🚀 go-pugleaf

As the parent of a child with severe ADHD (Attention Deficit,
Hyperactivity Disorder) and ODD (Oppositional, Defiant Disorder) and
other related disorders, I am writing to express my frustration with
teachers and other professionals in the education system (at least in
our part of Australia) who claim to understand my daughter�s
disability, but still insist that she must behave as a "normal" child.

For those who don�t know what some of the behaviours associated with
these conditions can include, I will detail them here. Violent
unpredictable and explosive outbursts, (over seemingly trivial
matters), foul language and physical violence, extreme anti-social
behaviour. (spitting, snotting etc.)

I also hope that by detailing our experiences, I might be able to
enlighten the professionals in education to the extent to where they
will genuinely consider the limitations placed on a student with these
conditions. 

At her first school (primary), a Local Parish School, when she
obtained a "Men Only" magazine and took it to "show and tell", the
school decided that her problem was not due to her psychiatric
condition, but it was due to her being sexually abused by me. They
proceeded to report us to the Child Protection authorities. The trauma
that this action caused our family is still with us six years later.

At her second primary school, we eventually managed to obtain the
services of an Integration Aide to assist our daughter in class.
Despite this assistance, she was still frequently suspended because
"her behaviour is unacceptable". We know her behaviour can be
unacceptable, because we live with her! Her behaviour is this way
because of her condition, not because she is a "naughty child", or
because we are "bad" parents.

Our daughter was finally expelled from this school for attacking
another student whilst they were both unsupervised in a classroom
during a lesson. The teacher was out of the room, and the Integration
Aide was "down the street shopping". Our daughter was still expelled
though, for behaviour consistent with her disability.

At her third (and last) primary school, things went reasonably
smoothly, but then she was only there for a few months. The only
problem arose when the school decided they needed to send home a diary
cataloguing our daughter�s behaviour every day. This may have made
them feel better, but it was of no help to us.

We now have our daughter in the first year of secondary school (Year
7). This is her fourth school in seven years! She still has an
Integration Aide (.8 or "full time" now). But at least once a week we
are phoned to come and remove her from the school because her
"behaviour is unacceptable". The school has the services of the Aide,
but they still expect our daughter to "act like a normal student", so
they send her home to us. What are we supposed to do with her that
they can�t? Now we are told that our daughter will "just have to grow
up".  

What can be done to enlighten the attitudes of educators towards
students with behavioural disabilities? Would they expect a paraplegic
student to "grow up" and start walking? 

We have offered to have our daughter�s psychiatrist address the school
staff, we have tried joining Support Groups, we have tried the
Anti-Discrimination authorities. None of this seems to help. 

Students with behavioural disabilities (and their parents) are
continually discriminated against by an educational system which pays
"lip service" to the Integration of these students, but does not
really accept that they are disabled. When these students "act up"
they are usually acting in a manner consistent with their disability.

My hope is that publicising our situation, I may be able to help our
daughter and other students like her. Parents of theses children are
desperate for solid, understanding help from their schools. I would
welcome any positive comments or suggestions.


Yours faithfully,



Rod Eagle
email:roddan@ozemail.com.au
Voice: 61-3-9754-8694
Upwey, VIC, Australia