ADHD is a recognized condition under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT) under ‘Other Health Impairment (OHI)’. Here are the conditions on How ADHD May Qualify Your Child for Special Education Services:
- Your child must be diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with or without hyperactivity or impulsivity) by a medical professional or by a school psychologist
- ADHD must significantly impact your child’s academic performance
- Your child will benefit from special education services
In this video — we share “How ADHD May Qualify Your Child for Special Education Services”
NOTE:
- The quickest way to achieve the goal of getting an IEP for a child with ADHD is to get a medical diagnosis from a psychologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician or a neurologist. It helps if the diagnosis includes the key words :
“has ADHD”,
“It significantly impacts his/her academic performance”, and
“he/she would benefit from special education services”. - Schools are legally required to evaluate when there is suspected disability and educational impact
- Document concerns. Gather report cards, teacher comments, and test scores
- Collect notes from parent-teacher conferences or behavior logs
- Track home observations (e.g., struggles with homework, focus, frustration)
5 Steps on How ADHD May Qualify Your Child for Special Education Services
- Submit a Written Evaluation Request. Address the letter to the school principal or special education coordinator. Attach an outside diagnosis if you have one.
- State that you are formally requesting a full evaluation for special education and giving your child your informed consent to do so
- Mention that your child has ADHD and is struggling in school
- Sign and date the letter and keep a copy. Sample sentence: “I am requesting that my child, [Name], be evaluated for special education services due to ADHD, which is impacting their ability to succeed academically and behaviorally in the classroom, and we believe he/she would benefit from Special Education Services”
- . Participate in the Evaluation Process
Note:
In some cases, schools regularly use ADHD to qualify a student for Special Education Services and an IEP. In other cases, we have been told that their school does not qualify a child for an IEP and Special Education Services. That is where a Parent Advocate can help.
