Should Bipolar Children Qualify for Special Education Services in Schools?
My son is undiagnosed but shows symptoms of several anxiety disorders as well as being Bipolar. He has been home schooled for the last three years. Before being home schooled he was in special education for reading difficulties as well as problems following along in class. He worked hard and did all of his class work but could not keep up. The teachers would get frustrated because they didn't have an assistant to help with him in his regular classes when he would need to read instructions or copy things off of the board. They would often times tell him to ask another student for help or to copy off of another students paper. This would often label him as slow or as an out cast.
He began home schooling and his reading improved greatly. He began in elementary school reading at 1/3 percent of the rest of his class, after home schooling he is reading in the 90% of his class. In the reading test that places a child in the appropriate reading class they are timed reading a short story to see how many correct words per minute they can read out loud. He is only a few words behind the rest of his class. Home schooling has done wonders for him.
He has recently been put on medication to help him with his anxiety attacks as well as atteding counseling. The combination seems to be helping some and having been home schooled for so long has helped. He has decided he wants to attend public school for the remainder of the year to see if he can handle it and he knows that if it gets to difficult he can always go back to being home schooled. He has done all of his testing and we are waiting for his results of his last IEP ( Individual Education Plan for special education services). If he is reading almost at grade level does he need these special services?
He has some mental health issues there is no doubt but does that qualify him for special services? I look at it on both ends of the subject. 1.. it would be extra help that could possibly cause him some relief in his anxiety, not having to deal with trying to stay caught up but does he need that with him reading at close to grade level? 2. Will pulling him out of regular classes to have extra help isolate him again causing more anxiety? It's a double edged sword. The only real benefit I can see the special education classes I can see would be that he would not have to perform in front of a crowd, which can cause much anxiousness. I am waiting to see what the school suggests while I ponder these two options. I want my child to get the most out of his education and I'm not sure that getting special education services for mental health issues is the way to do that.
Published by Jennifer Cathers
I am 34yr old Bipolar mom of two teen girls and one teen boy. I graduated from Oakbridge Academy of Arts in '97 with an associates degree. I love to paint, draw, read, and write. I am a very family oriented... View profile
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