Re: Meeting With School on IEP/504 Plan Stuff

[Guest guest]

> Good evening CF parents!

>

> Question for those of you with CF children in public schools.

>

> My son Henry is a 6-year-old in Kindergarten in Fairfax County

Public Schools in VA. Last year, we were in a private school in TN,

so I wasn't familiar with an IEP and a 504 Plan.

>

I am also planning on doing an 504 for my son this year. He also is

healthy and he currently has an understanding teacher but I am afraid

once he gets to middle school they won't be so understanding. If I

set it up now when we don't need it, my thought is that perhaps it

will be easier to do. I was told by the school system that because

my son is doing so well in school an IEP wasn't appropiate but I

think by virtue of having CF getting a 504 is a given.

jan

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

Unless Henry has something that inhibits his ability to learn, he

won't have an IEP (individualized education plan).

But you can get an other health impaired plan (OHI) or 504 plan,

depending on what the school calls it. And this is where you

stipulate carrying bottled water, administration of enzymes, extra

cafeteria food portions, sitting by the door or window for fresher

air (it's really less disruptive for everyone to sit kids closer to

the door if they need frequent bathroom breaks), emergency contact

numbers, carrying inhalers, etc.

When my son was in third grade, I wrote into his OHI plan that his

best friend (Mark) should go to the office with him in the event of

an emergency. If Mark wasn't in any of his classes during a

particular year, we had permission from Mark's parents to have Mark

called out of class to be with .

The plan was that if needed Mark, then the office would have

buzzed whatever class Mark was in to meet Bri in the office, while

another student would have escorted Bri to the office. Mark would

have also had the choice to accompany Bri by private car or ambulance

if the school couldn't reach me and would have needed ambulance

transport. Mark of course, would have thought this very cool.

Bri was (still is) very close to Mark, whose humor and calm demeanor

had a great influence whenever Bri was bothered about CF. The part

about Mark being allowed to be with Bri stayed in his OHI through

elementary school, middle school, jr. high and high school. Mark was

bummed that he never got called out of class because Bri was just too

healthy. He'd often tell Bri to fake something, anything, especially

when they were in high school... but Bri loved school and never

wanted to miss a day.

You can request homebound instruction in the OHI/504 plan, but its

probably a moot point since schools receiving federal funds are

required by law to provide homebound instruction after so many days

of missed school. I can't remember what the amount of consecutive

days are, so you stipulating 10 might be an issue if the number is

lower or higher. And most people think this means a teacher comes to

your home or hospital every day, not so... usually the teacher comes

only so many days per week to check progress, discuss any new

material, and administer tests as necessary.

Kim

[Guest guest]

> But you can get an other health impaired plan (OHI) or 504 plan,

> depending on what the school calls it. And this is where you

> stipulate carrying bottled water, administration of enzymes, extra

> cafeteria food portions, sitting by the door or window for fresher

> air (it's really less disruptive for everyone to sit kids closer to

> the door if they need frequent bathroom breaks), emergency contact

> numbers, carrying inhalers, etc.

>

>

This is all very helpful Kim. What other stuff was in the OHI?

jan

[Guest guest]

Jan,

For more ideas and information, go to this web site:

http://www.cfcare.com/news/cf_life/fall99/page1.htm

It will put you on the page of Ortho McNeil's CF life newsletter,

Fall 1999 edition. They asked me to write a Back-to-School article

explaining OHI's. There are lots of suggestions to get you started.

To access the article, when you click on the above link, scroll to

the bottom of the page and keep clicking " next page " until you get

to page 7 -- that's where the article begins. Keep clicking " next

page " at the bottom of each subsequent page to continue the article.

Kim

>

> > But you can get an other health impaired plan (OHI) or 504 plan,

> > depending on what the school calls it. And this is where you

> > stipulate carrying bottled water, administration of enzymes,

extra

> > cafeteria food portions, sitting by the door or window for

fresher

> > air (it's really less disruptive for everyone to sit kids closer

to

> > the door if they need frequent bathroom breaks), emergency

contact

> > numbers, carrying inhalers, etc.

> >

> >

> This is all very helpful Kim. What other stuff was in the OHI?

>

> jan

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Although I am new here, this is something I know something about! My

son was not diagnosed until his Junior year in high school. He had a

504, but it was very general. The school district would not allow

him to carry his enzymes, so every time he needed them, he had to go

to the nurse. What a pain! Here is my advice. Since turned 18,

they have been trying to take away his medical assistance card.

Yikes! One of the reasons that they used to decide that he is not

disabled is that he had no activity restrictions in gym class. I had

spoken to the teacher and he understood, so I didn't find it

necessary. Big mistake! Make sure that all his restrictions are

listed, such as need for frequent rest periods in gym, keeping him

away from dust and fumes, moving his seat if someone sitting next to

him is sick, frequent bathroom breaks as needed,etc. Although it may

not be necessary because the school is cooperative, as in my case, it

may save you headaches in the future. Wish I had known sooner! Hope

this helps!

Jill

> Good evening CF parents!

>

> Question for those of you with CF children in public schools.

>

> My son Henry is a 6-year-old in Kindergarten in Fairfax County

Public Schools in VA. Last year, we were in a private school in TN,

so I wasn't familiar with an IEP and a 504 Plan.

>

> I'm now learning about the two different policies and am meeting

with the school tomorrow.

>

> Currently, Henry is in GREAT health and we have great support from

the school ... no prolonged absences yet due to health, etc., etc.,

but I want to be prepared for the future if he did have to miss a lot

of school.

>

> As I have become more educated from this group, I thought that it

was time to talk with the school about an IEP and a 504 Plan and get

certain procedures documented IN THE EVENT that Henry did miss an

excessive amount of school.

>

> So, for example, do you have something like the following written

in your plan (in accordance with your particular school's policy):

>

> " Homebound instruction will be provided for Henry Chastain by the

Fairfax County Public Schools in accordance with regulations if a

physician anticipates Henry Chastain being absent from school for 10

school days or more while under a doctor's care. "

>

> I will request a Handbook tomorrow from the school to look up the

exact regulation for Fairfax County Schools. BUT, I WANTED TO KNOW

IF WE DOCUMENT THIS TYPE OF ABOVE STATEMENT IN THE IEP IN CASE HENRY

EVER NEEDS IT.

>

> Is the IEP also where we document, for example, having extra snacks

in class, carrying enzymes in pocket, carrying water bottle to gym,

having unlimited access to the restrooms, etc., etc. or are these

issues just maintained in the School Nurse paperwork??????????????

>

> Henry has these privileges right now, but I wasn't sure if they're

supposed to be written in his IEP in case we ever meet an

unreasonable teacher, etc., etc.

>

> I'll await your responses. Thanks a million!

>

> Jen Chastain

> Mom of Henry (6 with CF), (8), and (11)