I Was Offered a 504/RTI/MTSS When I Asked for an IEP | Next Steps
You think your child needs an IEP. The school offered a 504, RTII or MTSS. So, what’s the difference, and what are your options? Next steps for parents.
What’s the Difference Between an IEP and a 504 Plan?
504 Plan vs IEP Quite often, parents in our Facebook group will ask what is the difference between an IEP and a 504? Some schools will try to push the family toward a 504 plan instead of an IEP, some will even suggest that the student get both an IEP and a 504. So what…
504 Accommodations for ADHD | Or should you get an IEP for ADHD?
504 Plan ADHD It is estimated that 5-12% of all American kids have some type of ADHD. If you found this Accommodations Guide, chances are you have a child or student with ADHD. So I’m not going to go into the different types of ADHD and all that. This is going to focus on understanding…
Why a Doctor’s Note is not the IEP Slam Dunk you Think it is.
Do IEP Teams have to honor Doctors’ Notes? I won’t ever forget the interaction I had with one of Kevin’s neurologists. We had a regular appointment/checkup. And he was a baby, like 2 years old. We knew he was autistic and I wanted him in an ABA program. The neurologist said to me, “Just tell…
How to Get a 504 Plan | 3 Easy-to-Follow Steps
How to get a 504 Plan Before I get to the steps of how to ask for a 504 plan for your child, I feel the need to get on my soapbox for a moment. If you don’t want to read my rant, feel free to skip past the photo. Ok, so here goes. 504 Education…
43 Accommodations for Anxiety and Depression | 504 Plan | IEP | PDF List
504 Plan Accommodations for Anxiety Do you have a worrier? I am a worrier and I have a worrier. So far we’ve been able to manage his anxiety without too much intervention or a 504 plan. This one is requested so often in our Facebook group. I’m sorry that it has taken me so long…
Epilepsy IEP and 504 Plans | Accommodations | Examples
Seizure Action Plan I could handle the not talking. I could handle the stimming. I could handle the developmental delays. And the picky eating, and the clumsiness due to poor motor planning, and the meltdowns. But seizures might break me. I have PTSD from watching him have so many seizures. When he has a bad…
IEP and 504 Accommodations for Distance and Online Learning.
Online and Virtual Learning Accommodations Some kids really struggle with online distance learning, and need some accommodation ideas. Particularly those with attention, sensory, and other related issues. And, there are a lot of kids out there who loathe Zoom and online classes. Some love it, others not so much. But, even as kids return to…
How to Get Extended Time on Tests | IEP | 504 | Best Practices
Extended Time on Tests Back when I was in high school (and no, not leaning on my cane and wagging my finger) we did not have cell phones. We did the “call collect and hang up” thing. And, when we got our driver’s licenses, most of us got jalopies as cars. They were old, rusty,…
How do I get Shortened School Days with an IEP or 504 plan?
Modified School Days and IEPs If your child has an IEP or 504, can they get a shortened school day or modified school schedule as an accommodation? The short answer is yes. But, it’s not a simple yes/no question. There are many considerations for the IEP team to discuss to ensure that your child still…
500 Accommodations for a 504 Plan | Sensory | IEP | PDF List
504 Plan Accommodations List You want ideas to submit to the IEP team, but you just don’t know where to start. Well, here you go! You asked for it, you got it! I’ve received many reader requests for a list of SDIs or strategies. I hope this list of SDIs, strategies, and accommodations for an…
Do I have to tell the IEP team about my child’s medication? Can Schools Force Medication? | IEP and 504 Issues
Can Schools Force or Recommend Medication? Can Schools force medication? Can a teacher ask a student if they took their medication? Can a school tell you to change your child’s medicine? Is it illegal for a school to recommend medication? Do I have to tell the school about my child’s medication? All of these questions…
Can a School Suspend a Student with an IEP? | 5 action steps, with or without an IEP or 504 Plan
Can you Suspend a Student with an IEP? It happened again. You were at work, in the middle of…working. And the phone rings again. You look and see the dreaded phone number-it’s the school. And you know what is ahead. You have to go pick up your child because they’ve been suspended. Again. Here is…
How to Prevent and Get Out of Truancy Charges | IEP | 504
School Truancy I looked at the mom/client sitting next to me in at truancy court, and gave her hand a squeeze. She looked up and gave me a slight smile, our only communication since we did not speak the same language. I leaned over to the caseworker on her other side, who translated for us….
Does my child have to ride the Special Ed Bus to get Transportation on our IEP or 504?
Special Education Transportation “It’s the bus. It’s always the bus!” My former supervisor used to say that so often. So many issues around a school bus ride. Lots of kids, no seatbelts, unstructured time, no one watching them (because we want the driver watching the road, right?). And it goes on. This post is long…
Juvenile Arthritis | 504 Plans and IEP Accommodation Ideas
Juvenile Arthritis | IEP | 504 According to the Arthritis Foundation, over 300,000 American children have Juvenile Arthritis. The most common type of arthritis in children is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (idiopathic means “from unknown causes”). There are several other forms of arthritis affecting children. Juvenile arthritis is a rheumatic disease or one that causes loss…
Can I get an IEP in College? What to know about 504 Plan Accommodations.
IEP in College? No, there are no IEPs in college. That’s a statement of fear that I hear from a lot of parents. And, it’s true. There are no IEPs in college. The following is a guest post from my friend Lynn. You may recognize her from the Facebook group. Her son, who has autism,…
Building a Trauma-Informed IEP or 504 Plan | Goals | Accommodations
Trauma-Informed IEPs It’s amazing how we go through life, just doing what we do, not knowing what we don’t know. I was a victim of childhood trauma (several ACEs-Adverse Childhood Experiences). But, it was the 1970s and no one really did anything about it. I was just expected to “get over it.” Yes, I did…
23 Accommodations to Include in your 504 Plan for Food Allergies.
504 Plans for Food Allergies On this website, you will find many articles that discuss the overuse of 504 plans. They were never intended to be an “IEP Lite” and too often, they are used as a stalling tactic when the child truly needs an IEP. However, in the case of isolated food allergies, a…
What is a 504 Plan? 6 Things a Parent Should Know | Protecting Disabled Students
What is a Section 504 plan? Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act was the first disability civil rights law to be enacted…
3 Indications that You Have an Insufficient 504 Plan at School. (And How to Make it Right!)
Student 504 Plan 504 Plans certainly have their place in our education system. After all, they guarantee access to a student’s education, when a disability may be prohibiting access. What’s unfortunate is that I see too many 504 Plans being handed out to pacify parents and avoid IEP evaluations. Or, when a 504 plan is…
Section 504, IEPs and Sports | Extra-Curricular Activities | What to Know for Inclusion.
Section 504 and Extracurricular Activities The short answer is yes. “Participation in extracurricular athletics can be a critical part of a student’s overall educational experience. Schools must ensure equal access to that rewarding experience for students with disabilities.” Seth Galanter, acting assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) But implementation is not always…
14 Tips for Writing an OCR Complaint that gets Noticed | IEP | 504
OCR Complaint I know, we complain too much. What can I say, it’s a complaints-based system. One of the remedies that parents have in special education is to file a complaint with your Office of Civil Rights. It’s easy, and it’s not. But, don’t be intimidated. One of the ways you can create change is…
What to do if your School or Teacher is Violating the 504 Plan | 8 Action Items for Parents
Not Following 504 Plan Ok, your child has a 504 Plan. You provided the necessary documentation and they drew it up. You think it’s pretty good and will help your child. Then, you hear anecdotes from your child that your school is not following the 504 Plan. The protections of a 504 plan are fewer…