Contemplating Home Schooling for My 12 Yr Old w/ADHD

Hi did you hear about the school in Oregon on Jesuits' campus?
It is specifically for students with ADHD and the classes are only 5 or 6 students. This school from my understanding is excellent and changes students lives because they teach them the necessary skills and how to cope with ADHD. I am sorry but I can't remember the name. The school offers scholarships because it is expensive. They are many great resources out there for homeschooling, but I would really check into that high school.

I have a 17 year old son that was diagnosed with A.D.D.and anxiety when he was 12 years old. and school has been a struggle for him since about the 7th grade. He was placed in an alternative school for 8th grade, that school shut down, then he attended another one and that school closed and then he tried an online school, that didn't work for him so he is currently at his 4th alternative school. I guess what I am trying to say is their is no easy answer. If your child is open to being homeschooled I would certainly try it. the school districts are not very helpful in my opinion when you have a child with this issue. My son was in the gresham/barlow school district and now we are in the Reynolds district. My son was actually labeled by some teachers as lazy, when he would get overwhelmed and go into shut down mode. I also have two girls that have graduated from high school and for all three kids the 3 years they spent at middle school were the worst and hardest years of their education. My friend has a daughter that attends springwater trail and has done well there but i also know of other kids who haven't. you might also check into some of the online schools, like insight high school, it's new and just started in oregon in january. that is the one that didn't work for my son but it seems to be a good program and works out great for most kids. they work at home online, the school provides a laptop and everything the child needs. I just saw an advertisement for another online school but can't remember the name that takes younger kids than high school. also if you don't have a doctor for him yet the Calcagno Pediatrics specialize in children with add and adhd and anxiety. My son sees dr. john and they have been wonderful. their office is near mt hood medical center. well good luck to you and your son whatever you decide to do. just remember to do what is best for him and not what the school district tries to tell you is best for him.

I recommend you look into Oregon Connections Academy. It is an online public school. It is done from home just like homeschooling, but all the materials are free, and they take into account his 504. This may be easier because it accomodates whatever your child's learning style is plus schooling is only a few hours a day, and he can take all the breaks he needs to refocus. It can also be very independant allowing him to take responsibility and control over his education.

I have a child who receives special education, and I'm not exactly sure how the section 504 process works, but you might request a review of his accommodations. The school is responsible for providing the assistance and environment he needs in order to receive the free appropriate education that he's entitled to. A parent should never be forced into home schooling.

That being said, If his needs really aren't being met, home schooling is probably a good temporary solution. It will be a lot of work for you, but it's also a lot of work when the kids get really far behind in their grade level because the school isn't giving them what they need. That happened with my son for two years. He is, at last, up to grade level academically, but he still suffers from a lot of psychological damage that came with being in a long term situation where his failure was pretty much guaranteed.

Good luck.