a choice for a full time or part time study

May 8 2008

We had a good meeting yesterday morning.

I was almost too late for the appointment, because the busses were not going to town.
Just when I decided to take the train and phone that I would be too late, the buss came.

I had to run from the busstop, which was no fun, as this nice weather is bad for my asthma.

The building is very new, and extremely modern.
I felt like being in a science fiction environment. Very nice, untill we were near the classrooms.
Someone who doesn't know how distracting open windows are, decided that see through photos on the windows to the corridors and hallways were wonderful.

My son immediately said that this school is the worst environment for an ADHD'er.
There's nowhere a room which has four walls and gives the feel of focussing on your work.

The woman we met was very nice and kind. She complimented him with his decision, to apply for a job and go to school one day.
I was a bit more hesitant, because I knew he made this decision while walking to the meeting.

Interesting for me was that she told the school has had many problems with my son's present school, which is also the school of my autistic son. That says it all, doesn't it?

Well, I know now that I'll have a hard job lying in front of me: getting a positive evaluation of my son from his present school.

Well, the woman said that he'd better make a save choice. He'd better not confront himself with too many difficulties, considering the fact that he has ADHD and is dyslectic.

I can't quite agree.
It's easy to take it easy. And he sure will succeed.
But on the other hand: he has always taken matters very serious. Wasn't afraid of a struggle to get things done.

Working 4 days and going to school one day, means his education is limited to that one shop.
When he goes to the fulltime school course, he will have weeks in between where he works at all sorts of shops, and he'll be able to find out what he likes and doesn't like. He opens up his future far more.

After we spend more than an hour talking, we went to the informationcentre for some booklets.
The woman there had a talk with us too, and she said exactly what I thought.

So instead of applying for a place there, he has to make a choice.

In the evening we had a long talk.

When he goes for the easy route: 4 days work and one day school, he'll work 4 years for minimal wages. The shop can even force him to sign a contract that he stays for 5 years after he's graduated. But a pro is that his studies will be paid for.

When he goes for the other route, he's going to school all week, he has to apply for a grant to pay for his studies, but when he is successfull there's no need to pay it back.
He can work a day in the week at the shop, and when they want to up his wages, there's no problem.
Every so many weeks there are two weeks or more of practical work at all sorts of different shops, so his education is very broad.

When the choice was mine I'd choose for the last.

And you?

Please rate this post here:


.

Needing an aunt or uncle in London

march 16 2008

A large bag
far too many T-shirts, socks and other stuff to take with him.

Our ADHD son is getting ready for his trip to London tomorrow.

I'm not too happy with this trip.

Don't understand me wrong.

I've been in London for quite some time in the past and i loved it, and i'm sure he'll enjoy his time too...in a way.

But he's going with school, and I'm not sure all will go well.
He can't leave the bullies behind, and he can't leave the teacher behind who considers ADHD some modern foolishness which can be drilled out by punishments, unkind behaviour and more of the same.
After all, he says, ADHD is just the effect of a bad upbringing.

I'm sure that teacher will feel well in Lodnon, where history is so visible.
I hope it catches his attention enough to refrain from punishing my son or watching him like a hawk, waiting for something he considers wrong.

I've considered giving up my savings to book a last minute trip, but fate got in my way. There are no flights with an empty spot from the nearest airport, and travelling to the others will be far too expensive.

So I looked around for some addresses from people from internet who want to help my son, in case he needs some help.
I've found out that teacher is a lot more moderate in his behaviour towards my son when he knows someone is available to point out what we all know: my son is a great guy, but he's got ADHD and he struggles with his impulses.

I'm not expecting huge problems.
Maybe he'll be late somewhere, or he'll order a meal that's too large.
Or he'll just buys too many presents for us all.
Or he's going to have too much fun, laughing too loud, disturbing the inner rest that teacher so much needs.

In case you live in London, (south east of greater London, Orp.) and you want to be an uncle or aunt for 4 days, so he can call you when he needs to vent or needs someone to stand up for him, please let me know.

I'll hand your telephonenumber to the teacher, telling him my son will call his uncle/aunt, when something is the matter.
And I'm sure that teacher keeps quiet during the trip. LOL!

Please rate this entry:

bullying, so no presentation?

march 10 2008

One of my son is bullied at school.
He has a sharp nose, but that doesn't mean that others should bully him all day long.

Even though last year the school promised to take action, it needed a firm conversation last month to make them aware they had made such a promise.

This friday my son needs to present his last large paper to the group.
It will give him another good mark for his final exam.

But he doesn't want to.

He's afraid he will be distracted by the gestures that are made, and he doesn't want that they will bully him afterwards about what he has told them.

The subject, emergency care, is close to his heart. Too close to have others laugh about it.

He feels so badly bullied that he even wants to stay home from his london trip.

I wrote the school a mail.

I can't wait to read their reply.

Please comment and rate here:

lazy and decisions

february 3 2008

For the first time in ages I've had a lazy day.

No laundry, no cleaning, nothing.

After all of the last weeks I needed to do nothing.
So I surfed around at internet, watched TV, talked a lot with the children, etc etc.

In the evening I had a talk with my third son.
He's doing his best at school and I'm very proud of him.
Because he's dyslectic and has ADHD he's at a school for special education, but he's having a very hard time there. Most of the kids are bullies, like they have nothing else to do. And my son is having such a hard time and has been threatened so many times and so badly that we went to the police last week.

It's unbelievable!

He wants to become a paramedic, but we always doubted if he would be able to get through nursing school and all the courses.

He started working more than a year ago and he's doing very well at the large shop.
Today his boss wasn't feeling well and when matters were getting out of hand, he stepped in and issues orders to his coworkers in a kind but clear way, so that all ran smoothly within no time.
He didn't realise his boss and some other bosses were watching him.

Later he got compliments.

When he came home and told about this I had a long talk with him.
Why not do what you like best now?

Se we decided that after this schoolyear, after the exams, he'll go to businessschool.
They have special courses there for young people with ADHD.

We're also going to have a talk at his work about carreerpossibilities. They have a kind of educational system too which is linked to the businessschool. I'm sure they can inform us about that.

When he still want to become a paramedic, he might start taking flightlessons and become a helicopterpilot at an ambulanceservice.

We were both very content about this decision and later he told me he was relieved.

ADHD Conference: Learning and the Brain

december 20 2007

New agenda ready:

February 7-9
San Francisco

Learning and the Brain

Cognitive neuroscience is discovering how the brain pays attention and remembers. At this conference, you will explore techniques to help students improve their focus on learning, treatments for attention and learning disorders, and the impacts of maturation, temperament, environment and gender on wiring the brain for learning and memory.

This conference brings you the most recent findings from preeminent neuroscientists themselves to help you enhance your work with children and adolescents.

An internationally acclaimed series of speakers will review the latest research in the following areas:

* Educating the Brain
* Mindsets & Attention Networks
* Teaching Adolescent Minds
* Brain Development & Maturation
* Gender, Personality & Temperament
* Reading & Math Intervention
* Training the Brain to Pay Attention
* Nature of Learning & Memory
* Treatments for LD & ADHD
* Self-Control & Self-Regulation
* Brain-Based Teaching & Learning
* Special Ed, Autism & Mental Illness

You can learn more about this exciting conference at

http://www.edupr.com/brain19.html

participate?

december 16 2007

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston are looking for families with a child at least 6 years old diagnosed with one or more of these three conditions (TS, ADHD, OCD) to participate in a genetic study.

All family members will be asked to complete interviews, questionnaires and assessments examining thinking processes.
We also want a blood or saliva sample from everyone for DNA testing.

Families will be paid $100 upon completion of all study tasks.

We are primarily looking for families in the New England area, but we sometimes travel to other areas of the country for data collection.

If you are interested in learning more about this research study, please call the Family Genetic Study at 617-726-9257, or email sglaser@partners.org.

the psychologist

december 4 2007

Right when I left the garden it started to rain...to pour!!!
It was really bad.
I was right on time at the psychologist of my son with ADHD. She was very nice.

For the first time in ages I felt comfortable there at the centre.
She really listened, asked questions to get things clear.

Fior the first time someone "heard me" about the fact that my autistic son and his brother with ADHD would profit from some extra support to accept each other's disoder and to learn to live with it.
I can't do everything.
They're at an age they won't listen to mom all the time.

She was very interested in how the school treated and treats us, as she'd spend quite a lot of time with my son talking about school.

I said that the shcool should be far more involved in the way the children are treated.
They now think that many reactions are conscious improper behaviour.
That makes me feel they don't know enough about the disorders and react only from their own feelings.

We shoudl have met this woman years ago.
Things really would have been far different.

When i went home I had a very good feeling about this meeting.
And I'm still happy with it.

he made dinner

december 4 2007

The oldest called. He had bought fresh food to make dinner, but it wouldn't be used.
How I liked it when he came over and would cook for us. If I had some potatoes and cucumber, he would be fine.

What a great idea!!

I didn't feel well, and after cooking each day weeks on end I could really do with a break.

Ofcourse he came half an hour late, so the soup was ready, the potatoes were almost ready.
But having dinner served out, eating a delicious piece of fish and enjoying some quiet after a bussy day... that really worked well.

Ofcourse there more behind this offer.
He has a good freezer there, and he didn't ask the money back... so ...???

Next friday I'll have a meeting with his counsellor... I think it'll be interesting.

Maybe he'd better feed me well a couple of times more before that meeting. LOL!

I'll first go to the therapist of one of the other kids who has ADHD and dyslexia.

On the phone she sounded old, and I didn't get the feeling we connected well.
Turned out that she had spoken before with the father of the children who had told her I couldn't come at all... and when she had me on the phone I told her I would do everything I could to be present.

Right now I have a splitting headache and I'm on the verge of yet another cold.
So being at home probably means taking it easy.

So I'm going and see what she has to tell and wants to know.

I'm also curious who is behind that voice.

Teen Behavior Program

november 6 2007

Got this in the mail:

Anthony Kane, MD is developing a teen behavior program on DVD
designed to help parents who are struggling with difficult teenagers.

The aim is to develop guidelines to deal with

Disrespect
Defiance
Rebellious behavior
Talking back
Irresponsibility
Lying
Anger

And 75 other common problems between parents and teenagers.

The program will give you a better relationship with your teenager and
will make you a much more effective parent.
Consequence is a better bond between you two.

The program is already available in audio format and has been
successfully tested with 70 parents over the last few months.
Now the program is ready to be tested in DVD format.

The program will be released early next year and will cost $597.

Executing this program will not take up more of your time. Actually,
as you apply the program you will be getting back time and energy
because you will be eliminating most of the exhausting battles that
parents have with their teenagers.


Want to start now:

7 steps to child obedience

More about Anthony Kane and helping ADHD children: ::here::

This is NOT a sponsored post.

back from the psychiatrist

october 23 2007

They're back from the psychiatrist of my son with ADHD.

She took the effort to take his bloodpressure and his weight.
120/80 and 67.

The medication hasn't changed.
So it's Ritalin with all the rebound effects.

Meds like strattera and concerta are too expensive.

We've been waiting to get him into behavioural therapy.
Mainly to make him get more influence on his impulsive behaviour.

We've watched the mail for nothing.
She forgot to apply!

That's the second time this last months a female psychiatrist there forgets to work on the agreements made during a consultation.

called the insurance again

october 23 2007

We didn't trust the data given by the insurance about Medikinet CR yesterday.

Other people told us their insurances didn't cover it, not even whith a small contribution by themselves.

So we called again.

Unlike yesterday we were connected to a few departments and finally ended up with someone who looked it up and told us they were willing to pay just a small part of the costs.

It was almost the other way around than we were told yesterday.

I was so happy... hm...not anymore.

woohaa!

october 23 2007

We're not very happy about our insurance.
But we're glued to them because they are linked to the work of the father of the children.

It's a collective insurance, meaning that the workers get a fast reducation when they're all insured there.
So leaving isn't an option.

I have to pay part of the meds that keep me alive all by myself.
It irritates me, sometimes makes me angry.

Some insurances pay for concerta and other meds. They don't.

I'm not sure why, but they said they would cover the largest amount of the costs for Medikinet CR.

We have to pay about 10 dollar for 30 tablets, the rest they'll cover.

Sounds good, doesn't it?

new ADHD meds here

october 22 1007

The choice for meds for kids with ADHD is very limited here.
Concerta or Starttera are the only long working meds, and we have to pay for it ourselves.
We can't afford to spend 150 dollars a month, so our son is still taking the short acting Ritalin.

We hesitated to give it to him, but his psychiatrist wanted tp have a try.
The changes were so amazing, that we kept giving it.

Problem is he can take only 1 every 4 hours, but after 2.5 to 3 hours it wears off.
So he's troubled by severe rebound effects. (And so are we.)

The new medicine: Medikinet CR, contains 50% slow acting and 50 fast acting methylphenidate (ritalin).

It should last 8 hours.
Which means he can get through his exams without rebound effects.

Keep your fingers crosses, we're going to ask the insurance to pay.

new guide for ADHD meds

october 14 2007

Research last month showed that people with ADHD do well on medication.

I'm not going into the discussion about the choice between using meds for children with ADHD or not.
I was very against it, but when we were at the last option to improve his behaviour and symptoms we gave it a try.
The immediate change was observable for everyone who dealt with him.
His schoolmarks spiked as high as they could be from an absolute minimum.

Regularly he's checked by our own family doc, so he won't develop any serious sideeffects.

The AACAP and APA have released a new guide to ADHD medication.
The guide discusses symptoms, treatment options, types of medications, adverse effects, and co-occurring disorders.

I know many people are afraid guides like these are written or financed by the pharmaceutical industry.
Well this guide hasn't even had editirial support by the industry.
It's developed by a consensus group of medical professionals and parent advocacy groups.

The guide is available in english and spanish and can be downloaded ::here::.

Kids with ADHD and meds to better

september 19 2007

Fox news reports on mediaction, ADHD and scghoolperformance.

What parents already know is now scientifically proved: children with ADHD have better performances at school in the short and long run with medication like Ritalin.

Mayo Clinic researchers compaired children with ADHD without meds and those with meds during an 18 year long study.

Wow... I didn't know ADHD medication excisted as long as that.

Well, I have seen improvement in the behaviour of my son immediately after he started taking Ritalin. At school he did far better than before.

Right now I doubt if the mds are still working as they used to.

Wise Traditions Conference

september 19 2007

Wise Traditions Michigan
1st Annual Conference 2007
Friday Evening, September 28th (6:00pm-9:30pm) &
September, Saturday 29th (9:00am-6:00pm)


Speaking at the conference will be Dr. Natasha Cambell-McBride.
She's a mom of an autistic child and speaks on the root causes of children's diseases including autistic spectrum disorders and other learning disabilities, allergies, asthma, ADD, ADHD, obesity and other epidemic diseases.
Some of you will know her book: "Gut and Psychology Syndorme".

Wise Traditions Michigan is offering all Autism Society of America - Oakland County Chapter members and staff Half Price admission to attend Dr. Cambell-McBride' s talk. Tickets are only available until the session sells out.
Log onto http://www.wisetraditionsmichigan.org/ for complete details.

Also speaking at the Wise Traditions Conference is Sandra Steingraber, author of "Living Downstream" and "Having Faith: An Ecologist's Journey to Motherhood.
One of the subjects is fetal toxicity.

ADHD and eatingdisorders - teleclass

september 17 2007

At september 25 Patricia Quinn, M.D. will hold a teleclass about ADD/ADHD and eating disorders.

It's free.
Time: 9:00 pm Eastern (New York Time)

You have to register at addclasses.com.
It'll only take a minute and it's well worth it.

Like other people those with ADD/ADHD can suffer from eatingdisorders.
ADD/ADHD poses an extra challenge to recover from it, as the syndrome has much to do with impulse control.

If you have followed one of the teleclasses, please let me know your experiences.

The ADD Book Club

september 13 2007

For all those adults who've got ADD/ADHD a special bookclub is available on internet.

Each month a different book about ADD/ADHD will be read.
Each week you'll read a portion of the book, followed by a phonecall at a conference line

The regular rate of $47 a month, but the first 10 members will pay only $27.

You will learn about ADD/ADHD step by step through life interaction with other people and 2 well educated instructors.

Those who followed ADDclasses.com know the concept and know how important a bookclub like this is.

Oh, and the url? ::click here::

15-21 may 2005

Sunday, May 15, 2005
a frog to kiss

Isn't it great and exciting to be invited to join something new?

It's a place to discuss matters in an open-minded, non-judgemental way with people all over the world.
It's new, so your input really makes a difference.
So why not try it out?


Well, I'm a bit lost for words after a hectic day. But I'm sure you've got the message.
So I'll see you there.

We got the message that one of the boys is admitted to the school for graphical education. (That's a free translation.)
It's a step towards becoming a photographer.
I got a big smile when I told him.
The rest of the day he was to the center of town to ..yep... make photographs.
He's not doing bad in making photo's of skateboarders.

We also got the bill of the hospital where he went last week after he fell when skateboarding.
Turned out he was making a video at the time, skateboarding beside one of his friends who was doing all sorts of stunts. The road was in the old part of town, where the roads slope downwards to the river.
They both collided and they'll carry the scars forever.
The doc told him to stay away from skateboards for some time.
Weeks were meant.
Not days!!!
So he sneeked away with his camera and his skateboard......

***sigh*** ........ kids!!!!!


Monday, May 16, 2005

purity

I've been a balletteacher and one of my main targets was not only to teach ballettechnique, but also to teach the open feel of heart and soul to feel the music take the movement.

I was able to accompany some pupils on their path to the balletacademy and the profession.
Sometimes even a bit guilty, because being a balletdancer is very hard and it takes a lot of time, strength and dedication.

I know. I went the path myself. Luckily in a time that improvisation was allowed on music that was soothing for the ears of the public. Unlike often today.

We tried to make the public feel that music and movement come from the soul, and that there's movement and contact even when standing still.

I've seen wonderful moments captured into eternity for a second.
A convergence of inspiration, radiation, expression, reaching out to what lies far beyong oursenses.

Someone pointed me to this
URL:
http://www.trevorromain.com/blog/archives/2005/05/the_light.html

This girl, so much resembles my favorite pupil, that it's shocking.

The photographer was able to catch everything only great performers can achieve.

She will stay in my memory forever.


Friday, May 20, 2005

at the psychiatrist

She came to tell us in a very friendly way that we needed to wait ten minutes longer.

In reality we waited twice as long while the sun started to shine outside.

The meeting was very relaxed.

She asked us if we'd thought he could be autistic.
Hahah...not at all!

In a way this surprised her, so I think she sailed too much on the diagnosis of his brother.

She asked, so we told her why.

She reached for the DSM manual and started to ask all the important questions.
He's a clear ADHD'er.
Told her so!!!

At a certain moment she said:

"That's quite something, a family of 6 with an autistic boy and one with ADHD."
I thought this was not just a spontaneous remark, but it probably would be the start to something, so I tried to stay neutral.

"Yes, and we haven't even spoken about the third boy."

"Do you ever have some private time, some time for yourself?"

"No, it's a 24/7/12 job."

"Does anyone take it over sometimes?"

I was a bit surprised.
Suddenly she turned to the father of the children: "You, for example."

He didn't know what happened. "Eh..no, I can't."

"And why not?"

He didn't give an answer so I told her that he's far too impulsive.

That he doesn't analyse what happened before his eyes, but just reacts out of his needs of the moment.

"I'm sure you'll get a lot of comments. In many families with an autistic child and a ADHD'er the mother has the full responsibility for the social interaction and a lot more."

"Yes, I do get a lot of comments."

"For example....?"

Silence.

Well, I always tell him that he first needs to observe carefully what's happening.
Then he has to decide which action will be appropriate. Or he has to analyse if the reaction he's about to give gives the results he wants.
So it comes down on very basic strategical thinking.

"And you don't...?"

"Eh, no."

"Can't you learn this?"

"I think so."

"Well I think it's time you did.".

Then she started to talk about special monetary support, which enables us to hire someone to take over my role.

She asked what I would do if I had some time off.

"Well it depends on what I feel at the moment."

Then the conversation went on, untill we reached the subject again of using ritalin.

At school the teachers said that they thought my son would be able to reach better results if he would be able to concentrate more.

So after some talking we decided to try ritalin for some time.

"But I want to start it straightaway then. School only lasts a couple of weeks. If we start next week another week is lost.
Give him the chance to show what he can. I'm not all for ritalin, but you want to try it out, then you should start today. "
After some thought she agreed.

So I got the tablets and talked with him at home.

After about an hour it started to work. He fell asleep. LOL!

Later we had a good talk without him tapping his fingers on the table or forgetting what he was saying in the middle of the sentence.
WoW!!!!!!