Transfering to a New School- Do You Have to Tell About ADHD?

I think it is totally up to the 2 of you. He could see how he does on his own.

Personally, I would give the school a heads up, but ask that son be allowed to see if he can handle school, with no special adjustments.

My husband has ADHD.. He would have benefited from the school having this information.. His parents are the ones that did not want him labled.

If he were younger and needed the support then it would matter. Since he is older and in high school I don't think it is their business if he does not really want them to know.

OK back up the truck...the info that you have on ADHD and academic support is not at all accurate. ADHD is not a learning disability, it's a health impairment. In order to qualify for the academic support that comes with a learning specialist, a students needs to demonstrate a learning disability, which is determined by testing in the bottom 25% of at least one portion of a battery of tests that the school administers. There are many kids with ADHD who do not qualify for an IEP (which is what one needs to be on to be assigned to a learning specialist). If your son is not struggling academically, then there's a good chance he wouldn't have qualified to be "part of that crowd" (snobby much?). However, by not disclosing his health impairment, you have prevented him from being able to access support in the classroom via a 504 accommodation plan. If his academics are fine, then perhaps he wouldn't have benefited from them anyway but there may have been times over the years when he could have benefited from things like preferential seating, extra time on tests, or more support managing communication around homework, tests, and projects - those executive function and long-term planning tasks that kids struggle with. If his ADHD has manifested in any disruptive or irritating behaviors, it may have been helpful for his teachers to know that. The thing is, even if he did qualify for academic support, the IEP process requires parental approval and if you didn't want him to receive that level of support, you could have just declined that part of the plan and opted to keep whatever parts would have been of benefit to him. It's a shame that you did not have an accurate picture of how academic support services work so you could have made more informed decisions before.

So at this point, it really depends on whether or not he needs the academic support or any accommodations. Does he (and do you) feel that his symptoms are managed well enough with whatever treatment that's being used to manage this? Or does he needlessly struggle academically? How are his grades? How does he do on standardized tests?

If you feel that he could do better in school with some support, then you can't just cough up an ADHD diagnosis and expect services. You have to go through the whole educational assessment process (request an assessment in writing, some testing gets done a few weeks later, then they meet to discuss the results). If it is determined that he does qualify for support services, then you can figure out what your options are for next year.

My oldest son has ADHD and learning disabilities and has been on an IEP since 4th grade (he's in 9th now). He has one period a day of academic support and would drown without it. It's not some kind of frivolous perk and really isn't supposed to be used for homework. He spends as much time on homework at home as his step-sister who is in the same grade and doesn't get support. He uses the AS period to study extra for tests, work on projects, or re-do homework that he didn't understand or do thoroughly. The down side is that he does lose out on the chance to take an elective class and really wants to. His goal this year is to demonstrate enough proficiency to be able to drop down to AS three days per cycle next year. He'll be able to drop to 3 days of PE and then take an elective. So we'll see how it goes - he would much rather be taking another interesting class than spending a period in AS each day, but right now he really needs that time each day to stay on top of things.

One of the benefits of being on an IEP is that in addition to academic support, he get accommodations for standardized testing, including extra time on the SAT. I have tutored many students over the past few years would legitimately could have benefited from extended time on the SAT but didn't qualify for it because they weren't receiving services in school all along.

At the end of the day, it come down to whether or not he needs academic support and if so, how much. To me, school is a partnership between parents, students and teachers - I can't imagine leaving the school in the dark about something as important as a health impairment that could negatively affect my child's performance and behavior. He'll never be forced into accommodations or services that he doesn't want, and will not have access to things unless he qualifies for them anyway.

If there is nothing in his record you don't have to say anything. My older two went through school with no official record of their ADHD. I did tell the grade school but it was never added to their record because there was never a need for an IEP.

If I were you I would keep it to yourself and monitor. If you see a need for services they are pretty easy to get in place.
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By high school my kids were pretty much in charge of their needs. They told the teachers they felt needed to know.

I cannot tell you if my older kid's high schools knew going in without asking my kids. By high school they had more than proven they could handle their schooling so I considered it their story to tell. Had they needed anything they were not able to get themselves I know they would have come to me.

High school to me is the last chance to make these kids self supportive. When they went to college it was all on them. I feel like I did too much for my son and he dropped out of college after two years. My daughter, who well tell you she raised herself, *rolls eyes*, continued to get straight As all through college and is now a teacher working with at risk kids. :)

Does he make good grades? Does he need extra time to complete tests? You haven't mentioned that, but you did mention that he was able to take an extra language class. It sounds like he is doing well and that he is able to cope with ADHD fine with his academics (if I'm wrong, ignore this part.) So with that in mind, it sounds like you shouldn't mention it because he doesn't really need the support.

The more he does academically in high school, the easier to get into a good college and the more successful he'll be there. So go ahead and let him take the classes.

Now, if perchance this is an AVID class and he has some C's, then I think you can try to get into that class at the beginning of the year (it's a year long class that you have to sign up for in the spring.) They won't ask if he has a disability. They will just want to know that he aspires to attending a 4 year college and know that he is willing to learn the AVID way. I heartily recommend AVID for kids who need a little help organizing themselves and keeping up with their work.

You know your son best. Hope the move goes well and that he finds some great friends!

Dawn

Don't tell unless it's obvious or he needs extra time etc. Sounds like he manages ut well.

Ignoring the obvious troll under the bridge posts, I agree with most of the points on J.B.'s, and a few others posts.

If you're worried about being shoeboxed into it,when you call the school, you can say you are helping someone research schools in the area(you are, you're helping you and your son), and would like to know what programs for ADHD and LD students are available, and if they can be opted out of if there is no need to tie up the extra resources on someone who is not in need of them, but available should they be needed(every quarter is different).

For example, my son has his IEP, and is in the Title 1 elementary program.

He was in one hour classes five days a week, then three. Then they dropped them to 30 minutes. His last case conference showed that his academics are currently surpassing his goals, and very little is needed.

His teacher has weekly meetings with the different specialists(LT, OT, etc.), and they discuss when he is having issues, and he goes to the classes accordingly. He also has a room to goto to calm down out of the stim cycle whenever he needs it.
Due to him losing several teeth at the same time, he is back in speech therapy to help him adjust to proper speech until his teeth shift forward where they need to be. The school stated in the IEP reports that "I" have the final say in whether or not my son gets to opt out of his rightful classes, not the school, they can only recommend whether or not he needs them.

With so many teens and adults having ADHD & LD, including notable people in public, I just can't understand the stigmas that are still around.

I'd say call the school in the manner I suggested, and then talk to your son. It's his decision for his schooling.

BTW, most of the schools that have that Spec. Ed. extra period? It CAN be opted out of. The school cannot force him to take it, unless he's failing classes.

Just my 2 cp. Hope this helps.

I think it wouldn't be in his or your best interest to dismiss it. I would let them know that he has ADHD, however it does not limit him to the point that he would require additional assistance or supports.

That way, if at any time he was having difficulties, you then would have the opportunities to have that support there if he needed it.

My youngest brother has ADHD, and never had additional supports in school. He never disclosed it, nor did his mother or my father. I had continuously told them that they need to, as he was struggling significantly. He never had an IEP . Now, after completing two years of College, he will have to repeat one year do to failed grades. He did not disclose to the College, either. If he had, I am sure he would have managed far better. I am not saying this is your son by any means, he sounds like he is managed a lot better then my brother has. I am only telling you my story.

Now at 22 my brother's ADHD is not manageable. His medication also is not consistantly taken, nor at an appropriate dose. He cannot go to school, drive, or interact appropriately.

If he had consistant help, support, and a good Doctor, I believe he would have been in a much better place. Just keep that in mind. Any support is better then none at all.

Some students find very good ways to cope and accomodate themselves... it sounds like that is the case with your son.

Unless you find that he is struggling with the new school's expectations, I wouldn't worry about saying anything about him being ADHD.....

Well my ADHD daughter has an IEP and gets support services because without that extra help she would be failing. She is athletic, active in leadership and has lots of friends so I don't see her being "labeled" with a learning disability as a problem at ALL.
Clearly your son is a good student and functions well socially and at school and therefore doesn't need any support, so there's no reason to tell the school.

No need to tell. Have you already started strategies to avoid his ADHD behaviors?

I am a parent of a child with autism, so I have lots of experience with the special education procedures. It sounds to me like your son has never been evaluated by the school for ADHD or had an IEP (Individual Education Plan). I can tell you that parents are in the "driver's seat" on this. Evaluation/testing is only initiated with the parent's permission, and the parent (and child also) can accept or reject all, some, or none, of the services offered. The driving standard here is (or at least should be) best interest of the child (not whether the school has the money).
Your best source of information is (usually) the school district website. And you definitely are not obligated to disclose the ADHD unless you want testing & services.

My son is 13 and works around his ADD. Don't think that because you don't tell the school he has ADHD that they won't figure it out. Most experienced teachers can pick out a kid with ADHD from a mile away. Does your child take medication to help him focus?

I have one question I've asked myself over the years regarding my kids's medical situations - Theh big question: will it help or hinder my child to have people around them know about their condition? My 16 yr old daughter has been diagnosed with a presonality disorder. Some adults in her life are aware of it - some are not - it all depends on the answer to the big question. My son has ADD and all of his teachers are aware. He has an IEP that gives him extended testing time, him preferential calssroom seating (center, towards the front), and resource room to help him with thte classes that are tough for him to follow. Why would I not give my kid the help he needs?

wow...just wow. lol.

i am glad you asked this. our kindergartener is having major issues and we think that on tuesday when we see the doctor he may possibly be diagnosed...and we are also planning on moving in the next couple of years so i have wondered this myself. my thinking (and it looks like it is echoed by the rational thinkers so far) is that as long as it is controlled and he doesn't need special help (which is the goal, right?) it is a medical condition that is covered under HIPAA (i already had to sign a form stating that our son's teacher COULD be told about this stuff, otherwise she couldn't) and that it's nobody's business unless you want it to be. now, our goal is to manage this issue WITHOUT help from the school - so i am really hoping by the time we move that has happened and "in my mind" (hope i'm right) it will never have to be an issue. we need Jo W, i'm sure she'll respond and she always has good advice about ADHD stuff....i will keep an eye out because i'm curious if my theory is right.

Obviously he is not having any problems in school, so why bring it up. Is he on medication. Since there is no mention of it in his school records, why would you do it now. Obviously he does not have an IEP. Let things be.

It sounds like your son does fine without being labeled. If you feel his performance would be better with the school knowing this then let them know.
If he is on daily medication you may have to inform them on the physical form. If not then that may be a reason to let them know if the medication would be something emergency medical personal would need to be aware of.