Eileen Bailey

Eileen Bailey is a freelance writer, specializing in health topics such as: ADHD, anxiety, autism, sexual health, skin care and more. She is a contributing writer for several websites and publications, including HealthCentral.com and AnxietyConnection.com, and has published several of her own books. Some of her works include The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adult ADHD, The Essential Guide to Asperger's Syndrome, and The Essential Guide to Overcoming Obsessive Love.

• Creating an IEP or 504 Plan: 6 Guidelines for Parents
  Your child's IEP or 504 Plan maps out her path to the education she deserves... Get accommodations »
• Preparing for an IEP or 504 Meeting: A Parent's Checklist
  How should I prepare for the IEP/504 Plan meeting with my child's school? How can... more »
• 20 Great Accommodations for ADHD Students
  You know your child best, so come to the IEP or 504 meeting armed with... more »
• How to Put Your ADHD Accommodations Plan Into Action
  How to end your child's IEP or 504 meeting to ensure it results in productive... more »
• 7 Secrets to Keeping Accommodations On Track
  I have heard from other parents that the school doesn’t always implement every accommodation in... more »
• What To Do When the School Fails Your Child
  How parents should respond if the school fails to implement ADHD accommodations outlined in an... more »
• Wonder Women: 6 Inspiring ADHD Heroines
  Meet six successful women who learned to own their ADHD symptoms and found success in... more »
• The IEP Glossary for Parents
  Every IEP contains these key ingredients. Learn what your child's special-education team means by "PLP"... Magic words »
• How NOT to Fight the School's Assessment for Services
  I applied for services for my child, then received a letter stating that the school... more »
• 4 Rules for Documenting ADHD School Struggles
  I'm worried about my child. I suspect he has ADHD, and he is doing poorly... more »
• How to Collaborate with Your Child's Teacher
  Schedule a teacher meeting to understand your child's struggles with ADHD at school, and to... more »
• Why ADHD Accommodations Hinge On a Diagnosis
  I suspect my child has ADHD or LD, but I don’t have a formal diagnosis... more »
• How to Request a School Assessment: ADHD Accommodations Plan
  The classroom strategies the teacher implemented aren’t working. My child is still doing poorly. Should... more »
• IEP vs. 504 Plan: What's the Difference?
  How to determine whether an IEP or 504 Plan is right for your child —... more »
• Remember the Milk! — Tips to Improve Working Memory
  If you forget phone numbers or grocery lists on a daily basis, follow these easy... more »

• It’s Time for New Rules for College Entrance Exams
  The Department of Justice just made it easier for students with accommodations to take standardized... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Should We Pursue an IEP or a 504 Plan?
  "My 9-year-old son was just diagnosed with ADHD. He's doing fine academically, but he often... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Do We Prepare a Child with ODD for Kindergarten?
  "My grandson was kicked out of 4 preschools before his diagnosis of ADHD and ODD... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Can a Private School Deny My Daughter a 504?
  "Should we reveal our daughter's ADHD in her private-school application? Can this decrease her chances... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What If The School Denies an IEP/504?
  "In kindergarten, my son's school said he didn't qualify for an IEP or 504 Plan... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Why Has My Child's IEP Been Denied?
  "What criteria do most schools use to determine if a student with documented ADHD is... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Should I Prepare for an IEP Meeting?
  "The school has completed its testing and filed a 33-page report, which recommends an IEP... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Does My Son Need a Diagnosis for a 504 Plan?
  "Do you have to have a diagnosis to get a 504 plan? We had a... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Is There a Sample Letter to Request Accommodations?
  "I need to request an evaluation from my boys' school. Is there a template letter... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Long Should an IEP Take?
  "A full month after our IEP meeting, I still don't have an updated version of... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Why Does the School Keep Rejecting My Accommodations?
  "The accommodations I suggest for my daughter's 504 Plan keep getting shot down. Meanwhile, her... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Do I Get Teachers to Follow Accommodations?
  "My son's teachers complain almost daily about missing or incomplete work. It's written into his... more »
• Ask ADDitude: Am I Asking for Too Much From My Child's Teachers?
  "What’s the line between normal kid behavior and ADHD forgetfulness? Is it appropriate to ask... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What New Behavioral Strategies Can We Try?
  "The behavior chart my 12-year-old uses at school never makes it home, so we're lacking... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Shouldn't My Child's IEP Go Both Ways?
  "My son's IEP is one-sided. He's required to complete a certain percent of work by... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What Makes an Academic Goal Appropriate?
  "What makes an academic goal 'appropriate?' My son's school wants him to increase one reading... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Should We Measure a 'Successful' School Year?
  "Can you define a 'successful' school year? Most parents think in terms of grades, but... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can My Child Get Out Excess Energy In Class?
  "My son's teachers complain that he's disrupting the class by constantly rocking in his chair,... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Can a Teacher Punish My Child for Forgetfulness?
  "Is it too much to ask a 13 year old with ADHD to take the... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What If Rewards Don't Work?
  "My son fights every step of his morning routine, every day. Sticker charts and rewards... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What Are Some Good Alternatives to Gum-Chewing?
  "My son is constantly chewing on things; the oral stimulation helps him concentrate. He loves... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What Testing Should I Request?
  "What specific academic testing (if any) should I request for my daughter, who has inattentive... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can My Son Focus Better in Class?
  "My 7 year old is highly distractible and struggles to complete in-class assignments without a... more »
• Dear ADDitude: My Son's Teacher Wants Him to "Just Focus"
  "One-fourth of my child's grade is based on his ability to 'focus for the entire... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What Accommodations Help with Meltdowns?
  "My son is quick to react when provoked by other kids. He erupts into temper... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can My Son Stop Hitting?
  "My son recently hit his best friend for telling him to shut up. We have... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What If the Principal is Unfair?
  "My son hangs out with a group of very active and physical boys who sometimes... more »
• Dear ADDitude: The Teacher's Consequences Are Unfair
  "My child's teacher gave cupcakes to the whole class, but told her she must complete... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can I Tell My Child's Teacher that She's Making Him Hate School?
  "My son's teacher gives him so many time-outs — for fidgeting, invading others' personal space,... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can I Get My Child's Teacher to Respect His IEP?
  "My son's math teacher called his IEP 'that silly piece of paper,' and insists he... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Will My Child Really Be Held Back?
  "My son's grades did not raise any red flags this year — until 8 weeks... more »
• Dear ADDitude: What If the Teacher Doesn't Follow the 504 Plan?
  "My son's algebra teacher refuses to accept his late work or provide a quiet room... more »
• Dear ADDitude: My Son Feels Hated by His Teacher
  "My son feels his teacher hates him, which only makes him respect her less. My... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can We Stop the Hair Pulling and Pestering?
  "My son is getting in trouble for pestering other kids in line, shoving classmates in... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Can My Child No Longer Keep Up?
  "My 13-year-old has severe processing/executive functioning deficiencies, but he's smart and has remained an A/B... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Far Should I Push My Daughter?
  "My daughter failed two more tests this week that I know she didn’t study for... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Why Is the School Blaming My Child for Being Bullied?
  "My son says he is being bullied in school. I talked to the principal, who... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Will My Child Graduate Without Critical Life Skills?
  "At home, my son repeats things back to me so I know we're on the... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Can They Really Take Away Recess as Punishment?
  "My son recently got two days of in-school detention for fighting over a pencil, which... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Must Our Daughter Reveal Her ADHD?
  "Our daughter absolutely doesn’t want the school to know about her ADHD as she fears... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can I Communicate Better with the School?
  "Can my daughter's IEP include specific guidelines for communication between school and home? The school... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can I Help My ODD Son with Homework?
  "My 13-year-old rushes through his homework and often forgets to hand it in. He also... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Can the School Expel My Child for ADHD Behaviors?
  "After expelling my child for poor behavior, his principal told me, 'This behavior was not... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Can We Lessen the Homework Load?
  "My 12-year-old works for hours every night on homework. We try to break up assignments... more »
• Dear ADDitude: Is a Modified Schedule a Reasonable Accommodation?
  "We'd like my son's 504 Plan to include a stipulation that his most difficult core... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can We Get Accommodations for the SAT/ACT?
  "What is the best way to request additional time for standardized tests like the SAT... more »
• Dear ADDitude: How Can I Help My Child Stop Avoiding Tough Assignments?
  "My son avoids assignments when he doesn't understand the requirements or thinks they are too... more »