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ADDvisor Volume 4 2002 Index
Number 11 June 1, 2002
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SECTION 504 - AN OVERVIEW
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With school winding down for another year
we are getting many questions from parents
about what they will do next year. Many of
these questions involve adding special
services for their child.
Sometimes it is easy to add special services
for your child via a 504 Plan or an IEP
(Individualized Education Plan). Sometimes,
however, it proves to be very difficult.
The following is a brief overview of the
least restrictive and most flexible special
service available to children with ADHD,
who exhibit significant impairment in
their functioning - the 504 Plan.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 is a federal law that prohibits
discrimination against individuals with a
disability (e.g. ADHD) in any program or
activity receiving federal financial
assistance (i.e. school).
When does a student qualify as a “Handicapped
Individual” under Section 504?
The law states that a student who 1) has a
“physical or mental impairment which substantially
limits one or more major life activities”
(e.g. learning), 2) has a record of such an
impairment, or 3) is regarded as having such an
impairment, is a handicapped individual protected
by Section 504.
What does “substantially limits” mean?
Unfortunately, this term has not been clearly
defined and as a result often contributes to
disagreement between parents and school systems.
In our experience grades, which are failing,
or consistently below a child’s measured
IQ/ability level and/or behavior, which are
obviously disruptive or maladaptive, are
good reasons to pursue a 504 Plan. This
doesn’t mean that a school will agree with
your desire to implement such a plan,
sometimes you must do some significant
convincing of the “powers that be”.
So, what if your child gets approved to be
on a 504 Plan, now what do you do?
The next step is to develop a set of appropriate
accommodations for your child to succeed in
school - this is easier said than done. Then
these accommodations must be appropriately
implemented and monitored for effectiveness -
easier said than done again.
CONTACT INFORMATION
_______________________
Alan R. Graham, Ph.D.
Bill Benninger, Ph.D.
ADDvisor.com
Voice: 1-866-ADDvisor
Fax: 847-824-2386
Email: Alan@ADDvisor.com
Bill@ADDvisor.com
Web: www.ADDvisor.com
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