[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Every ADD or ADHD diagnosis is more money for the school. So when the school has input, they are motivated to get a positive diagnosis. Now this case sounds like a real behavioral problem, but I think many times it's just a bunch of bunk.

[sassbox]

I think in my friend's case, the school district would prefer there were fewer ADD diagnosis. Allowing these kids all kinds of special privliges causes a lot of harm in the long run. It does no one any favors to put a child who will not behave and will not attempt to do work in a regular or even honors classroom. The worst aspect of it all is the truancy issue. Some of these "disabled" students just can't stay in school the whole day, they must either come in late or leave early - without permission. If the school tires to discipline a student for all these unexcused absences, the parents threaten to sue - after all, the poor child is disabled, so he can't be expected to show up at eight each morning like everyone else. It puts the school in a horrible bind because when a student is truant, the school is still liable for his or her safety. If a student cuts out early and then gets, say, hit by a car, the parents can - and will - sue the school district to kingdom come. So the school is damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[tuckrdout]

As a former School board member of a small school district, let me just assure you that the cost of providing special education services far outweighs the extra money from the state and the feds! The last thing we wanted was a kid with special needs!

But, on the other hand, my kid's special education teachers told me time and time again, that my kid was the only kid in the class that had a real, actual learning disability.

The other kids had emotional problems, most times brought on by their home situation. Divorce, parents on drugs, and single moms who never bothered to marry their sexual partners.

[Howlin]

Many many ADHD kids receive SSI benefits of $579.00 per month (you tax dollars) for having ADHD or some other "learning disability."

Yep, they do.

And once they get that, it opens up the entire Pandora's Box of funds from the government to them and the rest of their parents.

[Amelia]

Every ADD or ADHD diagnosis is more money for the school.

I am pretty sure this is not true. Do you have any evidence that it is?