What exactly is the 504 plan? I can't believe I have never heard of that before coming to this board. My son is a Freshman in high school. His IEP is scheduled for October. I am so curious about this 504. What does it offer a child that IEP doesn't?
Thanks. Barb

Hey Barb,
No worries. If your son has an IEP then he doesnt need a 504. A 504 is a lesser form of an IEP. If offers fewer accomodations than an IEP. A 504 is usually given to kids who only need minimal accomodations at school. You go in for meetings just like you would for an IEP. An IEP is just more in depth and gives more options. My cousin got a 504 when returning to school after drug rehab. It used to be that kids with ADHD could only get 504s unless they were very severe... then they would be given an IEP. Now it's much easier to get IEPs for kids with ADHD. That's probably why you havent heard much about the 504. So not to worry.. your son is on the best plan. An IEP offers everything a 504 does, plus some. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

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~*~ Kristy ~*~

I was a special ed teacher for a year and our district does not allow kids with ADHD as their only exceptionality into special ed. ADHD is Other Health Impaired and they have to be gifted or LD or something else to get in. In fact, my nephew had a placement meeting and his IQ was a little too low so he ended up not in special ed and his ADHD didn't get addressed.

I have been thinking about getting him on a 504 to help address a few of the issues at school that boil over into the home life. Just to answer the original question, 504's provide modifications for kids that have health issues that effect their school work. He has to read thirty minutes every night and it is really tough to fit it in with the long list of homework and his bedtime routine since his meds wear off soon after he gets home. I would like for him to be able to read less during the week and more on weekends. And, he always forgets something at school, be it his planner, his lunch box, one of his books, his jacket. He is smart and should be held to high standards, especially when he is on his meds, but there are some things he just can't get to.

Is our school district misapplying the law? I guess I could research it myself...but it wouldn't be aby fun to sue the school district to get him in. We are probably putting him into a private school next year anyway.

PaNik -

Im not sure if its now the law for kids with ADHD to be allowed to have IEPs. I know that in the past most of these kids were on 504s which can be used for anything from health problems, minor disabilities, and in some cases emotional problems. But an IEP addresses all the issues a 504 does plus some. Many schools now days are giving children with ADHD IEPs rather than 504s. I saw a post by someone not long ago (was looking for it but cant find it) regaurding legal rights having to do with ADHD - 504plans vs IEPs. I believe the person stated that by law children with ADHD are now able to receive IEPs (this is hearsay of course.... and I couldnt find the post so Im not even positive that this is what it said) It seems that there are a lot more kids with ADHD who are on IEPs. Lots of these kids started out with 504s and switched to IEPs I dont know if this was due to changes in the law or if these kids were just consirdered severe enough to be put on an IEP. There are still many children with ADHD who receive no accomodations at all while at school. Then there are those who have the 504 plans. I think that if a child only has ADHD (unless it is very severe) a 504 plan should be sufficient. But hey, if youre offered an IEP for your kid theres no reason to turn it down http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Theres also no reason to freak out if your ADHD kid just has a 504 plan.... unless your child is STILL failing school even with a 504 there would be no reason to make a seen fighting for an IEP.

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~*~ Kristy ~*~

In my son's case, he was diagnosed with a specific LD in math. He also has some minor fine motor skills issues in addition to his ADD. I guess this is why he got the IEP. He had Title 1 years ago. Even with all his problems, I had to get very verbal with his principal and even contacted the school superintendent to get him the help he needed.
PanIk, Look into the laws of the state you're in. Do a search on the web. You'll probably find something that will help you to resolve the issue of getting the help your nephew needs. Also look into the federal laws. You may have to search for a while but you will find the information you need to help your nephew.
When my son was in 2nd grade, I sent him to Sylvan Learning Center. He took his homework there. They also taught him exercises in memory retention among other things. He got the one on one he needed from a liscensed teacher. Their system is WONDERFUL! He HATED school but he couldn't wait to go to Sylvan. He LOVED it there. So if that's a viable option for you, you may want to consider it. It really worked wonders for my son.
Barb

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"Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things".

Thanks for the replies. The closest Sylvan center is two hours away. A little too far for after school. He has a high IQ and really needs to be pushed, but some things push him and the family too far emotionally. He always has tons of homework, especially when he forgets it for a few days. Then, he has to stay up really late finishing it and getting in the required reading. That makes the next morning really tough. The first thirty minutes, before his meds kick in, are excruciating, but he needs that time to eat a good breakfast. It's this repetitive cycle that gets worse as special projects get sent home later in the school year. Of course, he would have less homework if he had help staying on task, too. I went by the school several times last year and he was rarely in his seat. Sometimes he was in another room looking for something he left behind. And, he doesn't have a good relationship with his school counselor.

Having special needs in a rural area is a pain.

PaNiK - Just because he has a high IQ does not mean he needs to be pushed. For a kid with ADD/ADHD being pushed is one of the WORST things no matter how smart they are.

You should definantly look into getting him a 504 so he can get some accomodations so that school can become a better environment for him.

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~*~ Kristy ~*~

Hi Kristy,

I didn't mean to sound too demanding. I just don't think his intelligence should go to waste. I think he should be challenged in school because he has the capacity to do the work, even more so since he is on his meds. But, I think he needs some help staying focused and maybe learning new things in different ways. His teachers have always loved him and he does OK at school, but only after struggling through hours of homework at home. He has very few problems at school, but the distractions there spill over into his home life and that is where he experiences the real trauma.

I was ADHD, extremely intelligent, and very charismatic in elementary school. Because I was so smart, school never challenged me. And because I was smart and likeable, I went undiagnosed until college when school started getting harder. Before that, I distracted myself and created my own modifications with things that interested me, special projects, helping the teacher, etc, but my life would have been much easier later on if I had actually been challenged in school. I would also convince my parents to let me skip school so that I could have the challenge of catching up when I got back and I was int eh gifted program and a lot of clubs that took me out of school. I think his school is harder, though, and he can't afford to miss, ever, because he gets too far behind.

It's tough to find a balance between potential and ADD.