Berkeley Parents Network: Learning Disorders and ADHD at BHS

Berkeley Parents Network

Learning Disorders and ADHD at BHS

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Berkeley Public Schools > Berkeley High School > Learning Disorders and ADHD at BHS

Berkeley High School for LD kid?
LD Assistance at Berkeley High?

Berkeley High School for LD kid?

October 2006

My son, who has attended private schools since kindergarten, has dysgraphia and a social skills deficit similar to NLD. He is now in 8th grade at a very small school. He is a highly- motivated person who does well in school with accommodations and forms close bonds with his teachers. He is just this year starting to learn about advocating for himself. My question is whether anyone has a child with similar characteristics who went through Berkeley High. He would need to use a computer in all his classes for note-taking, assignments, and tests. I'm concerned about getting his accommodations and also about whether a kid who cannot read social cues would be safe there
Worried Mom

Im a BHS grad with NLD and vision issues who attends Cal . Your son and I sound very similar in terms of both are strengths and weaknesses . After the first few weeks of Ninth grade I was able to find my way around BHS and also find a group of kids that I got along with well. The programs at BHS you should look at are Academic Choice and BIHS because these in my experience would be the best choice for a kid with NLD or similar issues. If he were to take a language, I would recommend German because of the teacher is knowledgeable about neurodevelopment (she was trained as a doctor in Germany). Academic Choice and BIHS both have strong Academic liberal arts focus. Although AC is large, the teachers are willing to work one on one with students. You should check in to if your son is elegible for an IEP or a 504 Plan. Also, the singe reason I was able to maintain a B average in math was that I took it at Independent Study. You may have to have a letter to Independent Study to explain why you think for your son his only option to complete math successfully would be to go to IS. I was safe at BHS even with my issues,I am a female. He make be able to get an Instructional aide who is one on one with his needs.
BHS Grad 04

Hello, I have no first hand knowledge about BHS and LD, but I wanted to tell you about Orion Academy. It specializes in working with students with NLD and Aspergers. You may already know about the school, but if not, you can contact Orion at orionacademy[at]worldnet.att.net. Jamie

LD Assistance at Berkeley High?

September 2006

My son, currently in 8th grade at a small independent school, really wants to go to Berkeley High next year. I would like to support this, but I am worried about how he would handle it. He was diagnosed a few years ago with Non-Verbal Learning Disorder, which means that he has a great deal of difficulty organizing, negotiating complex situations or directions, and is not highly attuned to social cues. He often forgets to write down assignments and isn't good about seeking help -- he'd rather cruise under the radar and hope that everything will turn out okay. On the plus side, he's a very positive kid, works hard and wants to do well. He's a voracious reader who delves deeply into politics, history and geography in his free time. Since we are at a small school now, we can work with teachers to make sure that they understand his limitations and can bring out the best of his abilities. My concern about Berkeley High is that he would get lost. What kind of support does the school offer to ensure that this doesn't happen?
8th grade mom

The difficulties you described that your child has with school are exactly the kind that will cause him to fall through the cracks at Berkeley High. BHS is an amazing experience for motivated, organized kids who can advocate for themselves and navigate a complex and gigantic bureaucracy. Kids who want to be below the radar will be allowed to stay that way, even if they are failing. The average teacher at BHS has over 150 different students each year and really reaching out to and/or keeping track of those who pull back is extremely difficult. Unless you can get into one of the small schools, I would seriously reconsider.
-- a BHS teacher

Dear 8th grade Mom,
Im a BHS grad with NLD and vision issues who attends Cal . Your son and I sound very similar in terms of both are strengths and weaknesses . After the first few weeks of Ninth grade I was able to find my way around BHS and also find a group of kids that I got along with well. The programs at BHS you should look at are Academic Choice, CPA and BIHS because these in my experience would be the best choice for a kid with NLD. If he were to take a language, I would recommend German because of the teacher is knowledgeable about neurodevelopment (she was trained as a doctor in Germany). Academic Choice and BIHS both have strong Academic liberal arts focus. Although AC is large, the teachers are willing to work one on one with students. Also, the singe reason I was able to maintain a B average in math was that I took it at Independent Study. You may have to have a letter to Independent Study to explain why you think for your son his only option to complete math successfully would be to go to IS.
BHS Grad 04

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