Making the System Work for Your Child with ADHD

by Peter S. Jensen

There’s lots of help out there for kids with ADHD, but getting it isn’t always easy. 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?

 

Dr. Peter Jensen has spent years generating ways to make the healthcare and education systems work--as the father of a son with ADHD and as a scientific expert and dedicated parent advocate. No one knows more about managing the complexities of the disorder and the daily hurdles it raises. Now Dr. Jensen pools his own experiences with those of over 80 other parents to help you troubleshoot the system without reinventing the wheel. From breaking through bureaucratic bottlenecks at school to advocating for your child’s healthcare needs, this straightforward, compassionate guide is exactly the resource you’ve been looking for.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Adhd

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough approach to dealing with "the system" and getting your child's needs met. Solid, specific information on interacting with medical professionals and educational professionals. I like the focus on having short-term, intermediate, and long-term written goals, broken down to their composite steps, for yourself and your child in various areas like educational, family, medical, and social/emotional. Good to see a lot of what I've done was what he suggested, but appreciate having new ideas to try, too.

Occasionally repetitive and more focus on children who have learning disabilities in conjunction with their ADHD, accommodations that should be made in the school setting, etc. What do I do with my smart-as-a-whip child who's ahead academically, but really struggles socially and emotionally? Would have liked more info on homeschooling a kid with these needs, but that's just my situation and not really the focus of the book.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was framed as a primer for families entering into the world of caring for a child with ADHD. I can see where families might need some help with this odyssey, but including items such as a filing system seems a bit too "back to basics." Also, the author suggested "get your nails done" as a strategy for relaxation too many times for my taste.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tons of tips and resources all nicely organized tobuild solid support

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, comprehensive guide to what parents of ADDers can do to help their children. This book would be especially good for those whose children are newly diagnosed.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great sample letters.