Section 504/IEP Plans and Accommodations for Your ADHD Child

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Getting the Help He Needs..

If your ADHD child is struggling in school, there is hope. There are many accommodations which can be made through the Section 504 Plan/IEP vehicles. An accommodation can be anything
 from a shortened assignment to preferential seating in the classroom and much more. In this article I will explain the process of getting a Section 504 (...of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975) Plan and an IEP, the consequences of the two plans, and common accommodations written into such plans.

First thing's first. Does your student have a medical diagnosis? If yes, your efforts may very well be rewarded with a Section 504 Plan and/or IEP. If not, your student will have to, at the very least, show a discrepancy in academic ability vs. academic achievement. You can request that your child be tested to see if you can show this discrepancy. The tests used will range from academic achievement tests to IQ tests, to social history interviews.

Let's first discuss the process of getting a Section 504 Plan in place for your student. Then we will move on to the process of getting an IEP and why these two plans can help. I live in Virginia so I will quickly describe how things are done in my state. A lot of parents look at a Section 504 Plan as a sort of stepping-stone to an IEP. Some children may simply need their rights to a free and fair education protected with a subsequent outline which serves as a game plan to make sure those rights are attended to. I came across a website which does a really good job of outlining and describing what a Section 504 Plan is and how a student is found eligible for one. Pasted directly from the site:

PURPOSE:
The purpose of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29. U.S.C. Section 794) is to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

"No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives or benefits from federal financial assistance."

 
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OMG, I am on this very journey, and after reading all this information, I know it is ME, who needs to see it all through. Thank you for letting me see I am not alone, and that others are also struggling as I am, on a day to day basis. When one sits in an office, or on the phone with a Dr or Social Worker, and they throw this stuff at you, at the same time you are trying to find out what exactly is going on with your child, and your life, this helps to give you a guide. You just sit in the chair shaking your head, and feeling shell shocked. You have been shoved into this world of codes, and have no idea what a 504 is or IEP, but know your CHILD is in need of HELP. Time to exhale and hold on tight, get your paddles out and start rowing, its going to be a long ride.
Very informative, thanks
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