ADD: The Game Plan

Action plans for spiritual life, school life

Action Plan #2: Stories.
I just reread The Little Prince (by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) and was reminded of the strong messages told to us through metaphor. This is a story of a child who comes from another dimension and discovers that love is what makes each of us unique and special, worthy of attention. There are many stories we can read to our children that convey how important love is and the inherent protection from isolation and fear it supplies. It is your responsibility to find these and read them to your kids. Excellent resources can be found at your library, school, or religious center, and from friends.

School Life
Action Plan #1: Become the World's Leading Expert on Your Child.
No one knows more about your child than you. Educate yourself on his needs in every area so that you can be his champion in dealing with doctors, teachers, counselors, and psychologists. Take your child in for a thorough physical examination and insist that the physician look for hormonal imbalances, toxins, vitamin deficiencies, and all the possible factors that could possibly affect learning. Consider the use of medications carefully, and allow their use only as part of a holistic treatment program rather than as a total solution.

Invest in a thorough neurological assessment for cognitive issues with a professional neuropsychologist, rehabilitation psychologist, clinical or counseling psychologist, neurologist, or an educational assessment specialist. Ask that person to prepare a written report and make sure you understand everything in it and what it means for your child's educational needs. The areas below can serve as a base for your requests from the evaluators:

Action Plan #2: Become an Advocate for Your Child to the School.
These action steps take courage and enormous energy, but remember, your child's future depends on your being his champion. Become a pest if that is what it takes. Some of the greatest people in history were pests who did the right thing when no one else would. The old adage that the squeaky wheel gets the grease should be your motto. Remember that most schools do have programs for attention deficit disorder, but sometimes they haven't been implemented. Stir the pot. Be the burr under the saddle.

Be a presence in your child's school. Volunteer for school activities so you'll know what is going on. Sit down with counselors and teachers regularly to let them know you are involved. Tell them what works, to make their jobs easier. Write out recommendations. Give the teachers literature, review your child's work, and above all, reinforce the teachers' efforts positively. They work hard and put forth tremendous effort for all their children, so you can be their best friend and colleague by telling them when they are doing a good job. Write letters to their principals or superintendents when they bring about progress in your child.

You absolutely do not want teachers to lower standards for your kid. That would be a disaster. But make the learning experience as positive as possible. I must warn you: this is a very tough assignment. Most parents tell me that they would probably do homeschooling if they had to do it over.

Persistence is the key. Do everything you can to make this a family effort. Family unity will get you and your child through this, and the bonds that form will be dividends for many years to come, for all of you.