There are schools for our kids! | ADHD Information
I was reading some posts by differant people talking about special schools for adhd kids. There is a such school. Acually, there are schools like this all over. Unfortunatley there are private. My son attended one in kindergarten. It was wonderful. It was not a retard school. It was a school designed for kids that learned differant from remedial to gifted. They offered extra curricular activities. The tested each child for ther learning style and taught them accordingly. The kids were not grouped together by grades, but by development. The kids got what they needed. They did not send home a lot of homework, because they felt the kids worked hard enough at school. The classes were small, only 12. I was heartbroken when we had to move. The place we moved has a school like this one, but it is not as nice as the one my son attended.Special schools are around for ADHD kids. Look under private schools.Anyone who home school their adhd child what materials have you found are working. Not all can afford Private. We can't it's private or a place to live. My son has sensory issues as well so public is where he get's therapies from.Insurance won't cover those therapies. I always believed as a person labeled LD myself.Different types of schools should be available for different stles. In Mckinney ,Texas we had a charter school(self paced) closed down.A lot of people didn't like it because no report cards. The child put together what they did together in a creative way what they did for that grading period. Portpholio reports. I like that anyways really shows what child has done.Random solection is really what they didn't like.The kids also had to be involved in community projects.The kids I spoke whom graduated from their usually scored higher on their state tests.I think that's another reason schools disliked them.To me these are the kinds of schools America should have.Everyone has different needs.I have been told that these kinds of school are more expensive funding wise.I think Bull if you ask me just a excuse.The problem is we want to try to put everyone into a same mold. If I were President that's the way America would be.Charter schools all the way. I would have a therapy center where kids would be bused for there sessions and then taken back for their classes.To me America we do things dumb and stupid.
Rshn
RSHN38388.2238773148Now you both have to get together- start a great school and locate it in my part of Pennsylvania!!!!!
Well, I'm not too organized, but I have a lot of imagination. So, lets bring it to Florida and we can all work together 
. No, seriously, If you have the money, go for it. I'm sure you can find parents of ADHD students with a lot of imagination (or organization skills) who might be willing to join you in this "venture". Specially, after all the nightmare we go thru in regular schools. If you want ideas, I have plenty of ideas. I tell you what I think a perfect school will be for my ADHD son:
1. Less students in a classroom. (less than 15)
2. More "visual" classes. (video-classes)
3. Shorter classes (30 minutes, perhaps or even less)
4. Small breaks between classes (10-15 minutes)
5. Add an extra curriculum (course of study) that they really like. (in my son case, fixing or working with electronic equipments) We have something new here in Florida, it is not an school, but it will be "A PERFECT LAB" for an ADHD School, specially to observe where they real talent is , and work in that direction. It is called: www.wannadocity.com
6. An intensive-slow pace Reading class and Math (this two subject are the only ones that will be used all their lives, in any profession)
7. Adjust a little be the schedule. (SCHOOL)
8. To have a professional (ADHD Specialist)all the time during school hours, for any "crisis" or questions of the students or parents (or even teachers)
9. To have everyone trained in disorder from the "Principal" (or Director) to the librarian, including the janitors and everyone in between.
10. Last but not least: NO HOMEWORK
Hey, I wish I could find the money to start my own "SPECIAL SCHOOL".
Well, I have to sign out and stop dreaming, go back to my real world and pray that somebody (with power) out there ever realized that not everyone has the money to pay for a "private" school for ADHD kids (or ADHD friendly). So, they better think of something more affordable for everyone, after all, these is not a few kids, between 3%-7% of the students are believe to have ADHD.
Before you sign out, go to: www.cod.gov/ADHD , so you can read what they think about ADHD kids.
Good Luck to all of you!!
[QUOTE=Chi.town.mom]Hello to all,
I live in Chicago, and my son attends Catholic (private) school which is far less accommodating to the needs of an ADHD child. Thank God for a Group called The Center to Promote Student Success, which is overseen by the archdiocese, but not actually funded by them (not totally sure about all the details). It is a fabulous group of dedicated and talented people who really care about getting something done within the Catholic school system to help our kids, as well as other children in need to counceling or tuitoring. If anyone needs any further info on them, please let me know! I found them only by luck and Gods good grace, last spring. Recently changed pediatricians and he had just heard about them, too. So good word is spreading-and is well deserved.
Chi-Town Mom
I would appreciate receving the information (phone number) to the center you mentioned as I also live in Chicago
Hi Hoppymom,
please check your inbox, I sent you the Center to Promote Student Success's phone Number. As I mentioned, they Center is in Chicago proper, so I don't know that they will have anything in the Des Plaines area. But they may be able to refer to something out that way. Or you could try contacting your local Cathoic Archdiocese.
Good Luck!
I just found two websites that can help us (parents and students) for now (until we "create" the "special school")
I hope you can benefit from it.
Good luck to all of you!!
cs i jsut don't believe you are not imagetive i just find that ahrd to believe .
[QUOTE=alisha356]cs i jsut don't believe you are not imagetive i just find that ahrd to believe .[/QUOTE]
You are very sweet.
[QUOTE=Dina]I was reading some posts by differant people talking about special schools for adhd kids. There is a such school. Acually, there are schools like this all over. Unfortunatley there are private. My son attended one in kindergarten. It was wonderful. It was not a retard school. It was a school designed for kids that learned differant from remedial to gifted. They offered extra curricular activities. The tested each child for ther learning style and taught them accordingly. The kids were not grouped together by grades, but by development. The kids got what they needed. They did not send home a lot of homework, because they felt the kids worked hard enough at school. The classes were small, only 12. I was heartbroken when we had to move. The place we moved has a school like this one, but it is not as nice as the one my son attended.[/QUOTE]
Dina, Hello, I live in NH and my son is on an IEP with a disibility of ED. Included in that are ADHD<OCD<ODD<and some Bipolor tendiencies. I'm haveing such a struggle with his school. Even with all the meeting and Behaviorial reports nothing seems to be helping my son. He hates school and it has become a sruggle to get him there daily, but I'm still doing it. Any suggestion or advise. Tammy
[QUOTE=nickled&dimed]I secretly have always wanted to start an adhd charter school.
But I am too disorganized to do it by myself! [/QUOTE]
See I am VERY (scary) organized, but lack the imagination!
Hi to Chi-town-mom and everyone else,
I live in the Chicago area and was just talking to someone today about how to find a different school for my son, who is in 2nd grade. He's in public school in Des Plaines, but I'm not sure they are meeting his needs. My husband and I feel he has learning disabilities in addition to ADHD, but the school says they can't tell until he is able to attend better in class. It's a vicisous cycle!
Could you tell me more about the Center you mentioned? I've been looking into alternatives to medication. It's so confusing to figure out! I hate dragging him to places that aren't going to help him!
Thanks so much!
Hello to all,
I live in Chicago, and my son attends Catholic (private) school which is far less accommodating to the needs of an ADHD child. Thank God for a Group called The Center to Promote Student Success, which is overseen by the archdiocese, but not actually funded by them (not totally sure about all the details). It is a fabulous group of dedicated and talented people who really care about getting something done within the Catholic school system to help our kids, as well as other children in need to counceling or tuitoring. If anyone needs any further info on them, please let me know! I found them only by luck and Gods good grace, last spring. Recently changed pediatricians and he had just heard about them, too. So good word is spreading-and is well deserved.
Dear Dina:
Thank you very much for your comments. You are not only helping parents to know that "special schools" do exist, but also that they work. That type of school, you mentioned, will be perfect for my son. I, finally, find people who believe that special schools can be the best option for our kids.
Thank you, again. And good luck to all of you!!!
The janus school is in Mount Joy Pa outside Lancaster PA. Hope this helps!I secretly have always wanted to start an adhd charter school.But I am too disorganized to do it by myself! I live in Pennsylvania and cant find one of these schools. Where did you live and where have you moved to? When researching what should I look under to find one of these schools?smvalvo, We were in Montgomery, al. We moved to ca. Call a prominate private school in your area, and ask them if they know of a school that teaches/caters to children with adhd. Or/and you can call different private schools, and ask them if they have resources for children that need it. Some private schools have resources and curriculums to teach our children. Let me know if this helps.GA doesnt have one either maybe in atlanta but not in my town.... I know that there is an acadmey in nashville Tn set up for learning disabled and ADHD children in case anyone is from there looking...my husband (father of my children) works in TN and we will move in may after school gets out..so i am looking into that. my kindegartener is failing and spends most of his days in isolation...i wonder why he is failing???
Thanks for the info- Im going to start callingPlease, no homework, why is 6 hours in school not enough. We as adults only spend 8 hours a day at work, I just don't understand. My kids, thankfully are bright and doing above where they should be doing, but this homework thing sucks and they are only in the first grade. When is the Govt. going to learn that there are different kinds of minds not all the same.The truth is should be in a school that suits your style. They would say costs to much really.I always hear in America, school must take as is and not enough money. The money pays politicians more than teachers.In other countries don't have it that way. America everything costs way to much.They want to go to higher morages 40years. Why not lower costs instead. I learned the more the people want the higher the cost. The less people want the lower the cost. Learned this in Economics class. Sound backwards though.In Florida we have something called: McKay Scholarship Program.
Florida's school choice programs ensure that no child will be left behind by allowing parents to choose the best educational setting—public or private—for their child. The McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program provided nearly 9,000 Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a private school during the 2002-2003 school year. The McKay Scholarships Program also offers parents public school choice. A parent of a special needs student who is dissatisfied with the student’s current school may choose to transfer the student to another public school.
"The school-choice issue is not about public versus private; it's about choice. It's about knowing what works well for my family and being able to make that choice for them."
Check on www.opportunityschools.orgc
Good Luck to all of you!!!
I K approve for ity Scholarships Program
https://www.opportunityschools.org
My son was, finally approved, but I have not been able to register him in any school yet. Hopefully, for the next school year.
Maybe they have something similar in other states with a different name, but don't expect the school or school board to mention it to you, I found out thru a friend. I don't know WHY? Everytime I go to my son's school and ask if they know of anything (school, program, tutor, web-site, anything) that could help him. Their answer is : No, I don't.