Accommodations to help high school girl with Bipolar Disorder?

I am an educator and recommend you check out these sites:

http://www.schoolbehavior.com/Files/tips_mood.pdf

http://www.schoolbehavior.com/conditions_bipolar.h...

http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn...

I know how frustrating this may be as you try to help make sure your daughters needs are met. I admire you for seeking suggestions and encourage you to keep it up! It is always a pleasure to meet parents who generally want to see their children get the education they are entitled to.

Also, please be prepared to feel overwhelmed when you go to the 504 meeting, but know this ISN'T uncommon. Just ask a LOT of questions and demand (if necessary) that ALL accomodations you feel are necessary be examined and provided. I also suggest seeking an advocate to attend the meeting with you.

Good luck and have a quality day!

They have quite a few tips and suggestions you might find helpful.

First of all I always think its great when a parent is wanting to do all they can to help their child with special needs to exceed in school. My answer is I would make sure that they have some kind of behavior plan in store for your child. Something that works for only her. So like if she's in class and she starts to get overwhelmed and she or the teacher notices her anger starting to build she should have a plan for that. Maybe she could step out into the hall or take a walk to the bathroom and back. Even something as simple as a picture or lyrics to her favorite song that she can pull out in class and read over until her anger settles down. Also if she can find a teacher or other staff member that she can go to before or after school or on her lunch to talk to about her day that could help but as long as she doesn't become to dependent on one particular person. Make sure a behavior plan is put into her IEP. Also sometimes an alternative school works great with kids with bipolar disorder. Here in Phx we have a specific school designed for emotionally disabled children and such. Good luck.

Things that you can consider asking for might include.

Extra time for tests,

Testing done in a quiet location (usually its the library or resource room with fewer distractions)

Modified or shortened homework assignments. Longer timelines to complete homework.

Identification of a safe place or a safe person where she can go when she is overwhelmed to get help and/ or just to calm down and refocus.

A separate set of textbooks for home, to help with organization or planning issues around bringing the right materials home.

REgular grade checks the teachers on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis provide a list of grades, assignments and any missing assignments to help you both keep on top of things.

Other great resources can be found on www.wrightslaw.com

Good Luck!

My Heart goes out to you. My 18 year old just graduated last June, and I wasn't sure we would get through the whole school experience. My Son had problems as early as kindergarten. I used what was available through the department of education, and he was diagnosed as ADHD. I had a great elementry shool and a very supportive principal, and we worked out an IEP that worked for him, starting with contained special ed classes in the second grade and having him mainstreamed and in regular classes by sixth, with support from the SPED department as needed. The problem came in 7th grade. The principal at his new intermediate school completely ignored his IEP. When I insisted that it be followed, she cut off support from the SPED department. He got into serious trouble, leading to an arrest for assault, and that is when I went on my own to find a psychiatrist to help him. Through a long process that ment I had to badger teachers and the principal into cooperating, He was finaly diagnosed as Bipolar during the last quarter of the 7th grade. Once we found a medication regimine that worked for him, and he was out of that school, we finally started to see some improvements. My son's Bipolar isn't as severe as your daughter's, but taking his medication as prescribed was a big problem. I finally had it put into his IEP that he took his morning meds at school, under supervision of the health aide, as well as his noon meds. If he did not show for his meds, security was sent to get him out of class and escort him to the health room. This was all done at the suggestion of my son's psychiatrist. I really suggest that you and your daughter talk to her doctor. Explain what are the problems, worries and concerns and ask for suggestions. The most important thing I can say is no one knows your child as well as you do. I understand that it is hard to belive that. I spent so much time trying to figure out why my son did some of the things he did, what his rationale was, and how he thought he did things right or wrong, I never quite got some of it. But I understood that frustration exacerbated his behavior, as well as boredom. My son was also very bright, and we had to find the balance of classes he could handle and do well in, that weren't so easy that he'd become bored. He also reacted very badly to failure, whether real or percieved. Don't let them push you into things that you don't feel comfortable with, or you know on a gut level won't work for your daughter. Check out The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation at their web site: http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer

I found them to be very helpful and informative. I was able to print out articles to bring to the IEP meetings and to give to teachers. There were tips for handling IEP's, on how to ensure your child gets the services they need, and stories from other parents dealing with Bipolar kids and teens. There is information on support groups for you and your child, both local and on-line. I wish you the best of luck in your situation.