Leo, please focus on your math problems. The timer has five minutes left.

I try, Mr. Bear, but the numbers jump around, and my legs feel like they have lightning inside them.

Leo had a mind like a rocket ship. It was fast, creative, and full of wonderful places. But sometimes, school felt like trying to land that rocket ship on a tiny ball.

Mr. Bear noticed Leo wasn't falling behind because he couldn't do the work. He just couldn't catch his thoughts long enough to write them down. He knew just what to do.

Leo, you have a brilliant imagination. Your brain just processes the world very quickly. We call this ADHD. It means we need to give you the right tools so you can show everyone how smart you are.

Leo is sitting with Mrs. Gable, the school psychologist, playing a matching game on a table. Mr. and Mrs. Green sit nearby, holding hands and listening intently.

Mr. Bear talked to Leo’s parents. Together, they asked the school to help them understand how Leo’s brain worked. This is called a Full and Individual Initial Evaluation.

Leo, his parents, Mr. Bear, Mrs. Gable, and Principal Penelope are all sitting together. There are drawings by Leo on the table alongside official documents.

Everyone sat at a big round table. This was the IEP meeting, the Individualized Education Program. No decisions could be made without Mr. and Mrs. Green, because parents are the absolute experts on their children. Even Leo was there to share what felt hard for him.

Leo is sitting on a bouncy wiggle-stool at his regular desk next to his best friend, wearing headphones to block out noise.

Leo is taking a spelling test in a quiet corner with Mr. Bear, who is using a visual timer.