Quote From: darcyloveand we find our biggest challenge is getting him the help he needs at school.
he take 500 ml of provigil a day. 300 in the morning and 200 at lunch.
Right now...the school is using fear tactics in keeping our son from getting any help at school. The lastest is they say if we get him a formal IEP at school...it will leave a paper trail that if our son is ever responsible for hurting someone because he fell asleep while at the hands of a wheel....they will come back on us with a law suit.
We don't know whether or not our son will ever drive but know that he is much better now that he takes his medicine. However he does at times feel he needs the extra help at school because he lacks the focus he needs to get through class.
Our oldest son, age 18, has Narcolepsy, and he is on Provigil.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that interferes with a person's ability to function. Your son IS eligible for an IEP, and you need to make sure that he is getting what he needs. It is illegal for the school NOT to set up an IEP for your son. Since your son already has a diagnosis of Narcolepsy, there already IS a PAPER TRAIL in his medical records. It sounds like the school is making excuses instead of finding ways to help your son.
Before you set up the IEP, go to school with your son for a week to get a feel for what the teachers are like and what their expectations are. Just be a quiet observer in the back of the room. Write down any problem areas that you see. Going to school yourself will go a long way in getting cooperation from the teachers and counselor and principal. After you have your list compiled, set an appointment with the school counselor and his teachers to set a plan that will help your son...that is the goal.
Both of our older kids have IEPs for ADHD. We had to fight for years for the school to give us any accomodations. It got worse in junior high, when our boys went from one teacher to six.
About driving, if your son is taking his meds and getting enough sleep, he shouldn't fall asleep at the wheel. Hopefully, he will stay away from drugs and alcohol...be sure to talk with him about this, as alcohol will make the effects of Narcolepsy just that much worse.
