Trying to advocate for my ADHD, ODD & Bipolar 11 y/o daughter

Catherine - posted on 05/05/2012 ( 3 moms have responded )

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I am having the hardest time trying to figure out where exactly my daughter belongs in school. She was diagnosed with ADHD & ODD at age 7 and has just been diagnosed with bipolar (I knew all along she had it). Her behavior has gotten so bad, even hospitalized for her bipolar. She is on an IEP at school, is repeating 4th grade again this year and is even failing. She struggles with all her work and her behavior gets her in trouble almost every day, to the point that the resource teacher and regular ed teacher can't handle her. I'm told she doesn't belong in the ED (emotionally disabled) class because it's full of seriously mentally ill kids and i'm told she doesn't belong in the extended resource class because it has either mild retardation or autistic kids. She's already proven she doesn't do well in a huge classroom of kids without these issues so I don't know what to do. If not addressed properly, it's only going to get worse and I really want to help my daughter succeed.

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3 Comments

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Sandy - posted on 05/24/2012

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I'd start by checking out the CHADD website. They have resources to look at in regards to your legal rights. If she has an IEP the the school MUST provide everything she needs. If you say she needs a paraprofessional with her all day, then they have to provide her one.

I can appreciate that this is a hard situation for you and the school. With so many need for your daughter and no resources for the school, it will be hard to find a way to help her. But don't give up! Keep informed and know your rights and demand them.

Catherine - posted on 05/06/2012

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Kristy, thank you for your post. I sent you a private message, only because what I wanted to say was directly to you and too long to reply here. :)

Kristy - posted on 05/06/2012

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I am dealing with much of the same issues with my daughter. She is nine and has uncontrollable fits of rage, and then the very next minute she is happy and acts like nothing happened. This is not only exhausting for me my husband and I, but it is starting to effect my ten-year-old son as well. Problem, she has not neen offically diagnosed with anything yet. I have a hard time trying to get doctors to listen to me; they look at me like I am the crazy one. I know I am going to have to push for a diagnoses, but I don't even know where to begin. I am positive that she not only has ADHD, but ODD as well and is possibly bipolar. I wish you luck in your quest to help your daughter. As parents we only want the best for them. I don't know about you, but sometimes I find myself mourning for the daughter I always dreamt of having. Please don't get me wrong, I love my daughter more than life itself.