That is a tough call...generally I've felt that the information on diagnosis and meds should be on a need to know basis, but at the same time it can be said that the school does need to know so that they're not caught off guard.

My son's primary diagnosis has been ADHD and he hasn't yet been diagnosed with bp so I've disclosed to them that his doctors believe he has a mood disorder. It wouldn't be untrue to say the same about your son, because bp is a mood disorder and you'd just be describing it in general terms while avoiding the potential stigmatizaton of bipolar if that's your concern. It's sad that we have to worry about that but I do think that ADHD has been largely accepted now while other diagnoses still carry a lot of stigma- and the problem is that once you disclose it, if it becomes part of the school records then you lose control of who knows and who doesn't and some people are informed while others aren't.

Another approach would be to just talk about symptoms- make them aware of the difficult behaviors at home and that you're working on the mood dysregulation with the doctors. That way, if he begins showing these behaviors at school they won't be caught unaware and they'll know that you're already addressing it.

--

Chris Stanley- DS 10, ADHD, ODD, mood disorder NOS
currently taking Adderall XR, Abilify, Zoloft

I would disclose.  They have privacy acts to secure your son's dx, on a need to know basis only at the school.  Although he may not be experiencing any problems yet, they should be aware.  I have found that the more open I am with authority staff at the school, such as the principal, counselour, teacher, and school nurse the more readily they have been willing to help me and informed on my son's rights as a student.   

Since private schools are state run, it can be a lengthy process to get some help, as all I's must be dotted and T's crossed before help is achieved.  So If he does start having issues it would be better to have the school informed and any documentation and diagnoses from doctor's  at the school before hand.  This can get the ball rolling much faster.  Along with the fact, that a paper trail will only benefit him when the school needs to make decisions on whether or not your child can be evaluated for an IEP or 504.

This is all coming from experience.  

Best of Luck

Jessica

 As long as the potential for issues to arise was there, I did the full disclosure. It wasn't just the 'in case' factor, but it was also to secure what ever might help to take advantage of his abilities.  Being smart, the school could just let him 'get by', cheating him.  JMO. 

I don't see my son having the dx he had when younger. He's been off meds for 4 years (we worked with a doctor and transitioned to nutritional supps),  during which time we saw some symptoms morph into more defined learning issues and  anxiety. It was hard to get school to see him with a different dx- I think the previous years scarred them so much they wouldn't take their guard down. At that point, we used the IEP meetings to help us create a hybrid learning situation with partial days in school and partial time using a virtual school program (Connections Academy) online at home.   He is now schools with an independent private teacher, with just a few classmates.  --

Darryl - parent volunteer, dad to
Levi, 12, stable using supps and diet exclusively since June 07. Previously treated and stable with med combo inc. lithium, 900mg seroquel, and small amounts of risperdal, luvox and focalin after being dx'd at age 3 1/2.