Organising general paperwork for ADHD

You have started the process of investigating a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),  so now it’s time to keep track of the paperwork involved. This is a journey during which you will gather a large amount of paperwork which will help you understand your child better, the challenges they face and what services may be required to help them into the future. So let’s set about organising this information as it will help as you travel forwards in time to support your child.

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It is important to keep all information because in the future you will be required to have documents that tell the story of when the signs and symptoms of ADHD were first noticed and when the diagnosis was given. You may also have documents recording teachers comments over time which will also help you to demonstrate the history of the diagnosis. During this time your child may also present with other learning disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) or Intellectual Disability(ID). The following file structure may assist you to organise your documents in one place. These are suggested categories for your child’s information so that it’s easier to file new documents and find archived documents in the future.

Assessments

  • All standardised assessments and reports from the diagnosing practitioners: Paediatrician, psychologist, therapists, teachers etc.

Medical

  • Contact details: Paediatrician, other specialists involved eg psychologist, psychiatrist
  • Medical records: Immunisations, records of any tests and procedures eg blood tests, surgeries, hearing and vision tests.

Stages of development

  • Birth to 5 years: Family history, time of diagnosis, presenting observations, early intervention (EI)/ kinder programs observations, reports and assessments, meeting notes.
  • 5 to 12 years: Assessments for access to education and support services, transition documents from EI/kinder to school, initial and subsequent Individual Education Plans, school contact details of key personnel, details of family support workers, any agencies involvement, funding support package details, respite care details, case management meeting notes. If a further diagnosis of a learning disability has been identified include these documents.
  • 13 to 18 years: Updated formal assessments and reports, Individual Learning Plans, Transition Plans, work experience reports, planning documents for post school support options, certificates of achievement, resume, case management meeting notes.

You’re now on your way to building a great knowledge base which will be a support to you and your loved one. You will always be thinking about what your child or the adult in your life will need, so organise the information and the process of doing what is needed will be easier. This process will be invaluable to help you to demonstrate the ‘ongoing’ history for your child into the future and to support an adult who may be newly diagnosed.