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Home › Articles › ADD/ADHD › Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder

The School System: Know Your Rights

By Gwen Morrison

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Benard points out how important it is for teachers to lead the way in accepting ADD children in the classroom and not shutting them out. By understanding their needs and treating them as equal members of the class, their peers will pick up on it. Kids often take their lead from the teacher.

The parents interviewed for this article agree that it is important to know your rights. Become an advocate for your child. The laws were made to protect these children and ensure that they receive the same educational opportunities as any other child. Be an informed parent.

Another Resource
Brandi Valentine, a mom from Marysville, Calif., has struggled with her school system to get a free and appropriate education for her two ADHD children. "Know your rights," says Valentine. "I can't stress this enough. Some schools don't volunteer information, especially if it's going to cost them money in the way of services and accommodations."

Valentine discovered quickly that she was her children's best advocate. The knowledge of what her children's rights were at an earlier stage in their education would have empowered her in the search for answers. Valentine has compiled a huge amount of information on her Web site, ADHDNews.com. Information on the special education laws can be found here as well as links to many informative sites to help parents in need of answers.

"Oftentimes, parents will tell me that their kids feel funny being set apart from their peers in class," says Kirkland. "A lot of kids start out with after-school tutoring to get the extra help they need to keep up. It may be necessary to try different things and see what works best for your child. Giving them that extra attention at home can often be the answer for some kids."

Whatever road you take on the educational front, remember that every child learns in a different way. Keep an open mind and try not to limit your options.

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