I have several concerns and questions for those who are familiar with procedures in the TIER I, TIER II, and TIER III model. My grandson who now 9, was diagnosed at Medical Center with ADHD, ODD when he was 6. He was assessed as low to average in IQ. I believe he also has dyslexia but he is in process of being evaluated for this. This is the 2nd year My daughter has been requesting a 504 plan to address these issues. In meantime the school has mishandled the TIER process. They indicate that he has been receiving interventions but we have never seen what those are even though they were requested. His case was referred to the DTST for a look see, my daughter received a notice to come to the meeting 2 days beforehand, and could not attend as she wanted an advocate available with her, and could not get time off work. She requested they postpone the meeting until Mar. 12th. THEY WENT ON WITH THE MEETING WITHOUT HER. Then told her the outcome. Did they follow procedures?

DoulaLC

Any luck taking it higher up....principal.....area rep....superintendent?? Are there any other issues....behavior for example, that they might be trying to go that direction to get him into a VE class? Has he had testing through the school? Odd that they won't go on his doctor's diagnosis. Having that speeds of the process for either route.
The interventions you mention aren't much in the way of accommodations. I'd suggest your daughter call the school and let them know she wants a meeting with the 504 committee set for next week, or some such time frame. Take in the paperwork received to discuss concerns. Have her tell them she feels she has gotten the run around and sees not other recourse but to contact the area rep or superintendent to meet with if the school isn't able to accommodate her. Then she should follow through if necessary.
Good luck with it!

ballengerb1

Have you considered calling the County School Superintendent's office and filing a complaint. The County Regional Office has authority over the local school districts. You can also file a complaint with your State School Board if you feel your grandson's rights have been ignored.
School District may consider an outside diagnois but they are not required to accet one and develop a plan based on its findings. I'd go ahead with a full case study, mom should attend all meetings and you can be her advocate if she needs one who knows the ropes.

darhe3425

The lesson we are learning here is that many people read and interpret differently, in addition to personal biases, and plan old fashioned laziness... the teacher sees a difficult to instruct child decides that the best placement for him is on someone else's roll, usually an exceptional education roll, cause this the tried and true method of relieving yourself of additional workload,and I understand cause teachers work hard for their money! We have said all along we know this kid is ADHD, not easy to instruct, but we want accommodations for him that will assist him in his learning. Now the key here is his learning, not their instruction, which is where we get lost. We now know document, document, and over document what is said and what is given.

We are only trying to prepare a written statement for this meeting, addressing all of the inconsistencies, and again refuse the offer of District testing, without consideration of his original assessment. The assessment was conducted in 2005, january, they are saying it is outdated, but they waited until 'february to say this, when they could have asked for an updated assessment in October when we met. I'm furious, because signatures have been concocted as if meeting actually occurred, when they did not. I meet in morning with an Advocate to review documents. Does anyone have knowledge of TIER process, cause we are sure procedures have been violated and we do not have a CHADD group in this state, so who can tell me how they can tell us how ADHD significantly can impact a child's learning? Thank you all really

DoulaLC

What state are you in?

darhe3425

Mississippi...

YeloDasy

What are you asking to be in the 504 plan? It is common for the 504 plan to have accomodations like you have already, extra time to do assignements, tests, ect. If you had your time to speak to the school and give your ideas, what would you be asking of them? ALso, did the Indepenent Psychologist give the school a copy of the record for the ADHD diagnosis? The confidentiality laws are really stricks with that. And if he was tested a few years back, I would go ahead and get him tested again, and sign a release of information to give to the school psychologist. I am a counselor in a school and many of my ADHD kids do not have 504 plans, but some do have IEPs only. Some do have 504 plans that work. Again, what would you like in the 504 plan that he is not getting already? You have the right to want one... just have not heard the specifics.

darhe3425

My daughter signed a release for his medical records in October. The school never obtained it, and it was at this meeting that she again requested a 504 plan, again they did not follow up, nor did my daughter initiate any concerns about what was going on. There appeared to be very little communication between home and school about what was taking place. But the school obviously went ahead with their agenda to direct him towards District Teacher Support Team for testing, as they said they believed he was a "slow learner." Well he is a slow learner, he has dyslexia (unofficial, he will be tested this week for this), and he has ADHD and his ability to learn has been impacted, as medications have been adjusted, changed according to his response to them. In a 504 plan we want additional time for assignments, reduced assignments in some cases, testing in small group, oral answers, and the use of a tape recorder, seat arranged closer to instruction, and frequent breaks, including recess, and P.E. ( both of which he does not access now). Thanks

DoulaLC

See what happens with the testing results. They will set a meeting to go over results and, once again, bring in the results from the previous testing that was done with his doctor. Often it is helpful to have more recent testing, and some may balk at testing done more than a year ago, but ADHD does not just go away and he is on meds. With the results from both testing sessions, hopefully your daughter will be able to obtain what she is hoping for. You certainly aren't asking for anything out of the ordinary on a possible 504.

darhe3425

We spoke to an Advcate today, and feel very encouraged, as she points out some obvious oversights on the districts part. If anyone has heard of that decision, I believe in Georgia where a kid was not only misdiagnosed the school district, but then was underserved...it is one to learn about, cause that is the very reason I do not want the district test especially since they should have tested him 2 years ago, not waiting for him to "fail," although I thinnk he had some help in that. I feel relieved but this is only step 1, as after we meet few times with advocate with a looksee at all documents, she will go to them with us and explain the deal or get clarifications. any other suggestions, I appreciate all and more. thanks

YeloDasy

Well, ask the advocate about the difference between the Diagnosis of a mental health issue (ADHD) and a school test (behavior, learning issues). Sometimes having a mental health diagnosis can be helpful and sometimes it can be hurtful. The school should not be testing for ADHD, but they can generally test for "symptoms." And a 504 plan be implemented from a general test (at least where I work it can). Being a counselor in a school, i work WITH the administration with issues, but I dont work directly with learning issues. I will say I think it would be to your benefit to get some counseling with him as a family to help the family know how to work with him and teach him stradegies that are helpful, not only at school, but home as well. There are some stradegies you can learn to help him be able to be successful independently as well! I work with my families all the time with home stradegies... and learning to deal with the ADHD, not just get help in school. He has a lot to learn to be independent later! Impulsivity, distraction, etc can be lessened with some behavioral plans as well. Hope that helps. Good luck, and I am glad you are really trying to get the help you need. I see so many parents who sit back and make little efforts to get the help. Let us know how it goes, I am curious about the testing at school and their findings!