Just diagnosed with ADHD

[zoedii]

Hi! My 8yr old son was just diagnosed and the doctor is requesting a full educational evaluation by the CST. The school is pushing back saying it isn't necessary. Once I send a letter requesting a formal evaluation, is it the law that the public school must do an evaluation? My doctor and I seem to think it is? Thanks!

[AngelamarieQ]

I just had one done and I didn’t even ask for it. The school specialists even ordered, occupational therapy/sensory , speech and language evaluations.

My daughter’s teacher met with us and told us about the situation in class with my daughter’s behavior and academic struggles and she asked us to request a PPT meeting for implementing school accommodations based on Her ADHD diagnosis and struggles in the classroom.

We accepted, and had the full evaluation. After the 1st meeting, the school ordered all the tests and we regrouped 4 weeks later with results. She did good in the academic tests so she didn’t get The IEP but she got the 504 plan that helps her with her lack of focus and distractibility.

Some schools push back for lack of budget, but if your son’s struggles are there, in the classroom, at home and is affecting his well being and his grades, the school, by Law, have to accept yto have a PPT meeting and your best advocate is his teacher.

However, if he does well in class and his grades are not affected, he won’t get any psychoeducational evaluation. But if he has behavioral issues due to his ADHD, the school might say your son needs cognitive behavioral therapy outside the school. Which, by the way, my daughter is having.

The school has to give you the pamphlets and forms explaining your rights. Thus, fight back for your son. Best of luck!

[reg2018]

It absolutely is the law that when you request an evaluation, the school has to do it. If they give you a hard time see this: ldaamerica.org/advocacy/lda...

[Elijah1]

From the webpage

Parents who are aware their child is having a difficult time with reading, mathematics, written expression or other aspects of school work might suspect that the child has a learning disability (LD), also known as specific learning disabilities, and may be in need of special education services.

School is not obligated to do an evaluation if a learning problem is not evident. Asking the school to test to see where areas of strength and weakness exist (such as a neuropsychology evaluation) is not necessarily mandated by law unless a learning problem is present.