Is ADHD considered a disability?

April 15, 2009

O.K., I know part of this is due to the fact that I just had

surgery less than a week ago and am feeling rather cranky and irritated.

Please bear with me as I ask this since I feel I know, or should know, the

answer to this question. My son will be 19 next month and is also graduating

from high school. His dad and I are divorced and he lives with his dad. At

least two years ago I told his dad that he needed to make sure things were in

place to ensure that Tyler was able to stay on his insurance after high

school. Tyler intends to go to community college and continue to live with his

dad. But, we are concerned that he will only be able to carry 6-9 hours

instead of the 12 needed to be considered a full-time student for insurance

purposes. Of course, his dad did nothing. GGGGRRRRRRR!!!! Now, his dad is in

a panic as he was notified that Tyler would be dropped from his health

insurance as soon as he graduates from high school. And, as usual, (another GGGRRRRRRRRRR!!!!)

he has turned to me to help. His HR director has told him that if we can show

Tyler has a disability he will be able to stay on as a dependent for health

insurance. So, I suggested to him that he call Tyler’s psychiatrist,

explain the problem/what was needed, and ask for some documentation. He chose

to fax a letter to the office instead of a personal conversation and received a

letter in the mail this week stating that Tyler has ADHD and “something

else I can’t read”. I have no idea why the doctor didn’t

include his Aspergers. Hence, the question: Is ADHD considered a disability

or should we push that the pdoc add in the Aspergers diagnosis?

Many thanks,

" Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift - that is why

they call it the present. "

Recommended Posts