Category Archives: School Issues

504 Plan for Mentally Ill Child Forces Parent to Ask: When to Push, When to Relent

January 24, 2012 / by / Life with Bob

I’d like to thank all of you for the kind words and shared stories regarding last week’s posts regarding my son, Bob’s first inpatient psychiatric facility admission. I have more to share on that matter, but I’m returning to the … Continue reading →

Organization Skills and Children with Psychiatric Illness

January 11, 2012 / by / Life with Bob

As I continue writing Bob’s 504 Plan (previously blogged here and here), I am amazed at how much of it seems to be common sense. Does a child really need “frequent restroom breaks” put into writing in order to use … Continue reading →

Draft 504 Plan Insufficient for Bipolar/ADHD Child

January 9, 2012 / by / Life with Bob

Like an errant child avoiding homework, I’ve been putting off something important for almost a week: writing Bob’s 504 Plan. Wait–isn’t someone affiliated with the school district supposed to do that? One would think.

Should a Special Needs Parent Become a Special Needs Teacher? (Part 2 of 2)

January 3, 2012 / by / Life with Bob

*continued from Part 1* Last week, I was ruminating on whether or not to select special education as an area of teaching specialization. It may or may not surprise you that I’ve decided against teaching special education.

Should a Special Needs Parent Become a Special Education Teacher?

December 30, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

I’ve been ruminating my return to the workforce for the past few months, and have made a decision–I will be returning to work, but not in the same capacity. After taking required coursework necessary to supplement my degree, I plan … Continue reading →

Difficulty Proving Disability for Bipolar/ADHD Child for 504/IEP Consideration

December 21, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

Yesterday, I met with the “team” to discuss an IEP for Bob (my 4th-grade son, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD). Apparently, the team has met before–without yours, truly–as I discovered a couple of weeks ago when I emailed the … Continue reading →

Teaching Experience Exposes School Issues for Mentally Ill Children (Part 3)

November 15, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

(Continued from Part 1 and Part 2) I suppose for the past five years, I’ve been living in my little suburban cave, sheltered by Bob’s elementary school and our middle-class neighborhood. I hadn’t realized just how great a gap exists … Continue reading →

Teaching Experience Exposes School Issues for Mentally Ill Children (Part 2)

November 12, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

(continued from Part 1) I spent Tuesday afternoon with a delightful group of first-graders, at a school more like Bob’s–middle-class, mostly native English-speakers. This class had only one Bob–a little girl I’ll call “Bonnie”–but that wasn’t the only contrast from … Continue reading →

Teaching Experience Exposes School Issues for Mentally Ill Children (Part 1)

November 9, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

Yesterday, I arrived at school for my teaching assignment. Before the first bell, three staff members had already offered their assistance and described my class of sixteen 2nd-graders as “awful.” On my first day of substitute teaching, I had been … Continue reading →

Can I Go Back to Work and Be There for My Mentally Ill Child?

October 30, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

I need a job. Our finances favor it. My husband prefers it. My sanity demands it. But will my oldest child’s psychiatric illness allow it?