what to do if you think your child has a learning disability

April 10, 2022 Post a Comment

Not Following 504 Plan

Ok, your child has a 504 Plan. You provided the necessary documentation and they drew it up. You recollect it's pretty good and will help your child. Then, you hear anecdotes from your child that your school is not following the 504 Plan.

The protections of a 504 plan are fewer than with an IEP. That doesn't mean that in that location isn't anything yous tin practice. Here are some steps to take if you learn that your child'southward 504 Program is non being followed. If you have other questions about 504 Plans and how to get one, I accept those links beneath.

First things first.

Being an advocate for your child requires that you be both knowledgeable and assertive. For many of united states, the second part doesn't come up naturally. We accept to do it. The first office, that's so much easier with the net.

First, y'all've probably already done this. But, become out your child'south 504 plan and read it once more. Brand sure that what you are asking for is actually in the plan. You likewise desire to be certain of what your child's rights are per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Human action. Here is the U.s.a. DoE website link to that.

I just detest for parents to have their confidence crushed past being called out on incorrect information. Different from gaslighting! And that happens too. This is why information technology'due south important to exist knowledgeable, so information technology's not so easy to gaslight you.

If you lot've done all that and you still want to address this, I have steps listed below. They are incremental, in that I would start with step 1 and move through the listing.

504 Plans-Emergency Situation

It's of import to recall that with 504 plans, some situations are more disquisitional than others. Yes, if it is your kid, it's all-important to you. Withal, there'south no denying that dying from anaphylaxis is much dissimilar than not existence given a set of form lecture notes alee of time (mutual on ADHD 504 plans).

If yours is a life-threatening situation, you will likely want to escalate this and be less patient and polite through the steps.

What to do when your school isn't following your 504 Programme.

Go along good documentation. This doesn't have to exist circuitous. Writing it down on your kitchen calendar or a cheap planner you bought at Dollar Tree will practise. Inquire your child each solar day about the accommodations and write down what did or didn't happen.
Effort cocky-advocacy kickoff. I always encourage self-advocacy when it's appropriate and a logical footstep. Can yous motorcoach your child to speak up and ask for the accommodation that he/she is not receiving?
E-mail the teacher who is not following the 504 Plan. Maybe your child is in high school and has many teachers. No need to cc everyone on the planet. Give the offender a chance to become information technology right. A simple "Hullo, I'm non sure that you're enlightened, but per Student's 504 programme, this should be happening and it's not." Include reasons why this is important to your child.
Find your school'south 504 coordinator. Ask them to schedule a coming together to discuss your child'south 504 programme and compliance.
Go upward the chain of command. If the teacher is not responsive, you can get to your Principal, Schoolhouse 504 Coordinator, Student Services and more. I accept a whole carve up blog mail service near email etiquette when it comes to this stuff. Yous want to remain professional and child-focused the whole time.
If y'all still are not getting the resolution yous need, or you are getting hostile responses. Some teachers have a really hard time as they think that 504 Plans and IEPs give kids an unfair advantage. I don't take time to persuade them correct at present. That'due south another web log post for another solar day. You may hear things similar "He doesn't actually demand that accommodation." Then information technology's time to take it a step farther. Every state has a Protection and Advancement Agency for Disabilities and a Parent Training Middle for Special Instruction. Call them, ask what your complaint options are in your state. Information technology varies. It is non a instructor'due south job, in the moment, to decide what accommodations on a 504 plan are acceptable or necessary, in her optics. The plan is written and should be followed as written. You can always respond with an "I really appreciate your professional opinion on this. Nevertheless, this is how the plan is currently written and nosotros expect it to exist followed. Mayhap y'all'd like to come up to the next 504 meeting and offer your suggestions then?"
Consider a complaint with the Role of Ceremonious Rights. I recommend this final for several reasons. I is that our electric current Sec'y of Education and Congress has gutted the power and say-so that OCR has in schools. So filing a complaint now, every bit compared to 5 years agone, takes longer to process and it'due south less likely you'll see whatever action. Still, it's an option. And, some schools are notwithstanding very uncomfortable with the thought of being reported to OCR. Many are enlightened of the current political climate and know that it is likely to go nowhere, so they don't care.
Retrieve about alternatives. If the 504 however isn't being followed, brainstorm. What else could be done? What tin yous do at home to make up for the lost accommodations at school? How tin you yet support your child? What other options are at that place–private school? Homeschool? Tin you lot afford a tutor or EF bus? These aren't decisions to be taken lightly, but sometimes situations become desperate. If you lot're at stride 7, yous really need to practice some out-of-the-box thinking and a brain dump and come with solutions. Unfortunate, merely truthful.