Hi all. My son's dr. has suggested a 504 plan for my son in school. His teacher couldn't really answer my questions as to exactly what it entailed. The dr. just said it was something to put in place in case the need arises in the future to help get him the help he may need.
My son is a very smart precocious kid and is the top student in his class. He is not having problems in school, with the exception of his impulsiveness and inability to sit still at times. (he is on Strattera)
Does anyone know exactly what a "504 Plan" really is? I don't want my son labeled as a special needs child (you know how mean kids can be) but, at the same time, I want the resources available to him if they are needed.
My son has a 504 plan in place at school. I belive it is part of the IDEA Act. You can put whatever you like in the contract that you and/or his teachers feel would help him. For instance... I have that my son's class-work is to be modified. If she gives him a 2 pager front and back with 40 questions to be done in 20 minutes, she can forget it! It's too overwhelming for him to even try to start. I ask that she modify it by handing him 1 page at a time, cutting the pages in 1/2, and/or if he does not complete it, be given the chance to finish for homework. Modification of any tests that he did work hard on but could not complete in the time frame by letting him complete it orally after class/school. No more than 1 hour of homework a night....things like this that will help your child succeed. The kicker is getting your child's teachers to comply. That is my biggest problem. Most of his teachers had never heard of a 504 and certainly don't want to take the time to modify his work to help him. Some do and when they do he is able to finish his work and maintain good grades. If you do this, just make sure his teachers understand what modifications you want done and keep up the communication with the teachers. My son comes home all the time with 0's in classwork because he didn't finish. That is his main problem, finishing work. He wouldn't have 0's if they would take the time to comply to the 504 contract and modify his work! It is frustrating for me! A 504 really can help though, if the teachers will do it... Good luck!
Jamie
Thanks so much for the information. Now I have an idea of where to start. Either I must be really luck with my son's teacher, or you need to get your son a new one. (I think I got lucky, though)
If you don't mind me butting my nose in, shouldn't your son's teacher be trying things to help him succeed, instead of fail. I know I don't know the situation, but it seems to me that she has a plan set in mind and will accept no deviations in "her plan" for her class; sounds like she's not willing to budge. Have you met with her and the Principal or school psychologist?
Along with being the parent of an ADD kid, I'm also a teacher and have taught 12 years.
A 504 plan does not mean that your child will be labeled as special ed. It means that things in their educational planning may be modified to meet the needs they have. Any child with a medical condition can be put on a 504 plan. For example kids with diabetes, heart conditions, etc. The great thing about the 504 plan is that you can help choose what your child needs and doesn't need during the school day. For example, on my son's 504 we decided that he doesn't need repetitive work for skills that he's already mastered. It takes him too long to get his work done as it is, so all busy work that is given as time fillers is not to be given to him.
One of the BEST things about the 504 is that you have the right to help select his teacher every year. I don't think a lot of people know this, but 504 kids can have their teachers selected by who will best meet their needs. We avoided the teachers that we knew were perfectionist, didn't like working with kids that didn't finish things quickly, disorganized ones or teachers that were screamers or yellers. This can save a lot of heart ache for everyone by making the right match at the beginning of the school year.
I have a friend who has a daughter who had a heart condition at birth, she therefore qualifies to be on a 504 plan. However, the condition has not affected her learning what so ever. She's an all A, perfect behavior child. But my friend put her on the 504 plan just so she could help pick the teacher every year. So even parents of kids with no learning problems can desire that they're kids be on a 504.
It can cut down on the amount of work they're given. They can be tested on standardized testing by themselves in another room, so that there are no distractions during the testing. A 504 can allow your child to use a mechanical pencil instead of a regular one, which really helps my child's handwriting. There are just numerous things that you, the teacher and the counselor can agree that your child needs to be a more successful learner. I understand your hesitancy to have your child labeled and I asked the same questions before I put my son on a 504. But being on a 504 does not mean that he is special ed.
Our school year would be much more miserable without it.
Hi Sue. I understand your comments! Justin is in Middle School and has 4 teachers, well 5 including his music teacher. So it's been difficult to say the least trying to get ALL of them to comply. We have been VERY disappointed in the school he has attended this year. It is a new school in a good area of my city but is a public school nonetheless and our public school system is VERY lacking. This particular school already has a bad reputation as a "rough" school. He will be attending a private school next year and thereafter. 2 of his teachers are in their very early 20's and just seem very inexperienced. The other 2 just don't seem to believe in ADD. THey tell me all the time through his agenda book (his assignement book that we use for communication) that "Justin needs to finish his work" "Justin needs to pay more attention in class" "Justin needs to do this or that" NO DUH!!!!!
We meet with the phychiatrist once every 3 months for evaluation (meds, etc), our church's childrens ministry counselor 1 hour a week, and I'm ALWAYS on the phone with the guidance counselor at his school. We've been very fortunate in elementary school to get awesome teachers who really care. Now I guess they feel they have to "break-in" the 6th graders in middle school because he has had a miserable year with his teachers. Next year will be better! We go to church with the teacher he will have in 7th grade and she is a wonderful, loving teacher!
Jamie
504 PLAN?? 
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