By Sarah K. Jenkins

Educating a child with Attention Deficit Disorder may not be an easy process. Although great strides have been made in recognizing the disorder and many school systems have answered the call, many are still antiquated in their procedural methods as well as catering to specific circumstances.

How ADD affects a classroom is usually seen before diagnosis takes place. It may be seen in the little girl in the corner, twirling her hair as she looks out the window, or the boy running around the other students snatching books out of their hands. In many cases, it is the teacher that first recognizes an issue with inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity. Seeing the problem is usually considerably easier than correcting it.

Once the situation is brought to everyone’s attention and diagnosis is made, treatment begins. Whether the child is medicated becomes a major aspect of how the next steps will go. Some schools insist that children with ADD be medicated, almost to the point of tyranny. Other schools, however, are more open to parents’ wishes.

The school your child is in will either make this an easy road or a difficult one. Ideally, your child will be in a school that is understanding to your circumstances, respects your decisions, and shares a team frame of mind, to ensure your child reaches their potential. Unfortunately, some schools do not share in this openness. Smaller communities or poorer districts tend to be less accommodating to special needs children or unique circumstances. Hopefully, you will be blessed with the first school; if you have the second, you may have a fight on your hands!

A child with ADD can be disruptive, difficult to teach, and at times, impossible to control. It is for this reason many schools are not cooperative. However, you have to be careful that your child is not treated substandardly.

Some schools will immediately attempt to put a child with ADD in remedial classes, although their intelligence level would not constitute such a decision. In many situations, this is done to prevent any additional time being taken away form the regular classroom; however, you do not want your child to be categorized in negative manner which is not founded.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you there for your child and for their well-being. If you do not agree with a decision being made, you should discuss your feelings with your child’s teacher or principle to ensure the best plan possible in initiated for your child.

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