Chances are, this isn't the first book you've picked up on ADHD. But where can you turn when you've mastered the basics and "doing everything right" isn't enough - the insurer denies your claims, parent-teacher meetings get tense, or those motivating star charts no longer encourage good behavior? When the system isn't working for your child, you need from-the-trenches advice on who to call, what to ask, how to improve your odds of getting the best care for your child, when to try a new approach, and when not to take "no" for an answer. That's when Dr. Peter Jensen can help. Dr. Jensen has spent years generating ways to make the healthcare and education systems work, for his own family, as the father of a son with ADHD, and - as a scientific expert and dedicated parent advocate - for thousands of others. No one knows more about managing the complexities of the disorder and the daily hurdles it raises. Now Dr. Jensen pulls together his own experiences along with those of over 80 other parents who have navigated the education and treatment maze. Their accumulated wisdom - flavored with insight, compassion, and even a dash of humor - make this exactly the resource you've been looking for. Making the System Work is an entire support network you can take along on your journey to helping your child succeed. You get vital information on the services you're entitled to and invaluable ideas for how you can: * Break through bureaucratic bottlenecks at school - and boost your child's learning * Communicate with teachers - or family members - who don't "believe in" ADHD * Stay on top of treatment advances while steering clear of unscientific claims * Successfully appeal insurance decisions without going broke in the process * Find real alternatives if the behavioral incentives you use stop working * Build your child's friendship skills and make group activities more rewarding * Work as a team with your spouse to be the best advocates for your child Nearly every page includes candid comments from other parents and shares hard-won ideas for overcoming common problems in treatment. With a variety of tools and resources at your fingertips, you'll be able to shape a clear plan of action when the IEP isn't working or chaos rules at home. If plan A doesn't work, try plan B or C - the support and information here will help you find the best solutions for your own child and family. There's lots of help out there for kids with ADHD, but getting it isn't always easy. Dr. Jensen helps you troubleshoot the system without reinventing the wheel. Written with intimate knowledge of the challenges you face, this may not be the first book you've picked up on ADHD - but it's one you will turn to again and again.
Preface I. Taking Charge of Getting Help for Your Child 1. Nowhere to Turn?: Why It's So Hard to Get the Help Your Child Deserves and What You Can Do About It 2. Principles of Action for the Expert Parent 3. Developing a Plan for Your Child: How to Use Your Knowledge of Yourself and Your Child to Get the Best Care Available 4. What You Need to Get Started: Essential Tools and Resources for the Expert Parent II. What to Expect and How to Get What Your Child Needs 5. Getting the Best from the Healthcare System 6. Getting the Best from Your Child's Education 7. Getting the Best Out of Your Home and Family Life 8. Getting the Best from All the Rest 9. Looking Ahead Appendix A. Parent/Advocacy Organizations and Resources You Need to Know About Appendix B. Funding- and Insurance-Related Resources You Need to Know About Appendix C. Legal/Advocacy Resources You Need to Know About Appendix D. Useful Books Appendix E. Using Behavioral Strategies to Help Your Child Improve His or Her Behavior Appendix F. Sample Section 504/ADA Accommodation Plan Appendix G. Table of Psychiatric Disorders, Symptoms, and Proven Treatments Appendix H. Sample Letters Appendix I. Ways to Become Involved
