what is in a 504?

[ilovemyboys]

Hi - a little background - my son is 9, adhd hyper/impulsive primarily, also dx with Tourrettes. He was officially dx in 2nd grade, now in 4th. Started him on meds in 2nd and it helped dramatically. We had begun to develop a section 504 but the psychologist in the school said since he had no symptoms anymore he didn't need one.

rest of 2nd ok, 3rd ok, various issues with meds but always handled fine and grades are fine.

This year (4th grade) my son has an incredible teacher. She has a special ed background and her class is just ideal for a child like mine. Anyway, she approached me today about why he didn't have a 504 in place. Evidently the music teacher is being very intolerant of my son. (This teacher has had my son all 5 years in the school) She has witnessed him singling my son out and she feels he has basically lost all tolerance with him and is unfair. She told me she reported it to the principal and went looking for his 504 to be able to tell the music teacher he is dealing with a "504" student. Thats when she couldn't find it.

So I guess we are going to do one, but my question is (finally..) what does it do? Will it do anything for my son? The teacher said he may really need it in middle school. She's going to be sure to place him well next year but then he's out of the school and I'm not sure what will happen next.

Any advice you can give me would be great!

[dmom32002]

w*w I'm so proud of your teacher this year.
She is showing that a child should always come
first.

Sounds like she knows your son very well.

504 is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of a physical or mental disability in programs that receive federal financial assistance. Because public schools
receive federal funds, they are required to comply
with Section 504.

Qualification for this consist of the following.
Has a physical or mental impairmetn that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
has a record of such and impairment
is regarded as having such an impairment,

This part is definate from what you write.

Now to qualify for this
A student can even though not qualifying for article
7 (IEP) Students who qualify under sec. 504 the school must provide general or special ed and related aids and services designed to meet the student's individual
educational needs. The process for determing a students eligibility under sec 504 is similar to art. 7.

A referral for evaluation is made by the parent
or school personnel.
a meeting is held to discuss the referral with the
parent. Written parental consent is required to conduct an evaluation.
Evaluation occurs and may include information gathered
from a variety of sources.

A conference is convened to:
Discuss the evaluation information
determin whether the student needs an evaluation for special education services.
Determine whether the student is eligible for sec 504.
if eligible, identify needs, develop a plan for placement and services and determine appropriate placement and
fully explain the parent and student rights.

It must be made by a group of persons knowledgeable about the student, about the evaluation information, and about the placement/services options.
It can consist of only a parent and school representation, or it may include other individuals with
knowledge or information to share.

So you would definately be included, I would make sure the teacher is included and then a administrator.

Anything else you need just ask.

donna

[TerryB]

donna,
Have you found that it is real hard to get a 504 for kids with good grades? I have a child with rheumatoid arthritis and OCD that they accommodate (very well) unofficially but won't put anything in writing. They say that her condition does not affect her ability to learn. I have another daughter with ADHD, excellent grades, who doesn't hurt anyone. She is also being accommodated unofficially and fairly adequately after some discussions with the teacher. I haven't even imagined trying to get her identified because of our experience with our other child and the rumors on the street. Gifted kids with pronounced speech disorders do not get Speech services, again because they have good grades. A parent would have to hire a lawyer to get around these policies. I don't begrudge kids with poor grades getting identification but it seems that compassion and legal protection is for all kids with disabilities regardless of their intellectual capacities. Perhaps that will be one of the next chapters in civil rights for children....

It seems tough in general to get a 504 in our district and I'm not sure why. It hasn't stopped the lawsuits. I also don't see how all these word-of-mouth accommodations don't break medical confidentiality laws.

Welcome to the site,
Terry

[dmom32002]

Terry

I don't honestly get the calls for the gifted kids,
but the thing is that they need it just as much
as the others. If a gifted child doesn't have a good
jr/sr high they can't make it in college as well.

They can get very frustrated in school and just
drop out, its a shame.
I do have a nephew that is very gifted, and he
is Ld too. WOW, you say, but he has a IEP
and has done very well.
TO the honesty of the group this particular
school came to my sister and her husband requesting
they let them test him. The school just knew
something was wrong. So they asked.

donna

[geewiznit]

I'm not the one to tell you what a 504 plan will "do" for your son, but my experience may help convince you that it is important to get your son's status "on the books" in an official way. My son was diagnosed with non-verbal learning disability very late in the game. He was a sophomore in high school, and the diagnosis came as part of a battery of tests he took in connection with treatment for depression. We were very surprised, but suddenly a lot of things made sense. Because he was a reliable "B" student (though always seemed to be working below his capabilities) and was totally resistant to being identified as disabled at school, we did not advise the school of the diagnosis (though we did implement some changes in study methods and course selection on our own). Then, the next year, in the course of working with a private college counselor (the kind who helps you find the right college and guides the application process), the NVLD issue came up, and the counselor told us that we should absolutely get him "identified" as disabled so that he could qualify for extra time on the SAT's. We did a little experimentation at home with some practice SAT's, and found that, indeed, he could significantly increase his score with a bit of extra time. So, with our son's blessing, we approached the school. First of all, their attitude was :"His grades are fine and his first round SAT's were fine, so why are you bothering us?" We got past that point, but then it became clear that it was simply too late to complete the multistep process required to get him "identified" and then approved by the SAT people in time for the SAT's that he had to take for his applications. In addition, since he had no disability identification in high school, getting any special accommodation at college (which he ultimately did not need) would have been much more difficult.

Another issue to consider is that you never know when the administrators/teachers at your school may change or the policies may be revised, and suddenly the informal arrangement you have could fall apart. Lastly, middle school puts very different demands on students, and you could suddenly find that your son needs different or more intensive accommodations in order to maintain his good grades. If you have to start the whole process at that point, you will be losing valuable time.

My daughter (NLVD, ADHD, OCD and anxiety) will be transferring from private middle school to public high school next fall, and you can bet I will be on the phone with the school within the next few months to get the ball rolling for her. I want her to walk in the first day with her 504 or IEP (however it works out) completely negotiated and settled. I learned my lesson.

[dmom32002]

Geewizit

That is a really good example of why a child that might one day need help should get it. WOuld you mind if
I print it off or copy it and use it in my job.

I would like other parents to see it from the college
prospective before they decide its not necessary.

donna

[geewiznit]

Sure, Donna, no problem. If my experience can help someone else, I'm happy!

[d]

***what geewiznit said***

My dd just started middle school on 504 after IEP declass last June. The needs in middle school change. I am kicking myself and that dreck sp ed committee for letting it happen. DD has had learning differences and 5th grade was the first year she was independent. How do you take a kid like that and assume she needs little/no help in 6th grade at middle school b/c her final year in elementary school was so smooth?

Donna, I love you being here but have found my district's interpretation of federal and state law to be different from say...a neighboring district. Had my dd's 504 been better done and executed I would not be in the position we are now. I don't care if dd is 504 or IEP as long as she gets what she needs. I have not found our district proactive in identifying/preempting problems much less inventive/creative ways to deal with it whether for 504 or IEP but they do take IEP more seriously. That is unfortunate.

[ilovemyboys]

Thanks for your comments. I will be working with the teacher for accomodations, I think the main trouble is that at this point I"m not even sure what accomodations may be needed. If his Tourette's acts up, he could definitely need separate testing rooms and stuff like that, but for now, I guess I'll look to his teacher for advise on what she suggests.

[TerryB]

[quote... have found my district's interpretation of federal and state law to be different from say...a neighboring district. [/quote]

That's exactly what we found. The administrators are either resistant or just not smart enough to consider that things perhaps should be done a different way. You would need a lawyer to move things forward legally. I'd rather put my child in private school where there is better communication than spend the money on a lawyer.

Terry

[dmom32002]

I've just returned, from a long trip. But I agree
lots of times different situations are there.

I know I'm just veyr lucky that my son's school
is one of the best.

donna