Horrible 504/ADHD PPT!

[herdtoDisney]

Hey all, I was hoping to vent and get some advice here from folks who know

My 15 yo DS is a sophmore in HS and was diagnosed last year with ADHD. He's had struggles since toddlerhood, but we did not get this diagnosis until then.

Anyhow, he did good in grade school and struggled in middleschool. First year of HS was a disaster-which led to the diagnosis. He presently has no 504 or accomodations. We are seeing a LCSW privately, to help him and us learn to live with ADHD (poor kid was so stressed and anxious). He recommended we pursue a 504 plan, with accomodations of preferential seating, extended time for test/quizzes, and quiet place to test. That's it, no special ed or anything like that.

I had the PPT meeting for this, or i THOUGHT it was for this! , this past week. They spent 45 minutes tryint to talk us (ds and I) out of special ed (which I had not asked for) and accomodations, before the special ed lady goes 'oh you want a 504? That's a differnent meeting, I have to leave now' and LEFT. They all left!


Apparently there is a DIFFERENT form to fill out to request a 504 meeting? THe form I filled out doesn't say that, it was for 'special education and related services' and no one told me that and it doesn't say it on the districts web site. So I refused to leave until they printed me a form, I filled it out and scheduled a new meeting. During which time the guidance counselor was still trying to talk us out of it and kept saying he wasn't sure DS would qualify for a 504.

My question is, would he qualify? He is diagnosed with ADHD (from his doctor) and he is failing math, which is a graduation requriement. (the teacher seats him in the BACK of the room and when he asked for an explanation of something, told him he should pay attention ) Why is the school giving us a hard time? It's not like the accomodations would cost any money!

Next meeting is the 22nd. DH will come and I will be speaking to the LCSW next week too.
Thanks for reading my long tirade, lol.

 

[bookwormde]

As soon as you identified that you believed that your child had a potential disability, the school and district were required under law to begin the process to evaluate (both under ADA2009/504 and IDEA.

It does not matter how you did this although if it is not in writing it is harder to prove.

Many schools do anything they do including not upholding their responsibility as primary responsible party to identify, evaluate and provide services.

There is no specific timeline for ADA2009/504 but it must be reasonable.

If you want to shake them up, ask that since they are delaying the 504 process you are also want to know why the school after knowing that your child had a potential disability did not begin the IDEA process in parallel. The generally then fall all over themselves to avoid having to go the full IDEA route.
Bookwormde

 

[clm10308]

Make sure that you give the school copies of any evaluations that were done outside of school. You also need the dr to write up an official diagnosis for the ADHD. Most schools will not start the 504 process without this documentation. ADHD is a medical diagnosis so must schools will not dispute that one. The school does not have to follow the recommendations of your outside counselor, but can request a different evaluation by their own people instead and offer their own recommendations. (don't know if this will happen in your case, but just was you to be aware).

In many large schools, there is a completely different team of people for 504 and special Ed. Which is where the confusion comes in. It is a shame that your school district does not do a better job of communicating.

I am sorry that the process has been so hard for you.

 

[bookwormde]

All schools are must start the 504 process as soon as you identify the possibley of a disability. they may deney that it exists but they must dosument that denial otherwise they are violating the law.

OCR (DOJ office of civil rights) has a number of consent decrees that have made if clear the the 504 and IDEA teams must work in a coordinated and seamless fashion.

 

[poohguys]

We had no trouble getting a 504 plan for DS. But now getting the school to follow it is not always easy. I am still constantly after them about homework being written in his planner, who he is seated next too etc. Just keep in mind that once you get one you still may have to be after the school about certain things even though they are in his 504 plan.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Thank you all for the comments and ideas! There is a lot for me to think about and look into. I will go into the next meeting more prepared, and I'll update when it happens.

This is a complex process-and I'm a parent who is usually pretty involved and informed. It's been baffling

Thanks again!

 

[bookwormde]

Here is a good website to get some information from

http://www.wrightslaw.com/

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Boy how times have changed. I didn't get an ADHD diagnosis until I was 17, almost 18. I also have/had depression and had dealt with all sorts of ridiculousness in high school which compounded the problem. When I went to my guidance counselor and told her what my psych had said and the diagnosis she said "No, you don't have ADHD. You're not hyper, you're not loud...I don't believe you"