<< myputer,
We just finished his yearly IEP (in Oklahoma), probably the same as your 504. We also have reviews every 60 days. Now that show season is almost over, I have the opportunity to visit the classroom almost every Monday morning and Friday afternoon.
We actually started my son at the age of 3 on ritalin. The problem is there is no consistent screening process in place today.
When I was younger, I really needed ritalin. While I was visiting with my Dr, he was watching my son outside the window with my wife and asked if we had tested my son. On his advice we started with a challenge dose, my son was able to sit still, concentrate and answer questions about the book that was just read to him, before ritalin that would have been impossible.
I and my son have participated in several drug studies and the most interesting was with pycnogenol. It works but the effective dosage level is so high, you can't afford to take it. At low levels it was useless, very much like the classic bell curve in effectiveness.
For most parents, I would echo your thoughts of "just say no". However, under the proper conditions and with the right testing and challenge dosages for effectiveness, ritalin is a very effective drug with minimal side effects. The horror stories you hear about are normally of people that had not been properly diagnosed, whose Dr gave ritalin based on body weight (30 years ago it was).
The real difficulty is determining if this is just a behavior problem or is it really a medical issue. >>
We have IEPS here as well, but my son doesn't have a learning disability so he has a 504 plan. They give him modifications with his testing, like he is allowed to take all his exams orally. If he does take a written exam he is allowed to go to a different room so is not distracted by other students.
I am very surprised that your son started taking ritalin at such a young age, ADD shouldn't be diagnosed before the age of 6 since the traits peak at the ages of 5 to 6 1/2. My son used to take Ritalin but has now switched to concerta.
When my son was in first grade he started having really serious problems with control. He couldn't sit still, he would start singing in the middle of class, he could not pay attention. We would talk to him about his behaviour and he would cry telling me he really couldn't help it, he didn't understand why he did these things.
He started taking ritalin when he was 7 and for him it worked wonderful. He isn't behind in school at all, he actually does quite well. He is very popular and participates in a lot of after school activities. None of that would have been possible for him if he wasn't medicated. I am sure alot of people that read this won't understand and will think I am nuts, but I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about.