" All I wanted was for someone to explain to me all the reactions and byproducts as far as behavior that are attributable to this condition in addition to the hyperactivity and lack of attention span and other behaviors that are common in ADD children."

" My son was diagnosed at age 4. There has been little to no support anywhere. His Doctor and Teachers were willing to put him on meds but there was knowledge of the laws to help children and families. Most professionals , doctors, teachers can counselors know how to diagnose, but little about helping. It wasn't until now, that I was fully informed about my son's rights under section 504 and it has been a frustrating battle that we have come to believe is worthless to fight. He is in eighth grade now and looking back, I should have refused medicating my child until there were substantial accommodations made in the classroom. I'm still fighting the reluctance to help him, seems the only accommodations school is ready to make is preferential seating."

What service or help would you have benefited from most after your child was diagnosed with ADHD?

Here is how parents responded.

"It would have been helpful if the teachers and evaluation team had some information on hand for me to read. They told me my son has ADHD and an impulse problem, that he should be on medication, but never gave me anything to read to names of books, doctors or anywhere to turn."

"It would have been helpful if the teachers and evaluation team had some information on hand for me to read. They told me my son has ADHD and an impulse problem, that he should be on medication, but never gave me anything to read to names of books, doctors or anywhere to turn."

"The help/service I would have benefited from most was where credible help is. We actually tried 4 doctors/therapists before we found someone who wanted to help us and not "get rich". Also knowing other parents/families of ADD/ADHD would have been great. I've really been lonely because most of friends can't cope with someone like my son."

"I would have benefited by having a "map" of all the things that needed to be done so that he could succeed at school. Instead I was met with disbelief by his teachers. I had to fight the school to get them to accommodate his disability through the 504 Act, and in the meantime he lost a full year of school."

"I think the most important things is EDUCATION about ADHD and SUPPORT from other who have been there and done that. It has always amazed me that hurdles that have been crossed with schools, social workers, court systems and medical professionals tend to be put right back up for the next family/child to jump over. I think advocates would be a great help."

"The services that would have been most helpful (and still would be) include a school district that is educated on HOW to deal with ADHD."

"If health care professionals helped by giving parents names of support groups, medication management professionals as well as alternatives and information on coping."

"What would I benefit most from? Faster information on how to handle ADD. I was left high and dry for a while. What do I do to discipline her? If she's not doing these things on purpose what do I do? Also, how do you tell your 8 year old she has ADD.

"Additional KNOWN information would have been helpful. The search for "reasons" for ADHD began to include food, environment, distressed labor, smoking, drinking, chemicals and all sorts of bizarre combinations such as shampoos etc…it was a Ferris wheel of selections. Continued input on how to appropriately handle these children and finally information on "new research".

This is just a fraction of what parents had to offer and I apologize if I didn't mention everyone's ideas in this letter.

In closing, I thinks it's safe to say that even today, almost 5 years later, support and informational resources are still not as readily available to parents as they should be. I remember that 4 years ago, if my mother had not been sitting next to a retired school teacher on a bus trip to Reno, and engaged in conversation with her, that I still would not have known that a child has rights within the educational system.

Ultimately, I'd like to prepare a page that tells parents where to look and what questions to ask and how to find out what their rights are. As parents, guardians, step parents and grandparents of these children, I'd like to ask that you send me any thoughts you have on this subject so that I can put together a page to help others. In the meantime, I hope that reading what other parents had to say, that it will give others some idea what to expect and what to do.

As parents who have been there and done that, I think we have a lot to offer those who are just finding out that their child is ADHD. While many of us are still learning, I think we all still have information and experiences that others will find valuable.

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