Re: Section 504 question

[Guest guest]

Lori - In our experience, adherence to the 504 date is important and our school

system does it's level best to at least have a meeting scheduled prior to the

evaluation date. I would call the school and begin with the guidance counselor

to nudge them along. It is very important that the inclusion of the elevator be

added according to doctors recommendation.

It has been my experience that an IEP is more strictly regulated by date due for

renewal. An IEP for Other Health Impaired has been much more beneficial to my

son than his 504 was. The IEP has provided for more explicit accommodations.

Good Luck.

>

> My son's school has not re-written my son's 504 this year. His Anniv date was

9/15/10. I understand it should be re-written or evaluated every year on his

anniversary. Is there a timeframe for which the school has to do this or should

it have been done by the 15th? anyone familiar with what I am asking about? I

really just asked that they add elevator use and nothing else changed.

>

> Thanks

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> Lori

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[Guest guest]

Hmm. Tough spot Lori. I just had my hands on the report from our last

meeting, so I grabbed it again. I guess the two districts we have last

dealt with kept it up-to-date by being ahead of the date and not before.

The Eligibility Meeting date was May but the meetings are in March. It

says the annual review date will be 3/15/11 and the reevaluation date

5/21/2011. I am not sure why different dates other than the meeting was

held in March but the eval was not really due until May.

Sad thinking, we only have ONE more meeting left and he is off to

college!

Mark

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[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

They would not allow for an IEP, just the 504. It is the guidance

counselor who is the 504 coordinator and she is the one dragging her feet. I did

meet with the teachers already but the formal Plan has yet to be completed and

signed off on.

Lori

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[Guest guest]

Lori,

Request the 504 plan in writing. Get the request signed and dated by

whomever does 504's. Keep a copy for yourself. That should kick start the

process.

[Guest guest]

Lori,

In my experience the 504 plans are pushed aside unless the parent stays on top

of it. I forgot one year and it was never done.

[Guest guest]

Sorry didn't mean to email that to the whole list, just

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

MommyToJase@...

Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 3:10 PM

Subject: Re: Section 504 question

Lori,

Request the 504 plan in writing. Get the request signed and dated by

whomever does 504's. Keep a copy for yourself. That should kick start the

process.

[Guest guest]

I have last years and she asked me to review and get back to her with any

changes I wanted to make. I had already told her what changes I wanted to

make. There was a delay in her getting the electronic version of the plan to

modify for this year although she could have re-typed it as she most likely

will anyway. I am sure I will get a copy when it is complete but it should

have been done by now I would think. Luckily they gave me my request of a

teacher team meeting to explain my concerns to the staff. That went well

although we ran out of time.

Thx

Lori

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

MommyToJase@...

Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 3:10 PM

Subject: Re: Section 504 question

Lori,

Request the 504 plan in writing. Get the request signed and dated by

whomever does 504's. Keep a copy for yourself. That should kick start the

process.

[Guest guest]

Lori,

I have to correct something. We do not have a 504 for our son. He has an IEP.

After posting this to you the other day, I had a long talk with another CMT

parent and learned there is quite a difference and they were totally dumbfounded

that we had an IEP and not a 504. His IEP was all about the CMT related issues

and classified as " Other health impaired " with no other classifications or

learning impairments. Maybe this is why we have an easier time with the school

district complying.

Mark

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[Guest guest]

My daughter is a 5 yr old 1st grader with CMT . in kindergarten, the school did

a health plan. this year they want to do a 504. we wanted an IEP but because her

school work and grades are not effected yet they say they can't.

Becca

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[Guest guest]

We started the process that led to the diagnosis when my son was in

second grade. It was not a long trip to that diagnosis because of the

long family history and my prior diagnosis. At the time in public school

they were desperately trying to classify him as ADD or something similar

just to get him classified and covered by grants that paid for the

second teachers in the classroom. In the course of the testing, IQ tests

were done, and that finally showed them in black and white what we had

been trying to tell them - he was ahead of the classwork, would zip

through it, and then be bored while the teacher was still working with

the 32 other kids in the class. During this whole process, my wife and I

were growing more and more disillusioned with this school district (look

at that class size!) so we decided to move him to a private school.

There had to be enough other parents in this town that felt the same way

because there were no less than 3 other private pre-K or K-8 schools

right in town! We selected a small non-denominational school that was a

mission of a Methodist church. The other was run by a Lutheran Church,

and the last your neighborhood Catholic school (which had a long waiting

list, especially if you were not a member). Putting him in this small

setting was the best thing we could do! They became his strongest

advocates and the best " consultants " we could have asked for! Living in

NJ, the laws state all the services are the responsibility of the

district, so even in the private school, he received PT and OT the whole

time he was there (through 5th grade, and then we moved). I guess the

IEP came because of his high level and they needed to have a plan to

keep him working to that level, tying it to the CMT as an " Other Health

Impairment. " I offer all this as an example and possible approach for

you to try. We have had a far easier time with the IEP than it sounds

like anyone with a 504.

Mark

>

> My daughter is a 5 yr old 1st grader with CMT . in kindergarten, the

school did a health plan. this year they want to do a 504. we wanted an

IEP but because her school work and grades are not effected yet they say

they can't.

>

> Becca

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[Guest guest]

I'm not a special ed teacher so I don't know all the details by heart, but I am

a thirteen-year classroom teacher.

To my knowledge, a 504 provides accommodations without special education

services or changing the educational standards, such as preferred seating,

modified due dates, etc.

An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) provides for challenges in academic

achievement, such as discrepancies between ability and performance (handwriting,

etc). The IEP provides for special education services as well as (possibly)

modified standards and curriculum (reduced homework, etc). An IEP is all about

academics. If a student is achieving to academic standards, the state does not

offer an IEP.

For physical challenges, the 504 is usually used to give students accommodations

without special education services.

Hope that helps. Of course, every state is a little different, and many parents

know the system much better than teachers (they learn it first hand, while

teachers are usually only involved in helping students meet their IEP goals, not

in creating the IEP). So if I messed up information, sorry- feel free to

correct me

Best wishes, Lenka

>

> My daughter is a 5 yr old 1st grader with CMT . in kindergarten, the school

did a health plan. this year they want to do a 504. we wanted an IEP but because

her school work and grades are not effected yet they say they can't.

>

> Becca

>

>

>

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> > > >

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[Guest guest]

I recommend getting an advocate. Wish I had done that in the beginning.

________________________________

From: <becca3299@...>

Sent: Fri, September 24, 2010 6:27:32 PM

Subject: Re: Section 504 question

 

My daughter is a 5 yr old 1st grader with CMT . in kindergarten, the school did

a health plan. this year they want to do a 504. we wanted an IEP but because her

school work and grades are not effected yet they say they can't.

Becca

> >

> > >

>

> >

[Guest guest]

I recommend the same. I wish I had hired an advocate from day one.

In a message dated 9/25/2010 9:31:32 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

rkmtlm77@... writes:

I recommend getting an advocate. Wish I had done that in the beginning.

[Guest guest]

This information is from the MDA. The MDA also has a download regarding

classroom modifications for CMT. If anyone needs it and cannot locate it on

the site listed at the end of post, let me know. I can email it or upload it

into the group's files.

To ensure that students needing adapted school environments were afforded a high

standard of educational rights, Congress passed the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1997, and reauthorized it in 2004 . This

legislation resulted in a tool for educators and students known as an

Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Another available tool is a " 504 plan "

derived from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. IEPs and 504 plans

are important vehicles designed to ensure that you or your child are provided

with the most rigorous academic schedule possible within the least restrictive

academic setting.

IEP: an Individualized Educational Plan

What it is: a legal document that mandates that the school provide a

pre-determined set of services, as established by a team of professionals,

advocates and community members who are familiar with you/your child; this team

should include the parents/guardians of the student as well as the student (if

age appropriate). IEPs are based on the individual needs of each student, and

are covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which

governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special

education and related services to children and young adults with disabilities.

What is does: an IEP addresses physical assistance, academic adaptations,

specialized instruction, technological equipment, and related services like

occupational, physical and speech therapy

The 504 plan:

What it is: Covered by the civil rights law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation

Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Section 504

ensures that children with disabilities have equal access to an education. The

Rehabilitation Act (and therefore Section 504) applies to all federally funded

programs, including schools, libraries, etc

What it does: The 504 is a modified academic plan, and addresses the same areas

as an IEP except for specialized instruction.

MDA has several articles (listed below) at www.mda.org/advocacy/school/

•A Teacher's Guide to Neuromuscular Disease

•Quest Article - Building the IEP Puzzle

•Quest Article - Getting Creative with Adaptive P.E.

•Quest Article - ph's IEP

•Quest Article - 504 Plans: What Parents Should Know

•Quest Article - How to Get Your Child's School to Provide Assistive Technology

or Help with Learning Disabilities

•Quest Article - IEP Resources for Assistive Technology and Learning Disorders

•Quest Article - Friendships Matter: A New IDEA

•Quest Article - Friendships Matter: Building IEPs that Build Social

Relationships

•Quest Article - Law Requires Mediation in Special Ed Disputes

•Quest Article - Learning at Home

•Quest Article - Homebound Programs: Two stories

•Quest Article - Homeschooling: Two stories

•Voice Article – Making the Most out of 504 and IEP Plans

Hope this helps...JoAnn

ps You can also ask your MDA representative to attend 504 or IEP meetings with

you.

>

> My daughter is a 5 yr old 1st grader with CMT . in kindergarten, the school

did a health plan. this year they want to do a 504. we wanted an IEP but because

her school work and grades are not effected yet they say they can't.

>

> Becca

>

>

>

> > >

> > > >

> >

> > >

[Guest guest]

We had to go to court to get one of my sons an accommodation for AT that would

work for him and proper testing. They threw an alpha smart in front of him and

thought it would solve all problems.

J

In a message dated 9/25/2010 4:49:03 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

finetuned65@... writes:

Quest Article - How to Get Your Child's School to Provide Assistive

Technology or Help with Learning Disabilities

[Guest guest]

Great resources! Thanks for posting.

Lori

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Joann

Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 6:33 PM

Subject: Re: Section 504 question

This information is from the MDA. The MDA also has a download regarding

classroom modifications for CMT. If anyone needs it and cannot locate it on

the site listed at the end of post, let me know. I can email it or upload it

into the group's files.

To ensure that students needing adapted school environments were afforded a

high standard of educational rights, Congress passed the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1997, and reauthorized it in 2004 .

This legislation resulted in a tool for educators and students known as an

Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Another available tool is a " 504 plan "

derived from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. IEPs and 504

plans are important vehicles designed to ensure that you or your child are

provided with the most rigorous academic schedule possible within the least

restrictive academic setting.

IEP: an Individualized Educational Plan

What it is: a legal document that mandates that the school provide a

pre-determined set of services, as established by a team of professionals,

advocates and community members who are familiar with you/your child; this

team should include the parents/guardians of the student as well as the

student (if age appropriate). IEPs are based on the individual needs of each

student, and are covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA) which governs how states and public agencies provide early

intervention, special education and related services to children and young

adults with disabilities.

What is does: an IEP addresses physical assistance, academic adaptations,

specialized instruction, technological equipment, and related services like

occupational, physical and speech therapy

The 504 plan:

What it is: Covered by the civil rights law, Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with

disabilities. Section 504 ensures that children with disabilities have equal

access to an education. The Rehabilitation Act (and therefore Section 504)

applies to all federally funded programs, including schools, libraries, etc

What it does: The 504 is a modified academic plan, and addresses the same

areas as an IEP except for specialized instruction.

MDA has several articles (listed below) at www.mda.org/advocacy/school/

..A Teacher's Guide to Neuromuscular Disease

..Quest Article - Building the IEP Puzzle

..Quest Article - Getting Creative with Adaptive P.E.

..Quest Article - ph's IEP

..Quest Article - 504 Plans: What Parents Should Know

..Quest Article - How to Get Your Child's School to Provide Assistive

Technology or Help with Learning Disabilities

..Quest Article - IEP Resources for Assistive Technology and Learning

Disorders

..Quest Article - Friendships Matter: A New IDEA

..Quest Article - Friendships Matter: Building IEPs that Build Social

Relationships

..Quest Article - Law Requires Mediation in Special Ed Disputes

..Quest Article - Learning at Home

..Quest Article - Homebound Programs: Two stories

..Quest Article - Homeschooling: Two stories

..Voice Article - Making the Most out of 504 and IEP Plans

Hope this helps...JoAnn

ps You can also ask your MDA representative to attend 504 or IEP meetings

with you.

>

> My daughter is a 5 yr old 1st grader with CMT . in kindergarten, the

school did a health plan. this year they want to do a 504. we wanted an IEP

but because her school work and grades are not effected yet they say they

can't.

>

> Becca

>

>

>

> > >

> > > >

> >

> > >

[Guest guest]

My son was also issued a NEO this year (portable laptop) he refused to use it

though so it sits in his locker.

Lori