Does anyone have a child on a 504 plan? *update pg 2*

[Pinnie]

Not here. We have a separate Health Care Plan. I know what an IEP is, I have written hundreds.

Goes to show you, different states, different rules.

pinnie

 

[Mermaid02]

Not here. We have a separate Health Care Plan. I know what an IEP is, I have written hundreds.

I think that is the case here too. IEP's (as explained to me) are for children with learning disabilities etc but 504's are for children with other diagnoses that may interfere with education. In my son's case ADHD, mood disorder and anxiety disorder.

 

[janette]

I think that is the case here too. IEP's (as explained to me) are for children with learning disabilities etc but 504's are for children with other diagnoses that may interfere with education. In my son's case ADHD, mood disorder and anxiety disorder.

This is true, my 12yo DD is dyslexic with enough of a delay that it is considered a learning disability and she is covered under special ed / IEP for her education now. If her gaps became not as severe she'll qualify for modifications under a 504 with the dyslexia diagnosis. The classroom modifications will probably remain about the same if this happens just a different way to classify / justify them.

 

[lowie]

janette, can you tell me how you dd was diagnosed? we have a family history of dyslexia and i've long suspected that my dd may have dyslexic tendancies. but i can't find a competant doctor to test her. or they (still) tell me she's too young!

 

[donnajon]

One thing my sister, the special ed teacher, did point out. When the school was origionally trying to not do the 504, they said they would work with him and help him as it was needed anyway. And I believe they would have. However, she said that I still needed to get the 504 in writing now because, as he gets older and will move to middle and high schools, then the ADHD will be considered an "old" diagnosis and he had gotten along fine without one in elementary school. Don't let them do that. Definitely take support along. I took my sister with me to the meetings. At that point the school didn't give me a hard time but it was nice to know I had someone who knew what they were talking about in my corner. She added that the 504 will even allow kids extra time on the SATs if needed.

 

[janette]

janette, can you tell me how you dd was diagnosed? we have a family history of dyslexia and i've long suspected that my dd may have dyslexic tendancies. but i can't find a competant doctor to test her. or they (still) tell me she's too young!

By your signature I'm reading she's 11yo and that is actually on the older end to not have a diagnosis. My DD was diagnosed with a reading/learning disability in kindergarten but that is earlier than most. Many public schools will only test for learning disabilities but most dyslexic kids don't qualify under that criteria. We ended up going to a local Scottish Rite hospital for the Dyslexia diagnosis, I needed it to get her into some specific programs and the school was dragging their feet.

If you have a Scottish Rite hospital near by see if they have a education testing center. They test for free but it takes 6-12mths to get an appointment.

These are some sites with information, also check the sites posted earlier in this thread. You'll need to find an education specialist / diagnostication. Some psychologists do this, really depends on their expertise. You can get testing at the school also. You want a full workup so they can find where the issues are.

http://www.allkindsofminds.org/
http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

He's going to write me a letter with suggestions. He said Jack's ADHD, Anxiety d/o, nos; and mood d/o, nos, definately qualify him. He is currently flunking 3 subjects and I hate to see him fall further behind.

Kind of sounds more like an IEP than a 504 to me. In fact I would push for the IEP.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I think that is the case here too. IEP's (as explained to me) are for children with learning disabilities etc but 504's are for children with other diagnoses that may interfere with education. In my son's case ADHD, mood disorder and anxiety disorder.

A 504 is a strange animal. IEP's are not just for LD kids, in fact a behavior disorder such as OP mentioned (mood disorder) coupled with ADHD can put you on an IEP. Vison and hearing can also put you on an IEP.

The easiest way to explain a 504 is an accomodation which might mean seat in front of class, scribe, etc. There is NO change in curriculum that is it is not modified. ON an IEP curriculum is modified which can mean a variety of things such as using materials at a lower level, shortened day, shortened year, reduce expectations, teach only essential facts and on and on. Sometimes it seems like a fine line but if you think of an accomodation it is like something you can do for anyone while an IEP is personalized.

 

[Mermaid02]

I spoke with the Principal and he is going to set up a 504 meeting. We talked about our previous PET 2 years ago and about some of Jack's problems now. Then I came home and called my brother in laws wife. She heads the special ed department in her school and is the 504 coordinator. She said Jack "most definately does qualify and they have done him a great disservice by not giving him services in the past 2 years" She said, "He ALWAYS has qualified" It makes me angry that they were so quick to get us to sign off in 2004 at our first meeting. But we were pretty ignorant and should have been better prepared.

She gave me a lot of suggestions: a set of books at home (no more forgotten books), quality homework vs. quantity (maybe doing 10 math problems rather than 20), having the teacher email us his assignments every afternoon, having someone check in with him 3 times a day making sure he is organized and has what he needs. She is going to type out some suggestions for us to take with us.

I felt a lot better after speaking with her.

 

[lowie]

She said Jack "most definately does qualify and they have done him a great disservice by not giving him services in the past 2 years" She said, "He ALWAYS has qualified" It makes me angry that they were so quick to get us to sign off in 2004 at our first meeting. But we were pretty ignorant and should have been better prepared.

see, this is what gets me. they don't offer info, you have to go in armed. they SHOULD HAVE TO make every offer and then help to make the decisions as to which ones are suitable for your child.
also ask for; (if it hasn't already been mentioned, i haven't read the whole thread yet)
sit close to the teacher
sit close to a positive role model
shortened assignments (not just homework)
extra time on tests, including standardized
you may want to ask for an agenda book, for writing assignments and have the teacher initial it everyday.
books at home are important, every year i have to fight for that.
tests and assignmenments given orally when needed.

good luck!

 

[Karel]

A 504 is a strange animal. IEP's are not just for LD kids, in fact a behavior disorder such as OP mentioned (mood disorder) coupled with ADHD can put you on an IEP. Vison and hearing can also put you on an IEP.
lized.

An IEP involves the Child Study Team with testing and showing that there is a gap between ability vs. where child is working at that point. There has to be actual delays.

A 504 is much easier to put together and may only involve parent, nurse and teacher.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I've always thought that the entire Special Ed process would be dramatically improved if the Parent and Child were provided an advocate whose sole purpose would be to advise them on what is possible and their rights --- somebody OUTSIDE of the school district staff. The balance of information and power in the process is just so lopsided and unfair and too often it just seems like the kids just get the shaft.

For goodness sake we don't send Criminals to trial without the public paying for legal representation to protect them, sometimes it seems like these kids deserve at least that much.

 

[Poohnatic]

see, this is what gets me. they don't offer info, you have to go in armed. they SHOULD HAVE TO make every offer and then help to make the decisions as to which ones are suitable for your child.

I agree 100%. We were very fortunate that when we convened for my son's first IEP, his principal was the one who called it. She'd headed the Special Ed high school program in our district and was a huge advocate for early intervention. We were terrified and a friend's mom (elementary educator with sp ed background) came as our advocate. We didn't need her, however, since then, I've heard of this being the exception.

The best question I got from the principal (an angel, IMO) was "what do YOU want your son to get from his education?" "what do YOU want?". She gave what we wanted (mainstream with pull outs) until we realized that it wasn't working.

OP, you've got some great questions and advice from your SIL. Kill them with kindness, but stay firm and you'll get your son what he needs.

Suzanne