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?

darhe3425

Yes, I agree. Since his diagnosis, it was recommended that he receive counseling to aid his ADHD behaviors. I must admit that my daughter has failed to do this, and I also feel the doctors and schools failed to address this as well. As with all children, they need us to be on top of their needs, and sometimes we neglect that. Without an instruction manual we do our best, sometimes that not enough. For now we are looking into what is the best thing to do, and then doing it. We simply want the school to acknowledge that he does have ADHD that it substantially affects his learning, and not ignore it

YeloDasy

Not all schools have a counselor. Most families have to go outside of school to get the help. My school is lucky to have a counselor in the school. I attend meetings, IEP meetings, teacher conferences, i sit in classes and do behavior modification, behavior plans with the teacher, and for some of my ADHD kids, I sit in class and help them to use the tools to stay on task, etc. So not having one at school means you have to be an advocate even more so. Have him re-evaluated by a psych. and he SHOULD have the teachers fill out a form to help him make the diagnosis, and med decisions as well. Seek a counselor at the same time. They can work together on this. Keep up the work, it will pay off!!

darhe3425

Yelo, we have counselors, however they do not fulfill the duties you have described. I don't think they do what they have been trained to do in our schools. I think they assist the administration identify and categorize students, without providing the necessary support to students, like the ones you have mentioned. I have never seen that, and I have been in this district for 14 years. Counselors are test implementors, and partial whole group social skills teachers, but rarely one-on-one counseling, scheduled for any consistent ongoing time period. My grandson is getting the shaft, and to be honest I have seen this so many times, but never with one of my own, and I suppose it is a reminder to me to treat all children as you would have your own be treated.
Teachers have filled out forms, but I am an experienced eye. I know where they have skirted duties, or added dates, and signatures...it really makes me upset to know that this has happened with my grandson.

One of the reasons why family members must involve others in this process is because we become very emotional, and do not know when to "give" and when to "go." My grandson has the benefit of having a grandmother who has worked for the "restaurant" and knows how things are prepared, most parents do not and so... they do not always to ask or demand that certain policies, rules, or guidelines be followed. I just want fair procedures, mistakes are allowed, however mistakes must be acknowledged, then addressed.

YeloDasy

I am lucky in the fact that I am employed by an outside agency, contracted into one school. So I actually am able to do what I need to do as an actual therapist without as much school politics entering my job duties. I would recommend you seek counseling from an outside agency, soon... school psychologists in my area are really testing and educational oriented. Our Psychologist is the same... I get therapy referrals from him all the time.

Keep up your efforts! Again, when the testing comes back, let us know what was said!