How does it feel to be the parent of your child?
Anthony is a terrific, fun, loving child. He has good and bad days but he always tries his best and that means the world to me. Anthony was diagnosed with ADD in the first grade and since then there has been a day to day battle between myself and the school. I am constantly trying to get the proper support for my child. Under the IDEA law special education services are not automatically given to my son, even with a medical diagnosis. This mean I am constantly battling the school to get services for my son. I am very thankful that my son’s teacher has been helpful through this process. She has made many accommodations to her instruction and to the homework my son receives to help him. Having a child with ADD is not an easy task and even though I love my child to death I still have days where I get frustrated. The most important thing to remember as a parent of a child with ADD is that you must start everyday fresh. By following this I have found that I am able to have a close relationship with my child and I am able to keep my own mind fresh.
How is your child developmentally the same or different from other children at the various ages?
Physically and mentally my child is developing normally. Where he is different is in his academic and social development. Anthony has a hard time concentrating and focusing in class, which causes him to fall behind. Something as simple as a spelling test can be a challenge for Anthony. He also has many problems in his social development. Anthony can seem distracted when you are speaking with him, and this leads others to believe he’s not pay attention. This sometimes drives others away who want to play with him. Anthony can also be impulsive which also can drive others away. Anthony has a hard time holding back his thoughts and will impulsively say things that most children wouldn’t.
What professionals/agencies do you deal with? What services are available to you and your child?
Through the IDEA law my child is entitled to special education services for either part of the day or the whole day depending on the severity of the case. In order to receive special education services my child has to first receive an IEP. The only problem with this is that it takes awhile for an IEP to occur. This means that my child in the mean time is not receiving services. Hopefully, after I send the principal a letter I can then begin receiving services for my son. One of the special education services my son could receive is assistant technologies. These are special computers that my son can use that have things like books on tape, recorded lectures, and graphic organizers. This would greatly help my son because he could go back though a lesson after it’s been done and replay parts that he didn’t understand.
How did you find out about the above services?
I found out about the services for my son by talking to other parents with children with ADD. There are many great support websites and communities that parents and children can be a part of that give you lots of information about the disorder and ways to cope. I found out that my son could be receiving special education services through talking with the parents but I also got lots of information about these services from the school. The schools special education teachers told me how to get an IEP and how to begin the process of having my child evaluated. As a parent of a child with ADD I do recommend joining one of the support communities for children with ADD because you receive support for parents and for children.
What financial burden, if any, are you experiencing?
I do have some financial burdens but when compared to other disorders I have very little. I often have to pay co-pays for my child when we attend the doctors. We go to the doctors often to have Anthony evaluated so that he is put on the correct medication and dosage. The medication Anthony takes does also cost money but my insurance pays for most of it. Often times Anthony is put on more than one medication which obviously costs more. I do have more cost then a parent of an average child but I do not feel burdened by the costs of Anthony’s medicines or doctor co-pays.
What other information do you want to share?
Having a child with ADD is a challenge. As a parent of a child with ADD it is important to remember that there is lots of support available for parents. Parenting a child with ADD is a joy and a challenge but with support from others it is possible to be the best parent you can be.
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