I Have 2 Questions :) 1. School Choice / 2. APD

My son has sensory and ADHD. No meds. I am with you on that.

NAET- allergy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyyi_C6iBBM
We are doing this now. (just stared mid Feb)

1. We removed Gluten From his diet, made a huge difference. Also removed Milk (not dairy,but milk), Food Dyes., Chocolate.

2 Last April we started Accupunture ( needless, it was magnetic). Recently we stared the Naet allergy - School has noticed a postive difference with both. I feel that the NAET might be going deeper into some of the issues.

Things to look into before meds, since that is your decision. Allergies, food or environmental. Who can think or sit still with a headach or tummy ache? For my son Gulten was an issue. - it was on a whim we tried this per the nurses suggestion. and wow what a huge difference. Mind you he would often tell me he had a tummy ache, and we had no idea what it was from.

Something about the accupunture relaxes them.. my son went for 2 weeks and then we missed a week ( the dr was out of office that week) so in doing our errands that weekend, we drove past the place and my sons words.. why am I not going there today that place makes me feel better. And school noticed it also. My moms neighbor noticed it, asked if we changed our mind about the meds.. nope.. just other non traditional ways.

All of this was more of a gradual change, but he is so much better. School asked me if he was diagnosed with ADHD. & Sensory and I said that is what they told me. They were shocked. Which tells me that we have hit the nail on the head for our son.

Good luck I hope you find the "key" to him.

I'm glad to hear you're getting him in with specialists. Keep an open mind about medication, too. We also start of completely against it (it really is a myth that any parent is eager to try meds), but it really does have the best track record in improving quality of life for people with the condition. We, too, exhausted it all first. Therapy just didn't work for our son until he was on medication. If you learn you're dealing with ADHD, I highly recommend joining CHADD and subscribing to ADDitude magazine.

As far as Montessori, it doesn't have the best track record for kids with ADHD. Kids with ADHD thrive on predictability and structure, which isn't what Montessori is all about. That said, I have a friend whose son has ADHD and he did fine in it. I really think a lot depends on the individual school, and the teachers' and administrators' training and experience with ADHD kids. It sounds like this would still be a public school? If so, that's a huge plus, because they can't kick out your son for displaying ADHD symptoms (while a private school can and will).

Best of luck to you! I hope you get some answers soon.

I have an unmedicated ADHD child (I would be more than happy to medicate her; my husband disagrees). The regular public school setting was awful for her. (For the record, we are in Elk Grove Unified - not sure if you are in this district as well.) She spent a lot of time getting in trouble and crying. It was kind of a miracle that she did as well as she did academically.

Anyway, this year we are homeschooling and using Waldorf curriculum. Granted, Waldorf and Montessori are not the same, but the underlying idea that the child is a whole person and will learn best in a hands-on atmosphere is similar. Anyway, my ADHD kiddo is thriving with Waldorf. She absolutely loves school, loves learning, and it has gone from being a huge battle to being something she is happy about.

The one thing I can't speak to is how this will play out in a group setting, as that's something I don't have experience with. Maybe some other moms can chime in about that.

My son has APD. You will need to get evaluated by someone that is trained to evaluate for this...and there are not many out there that can. I had to go to Chicago from Iowa. Depending on what the evaluation says, then you can figure out how to help. There are many different ways that the auditory system is not doing its complete job, and its in those differences that there are different therapies to help.

Sorry I am not more of a help, but it is really different for each child. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

There are many great books on amazon regarding this too.

I believe children are better off going to the school that is closer to home. A child who is able to walk to school benefits a great deal, everything from developing self confidence to better concentration due to getting fresh air and exercise before the school day starts. Children who attend their local school also make friends who live in their neighbourhood, and don't have to be driven all over the place for playdates, and they will go to middle school and high school with the kids they have known since kindergarten. Kids with behaviour problems and learning disabilities benefit from the relationships they build with their peers.

You're asking the right questions. Find a parent advocacy group that is centered around your new school district from the lowdown about schools, teachers, programs, and therapists. Hang in there!

@NewName2013, I am that mythological parent who was eager to try meds for my ADD child. Why? I work with several teachers who have adult ADD. All take medication to treat their symptoms. None get extended time to complete their responsibilities, extra reminders from our administrators or team leaders about what is due & when, frequent breaks,or any of the accommodations that I regularly see in IEPs.

I am delighted when these accommodations help kids to be successful (and about 75% of the time, they do). No child should fail simply because he or she can't focus! However, I worry about what will happen when the unmedicated kids enter the work force full-time. Few employers are willing to/can afford to offer the type of sheltered experience that is provided in educational settings. Technology can help (my adult daughter's smartphone isn't a luxury, it's her assistive device for everything from meeting deadlines to yes, taking her ADD meds at the same time everyday).