| When a child has ADD ADHD, it is not uncommon for | | | | enough to impair the child's education. Children who |
| the first person to recognize the symptoms to be the | | | | suffer from ADHD may also qualify under IDEA if they |
| child's teacher. Many of the symptoms of ADHD can | | | | have simultaneously been diagnosed with a learning |
| seem more pronounced in a structured classroom | | | | disablity or with emotional problems. |
| setting, when a child is forced to sit still and focus on | | | | Chidren who don't qualify for specialized education |
| something specific. Of course, a teacher's suspicion is | | | | under IDEA can still find help under Section 504 of the |
| not grounds for assumption that your child has the | | | | Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is an anti-discrimination |
| condition. A diagnosis of ADHD should come only after | | | | provision designed to protect people with disabilities. It |
| valid ADHD assessment tests and extensive | | | | prohibits programs that are federally funded, such as |
| professional evaluation that includes such factors as | | | | public schools, from discriminating against people with |
| his or her behavior at school, at home and at play, and | | | | disabilities, and requires schools to accomodate them. |
| that eliminates the possibility that your child is suffering | | | | Accomodations can include things such as altering |
| from other conditions, such as depression or anxiety, | | | | test-taking rules or providing help with note-taking. |
| that can produce similar symptoms. | | | | The Americans with Disabilities Act also prohibits |
| If you do determine that your child has ADHD and | | | | discrimination on the basis of disability, but includes |
| needs special child ADHD treatment, you should be | | | | organizations which recieve no federal funding. Under |
| aware of the legal rights your child has to an education | | | | this provision, children with ADHD qualify for special |
| that accomodates his or her needs. ADHD children | | | | help at public and at private schools. |
| can have difficulty performing well in school and | | | | Although these statutes must be legally upheld by |
| teachers can become frustrated with students who | | | | schools, some school systems do not accurately train |
| have behavioral problems or who require constant | | | | teachers and administrators to recognize the |
| attention. Although you can weigh the benefits of | | | | symptoms of ADHD, and they are often unaware of |
| private tutors, homeschooling or "ADHD schools" -- | | | | their legal obligations to accomodate children who |
| special schools for children with learning disabilities | | | | suffer from it. Your child does have a legal right to |
| (ADHD is not technically a learning disability, but some | | | | these provisions, and you have the right to request |
| schools have programs that include instruction for | | | | them. In rare cases, when a school has been found to |
| ADHD children), there are laws which mandate that | | | | lack in sufficient accomodation, the state has paid for |
| your child receive specialized education within the | | | | children to attend specialized private schools. Many |
| confines of the public school system as well. | | | | public schools, however, have excellent systems in |
| The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is | | | | place, and more and more frequently, teachers are |
| a federal statute that requires schools to identify | | | | being trained to teach all kinds of students, including |
| children who have ADHD or other learning disorders | | | | those with ADHD. |
| and to provide special education or provide other | | | | Webmaster: You are authorized to reprint this article |
| services to qualifying students. In order to qualify under | | | | providing the author bio/resource box is left completely |
| IDEA, a child's ADHD must be found to be severe | | | | in tact - including all hyperlinks. |