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