Re: what is is a 504?

[Guest guest]

hi,i also have a son who has CMT,he just turned 11, what is a 504???? can

someone please explain this to me so maybe i can help my son out more in his

school,

thanks,

roxanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Roxanne!

A 504 plan is defined as follows:The " 504 " in " 504 plan " refers to Section 504

of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which

specifies that no one with a disability

can be excluded from participating in federally funded programs or

activities,including elementary, secondary or postsecondary schooling.

" Disability " in this context refers to a " physical or mental impairment which

substantially limits one or more major life activities. " This can include

physical impairments; illnesses or injuries; communicable diseases; chronic

conditions like asthma,

allergies and diabetes; and learning problems. A 504 plan spells out the

modifications and accommodations that will be needed for these students to have

an opportunity perform at the same level as their peers, and might include such

things as wheelchair ramps, blood sugar monitoring, an extra set of textbooks, a

peanut-free lunch environment, home instruction, or a tape recorder or keyboard

for taking notes. "

An IEP sets goals and objectives to assist a student with learning disabilities

be able to maintain the status in school on par with their peers. It is defined

on one site as : " The term " IEP " refers to Individualized Education Program, and

is most often used in conjunction with special services or for providing

instructional services for a child with special needs. An IEP is developed to

provide detailed information that provides for appropriate decisions to be made

about a child's educational placement. "

The way it was explained to us in our school system was that the IEP actually

has more clout than a 504. Now, I don't know that that's necessarily

true,however, we have learned from experience that if you do an IEP with Other

Health Impaired as a categorizer everything included in the 504 appears in the

IEP,plus there are the actual accommodations made within the classroom and for

homework etc. It doesn't happen the other way around. A 504 will not include

goals and objectives to assist the student in the classroom.

These processes can take quite a while regardless of how much information you

have. So the sooner you start, the better if your child is having difficulty in

school.

Hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

Roxanne,

Good luck, I would suggest do as I did and set a meeting with the school to

open the lines of communication and see what they have to offer. My son is

10 and we just getting started now and hope it is a relatively short and

easy process to put into place. Seems like a lot of us are all learning at

the same time and it is great that we can learn from each other and help

each other with this unknown stuff.

Lori