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