Re: ADD and Ritalin - Matt's POV

>
> Do you find many places using "LD" or "ADD" as convenient labels for
> problems that may be more related to learning Styles, interest, personality
> and interest levels?
>
> Byron
Please do not consider this a flame, but having my son have to explain
his problem (ADD) to every employer. Then somehow get lost in the shuffle
of paperwork, losing the possibiltiy of a job, does grind. On me, him, and
the rest of his family. The 22 year old Eagle Scout, college graduate is
returning to school for commercial arts, so that he can have an employment
that does not grind, or make jokes, or lose job applications. Having been
a parent of a kid "with a learning proble", identified in 1982 in Kansas.
Moving to Massachusetts to get him into a school system that might help; it
identified him, tried a number of therapies, including Ritalin. We found
that it made him a zombie, withdrew him from the medication. We got him
another professional counselor, who eventually talked us into using
an antidepressant in 1986. We got a lot better as a family right after that
point. We moved from Lowell to Worcester in 1986 just as my son started
into high school. We fought with the school system for his education. We
are on a first name basis with a number of school board members, principals,
guidance counselors, special education teachers. We, my son and wife, spent
a lot of time and effort getting it right in the education system. The point
I want to make is that fight for your kid or the child will be buried in the
paper, medications, etc. You have to really want what is best and keep going
after it. You have to become educated, my weekend was tied up with a cub
scout pow wow. One session was "Working with Cubs (ADD/ADHA)" with a
professional special education teacher/former scouter. I wish you the best
of luck.

YiS
Jay Bemis Mohegan Council

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