Bipolar Children in the Classroom

The child: "Can I go to the nurse's office? I don't feel so good. My teacher doesn't like me. She's always yelling at me. What did you say? I don't get it?"

Mainstream classroom demands overwhelm some kids. They may ask to go to the school nurse or complain of a headache if they feel unable to do what is asked of them. They may not work as quickly as the other kids and feel academically inadequate compared to their classmates. Often, they require more attention than others in their class, and they may feel that the teacher is picking on them when she tries to help.

Ways to Help

Any number of solutions may be right for your child. In general, the law calls for children to be educated in the least restrictive environment, that is, the setting in which he can receive the educational services he needs but at the same time participate in a regular education program and with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. The educational options for accommodating kids with Bipolar Disorder vary from state to state, but they generally fall into one of four categories:

• Mainstream class (with the support of a special-education teacher or a paraprofessional): A classroom aide or other support personnel may be assigned to more than one child, but in most cases, they are available to help any youngster in the class who needs assistance. The beauty in this is that children who have been assigned the support don't have to feel embarrassed or singled out.
• Resource Room: When a child needs more individual attention, help can come in the form of a learning disabilities resource room class where a special-education teacher instructs a small group of students. A child might be mainstreamed in certain subjects, say, social studies and science, with an aide or special-education teacher but go to the resource room for math, reading, and writing. The child may be able to have recess, lunch, art, music, and/or gym with the other children in his grade.
• Self-contained classroom: This is a small class where the child will generally spend most of the day with a few others students, a teacher, and one or two aides, depending on the class size. Kids may go into mainstream classes for special events or some subjects, depending on the grade. An aide or teacher usually accompanies them to their mainstream classes from their special-education class. This may be the best level of support for children who require help in a number of different areas.
• Therapeutic/special-education schools: These special placements, such as the Newmark School, provide academic, therapeutic, and emotional support for students with special needs. They offer soup-to-nuts programs and may specialize in serving children with emotional issues. Some of these schools are public, and others are part of the private sector. If the school district feels it is the appropriate setting for your child, it will pay for the program.

Of course, the hope is that bipolar kids can stay in mainstream schools with modifications as much as possible. I strongly feel that every child should reach up rather than down. But the reality is that many kids with Bipolar Disorder are seriously ill. They need a placement in which their academic and emotional needs are met and their self-esteem is not assaulted on a daily basis. It's not in the best interest of these kids to expect them to fit into a mainstream placement that isn't right for them. Many bipolar students start off in the mainstream, but as they get into the upper elementary and middle school grades, they begin to struggle. That's when a specialized setting may become the best option. The decision to place a child outside the mainstream classroom is sometimes a difficult one for parents. But when they see their child in an appropriate setting, doing well academically and blossoming socially, they become more confident that they've made the right decision. Here's one mother's story: