several hours each week of speech therapy. They wanted the Michigan schools to provide this, but they offered 40 minutes each week, though they were not obligated by law to provide any such services. The parents then went to their insurance company, which paid for some of the therapy, as well.
The Lipsitt case was recently settled by a state administrative law judge, who ruled in favor of the Lipsitt family. Judge Lauren Harkness ordered the Michigan schools Birmingham district to pay for more than two years of homebound special education, stating that the district denied Andrew a free and appropriate public education. The district may appeal the ruling.
It is not that these children do not deserve these services — they do; however, the Michigan schools have a limited budget to cover such services for all of the 242,000 special needs children. As the number of such children rises, so does the state and federal contributions to each school; however, the current $723 million is not enough to cover the in-school costs of special education, as well as the expenses incurred by parents who make alternative educational arrangements (usually private and expensive).
There is no doubt that, as a society, we need to provide an appropriate education for special needs children. To do so, without hurting other children (including those with special needs who attend public school), the Michigan schools and other public school systems across the nation must develop a better method of communicating and working with the parents of special needs children, the community and government. Better funding and guidelines must exist for the schools, as well as other funding opportunities for such parents to provide non-educational services needed for their children. Otherwise, the public schools will be bankrupt paying for expensive educations and services for only a few.
For more information on Michigan schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Michigan/index.html
Experts say one of the best ways parents and teachers can foster the development of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and encourage a good start to a new school year is to celebrate their small, everyday achievements. Success for children with ADHD is defined in many ways and recognized based on a child’s ability to overcome challenges associated with the disorder. Following rules, getting along with family members, and interacting socially with peers at school are examples of behavior worth celebrating.
Now parents, teachers and others have a new, simple way to highlight the accomplishments of children with ADHD. McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals has launched a nationwide scholarship essay contest, grounded in celebrating everyday successes, that can help offset the cost of higher education for more than 200 children with ADHD. The CONCERTA “I See Success” ADHD Scholarship Contest gives parents, caregivers, and other adults an opportunity to recognize the academic, extra-curricular, and/or social achievements of a child with ADHD. Any child with diagnosed ADHD, regardless of his or her treatment plan, can be nominated for the contest.
“In addition to its proven impact on academic performance, the symptoms of ADHD also affect areas such as how children get along with family and friends, complete homework assignments and household tasks, and participate in after-school activities,” says ADHD expert Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Long Island, NY. “Success for a child with ADHD can mean an improvement in grades, getting along better with a sibling, maintaining a regular schedule, or simply getting ready for school in the morning without a major battle with mom or dad,” he adds.
“Before she was diagnosed with ADHD, my daughter would consistently get unsatisfactory marks for behavior in class. Once her symptoms were well-managed, she started getting excellent marks for behavior week after week,” says Debra Calderon, who lives near Houston, Texas. “I even took her out for dinner to celebrate a week that she got a ‘satisfactory’ to reinforce that I was still very proud of her success.”
About the CONCERTA “I See Success” ADHD Scholarship Contest
To nominate a child, write and submit an original essay, 250 words or less, describing how and why the child has been able to cope with the disorder and how he/she has improved and succeeded in academics, personal interactions and/or extra-curricular activities. Nominations will be accepted until December 1, 2003. The nominee must have a verifiable diagnosis of ADHD, which must be attested to on the entry from by the child’s doctor. Entry forms and official rules are available at www.concerta.net. The CONCERTA “I See Success” ADHD Scholarship Contest is in full compliance with the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
About ADHD
ADHD is a common neurobehavioral disorder affecting millions of children, adolescents and adults that is characterized by a variable attention span and/or hyperactivity or impulsivity. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mayo Clinic, approximately 7.5 percent of school-age children in the U.S. have ADHD.
About CONCERTA
CONCERTA (methylphenidate HCl) CII is a once-daily extended-release formulation of methylphenidate approved to treat ADHD. The efficacy of CONCERTA has been demonstrated in studies conducted in children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years of age. Only a doctor can determine if medication is the right treatment for individuals with ADHD.
CONCERTA uses an advanced OROS extended-release delivery system to deliver a controlled rate of medication throughout the day. Because of its unique OROS system, CONCERTA minimizes the ups and downs in blood levels experienced with stimulant medications taken several times a day.
CONCERTA should not be taken by patients with: significant anxiety, tension, or agitation; allergies to methylphenidate or other ingredients in CONCERTA; glaucoma, Tourette’s syndrome, tics, or family history of Tourette’s syndrome; current/recent use of monoamine oxidase (MAOIs). Abuse of methylphenidate may lead to dependence. CONCERTA should not be taken by children under 6 years of age.
In clinical studies with patients using CONCERTA, the most common side effects were headache, stomach pain, sleeplessness, and decreased appetite. For more information about CONCERTA, including full U.S. prescribing information, please visit www.concerta.net or call (888) 440-7903.
The biggest challenge in having children with ADD is getting their children to behave well and even give a little bit of cooperation. Some parents give up easily yet it may not be an impossible task if you really put your mind to it.
What are the major challenges for parents who have children with ADD?
“He never listens, or at least acts as if he hasn’t heard a word I’ve said!” – Kids with ADD often appear to be “in space” or daydreaming. You can tell your child 15 times to do something and he may appear to be listening, but in reality, he is not. He’s not being rude or disrespectful, as many parents believe. His attention is simply not there or it is on something else.
“She loses everything!” – This is a also a common symptom of ADD when the child tends to be highly disorganized. They also have a knack at loosing their belonging once too often and too soon. You may find that their school bag is in a total mess which is safe to say the very similar to their brain.
“His moods are unpredictable. It’s hard to take him out anywhere!” – This unpredictable mood is due to the desire for ADD brain for organization. If a child with ADD finds that there are no usual routine to follow, they will become irritated and anxious.
“She’s like a little time bomb if I don’t let her go outside and play!” – When hyperactivity is part of your child’s ADD, her brain is much like a boiling pot of water. If the top to the pot isn’t lifted regularly, it will bubble over and make a mess. Your child needs a safety valve for letting off her steam, too!
“He just won’t mind me.” – Most kids, with or without ADD, have a tendency to test the limits. For an ADD child, there’s the extra issue of impulsiveness that makes him act before thinking most of the time, thus making him appear even more disobedient than the other kids.
THE 6 STRATEGIES FOR PARENTING YOUR ADD CHILD
1. The need for structure in the brain will be positive for your child if her daily life is properly scheduled. This way, your child knows what to expect and is expected from him or her. Regular bedtime and mealtime are instances of this. Children with ADD will become more anxious and irritated if he or she does not know what to expect day in day out.
2. Give lots of “recesses.” Whether your child is hyperactive or not, the ADD brain is working hard to handle all of the information that is overwhelming his brain. Make sure he gets lots of breaks throughout his day. This may mean going outside and running off a lot of that excess energy. Or it may mean a quiet activity is needed. Whatever works for your child is the goal because his brain needs the rest.
3. Organizing a child with ADD can result in a positive outlook. Parents can help children become organizing by laying out before the activities they need to do for the day beforehand. This can be done by having a calendar. Not only will they be able to see what is in store for them that day but possibly the rest of the week too. Teach your child to be organized with their belonging such as books, toys and even clothes. They need to be placed a specific place when not in use. Parents can help out if it seems like some days or even a particular part of a day is hectic for the child to handle on their own.
4. Your child has his or her own limits and as a parent you should be able to identify this. Don’t over do when you discipline your child and it is as bad as not disciplining them at all. Always have the interest of your child at heart and don’t compare them with other parent’s ways of disciplining their child.
5. It may be quite an impossible task to control children with ADD what more with their impulsivity or her hyperactivity. Thus, parents are encouraged to learn the correct techniques to keep these things under control when it comes with managing their children. Be patience and persistence and it will definitely pay off.
6. Celebrate his successes. Unfortunately, much is written about the trials and tribulations of kids with ADD. But not everything they do is bad, misguided, or intentional. Catch your child when she does something good and tell her you noticed. Reinforce the learning that she is doing to get her ADD under control. In fact, she will respond better to positive reinforcement than to your yelling and scolding.
Some parents are put off by the fact that more effort are required to manage their ADD children. Parenting is not as easy as it seems and having to deal with ADD children can be a blessing in disguise. Careful planning and organizing can go a long way in your attempt to bring the best out of your ADD children.
when there are so many articles like this “The medications under the microscope are amphetamines like Dexedrine and Adderall, and methylphenidates like Concerta, Focalin, Metadate, Methylin and Ritalin.
The FDA will decide if patients need to be warned about an association with heart problems such as heart attacks, and psychiatric problems such as hallucinations, psychosis or mania in children. Black box warnings are serious markers of possible risk. The ADHD drug Strattera already carries a warning stating that it can increase suicidal thinking in teens”
Is it really worth these possible side effects?
Enlarge ImageOnce your child has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, you may feel a bombardment of emotions: guilt, for feeling responsible; relief, for understanding the cause of your child’s behavior; or anger. As you sort through all of the emotions, it is important to understand your child’s position is not a hopeless one. Many things can be done to help your child reach their full potential and to deal with the disorder.
The first thing you should do to help your child is research ADD; learn everything you can about the disorder. You will be more help to your child if you fully understand what they are up against, common treatments, and what to expect down the road. You will also be more prepared to work with your child’s doctor in effective management of the disorder.
You should also decide, with the help of your doctor, if your child should be medicated. This is a personal decision and can be only be made by you. Some parents feel they are giving their child the best opportunity they can by providing a means to a normal life. Others feel as though medication is not an option. Whatever your decision, you should be educated and certain of your decision.
Regardless of if you use medication, you should implement certain behavior therapy guidelines to help your child control their behavior. These train your child to utilize lifelong skills to be effective and productive. You should have set behaviour guidelines, as well as consequences. Children with ADD need clear expectations and consistent discipline.
You should be supportive of your child; you are their best advocate. In school, be sure they are being treated in a manner that will ensure their growth and development, as well as at home. You should consider yourself, your child’s teachers, and doctors a part of a team whose goal is to help your child succeed.
Help your child grow to be a confident and happy person. Acknowledge their strengths and tell them how much you love them. Children with ADD often suffer depression and low self-esteem; if you know this is the case, take measures to help avoid this fate for your child. Seek professional help if necessary.
Consider joining a support group and seek out people that share your situation. Often the best advice you can take is from someone that has been in your shoes. Utilize life experience!
Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Cohn’s Disease.
For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now.
I am a personal coach specializing in parenting. Because I am also a mother of an ADHD child, I have decided to focus mainly in that area. I desire to help others in this situation, but I want to focus my attention on the main issues faced by parents in this situation and not just rely on my own personal experiences. Each child is different and family values vary…I want to know what others are experiencing.