![]() An IEP outlines the goals, needs, environments, services, and means for tracking your child’s progress to thrive in school. Ultimately, if your child needs special education in school, they need an IEP. *The goal of an IEP is to grant qualifying students special education services in school. IDEA requires publicly funded schools to provide special education services to eligible students, however, not all children who struggle in school qualify for an IEP. What does this mean in the school setting? The IEP is an in depth and individualized plan to provide accommodations and special education supports for a child who has specific learning or mental health disorder diagnosis that is adversely affecting their progress in school. The IEP is covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures all children have access to a “free and appropriate education.” An IEP is covered under special education law compared to a broader, civil rights law which covers a 504 plan. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Basics Pre-approved nurse, counselor, rehabilitative therapy, or social worker visits Use of adaptive equipment or technology aidsĮxcused lateness or absences due to medical or health appointments Leaving class 5 minutes early to avoid busy hallways Second, this impairment must also adversely impact or limit one or more of their abilities to function in the school setting, such as their ability to walk, eat, sleep, communicate, see, hear, concentrate, stand, move, work, or access learning.Įxamples of accommodations in 504 plans may include but are not limited to… Examples may include but are not limited to a chronic illness, a hearing impairment, an anxiety disorder, or a physical disability. Documentation of your child’s diagnosis can be provided by your child’s pediatrician, family physician, and/or other outside specialists such as a mental health provider. First, a child must have a documented physical or mental health impairment. There are two main criteria for qualifying for a 504 plan. Wondering whether your child qualifies for a 504 plan? It is important to note that a 504 plan provides accommodation in the general education setting. Ultimately, it is created to allow students to be educated in the regular, general education classrooms with the appropriate accommodations, services, or environments they might need. ![]() *The goal of 504 plans is for the student to have an equal opportunity when compared to peers who do not have a mental or physical impairment impacting them in school. Depending on your child’s needs, their 504 plan would entitle them to a wide range of reasonable accommodations. Additional examples may include ensuring that a child with a wheelchair has access to an elevator or that a child with Type I Diabetes is granted permission to leave class as needed to see a nurse for insulin. For example, a 504 plan may ensure that a child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder has preferential seating close to the teacher to improve focus. Consider a 504 plan as a list of necessary and reasonable accommodations to even the playing field to ensure that a child with special needs has the resources they need to learn in the general education setting. What does this mean in the school setting? A 504 plan is a customized educational plan that legally ensures that your child is treated fairly at school and that they can access the general education curriculum just as equally as students without an impairing condition. It is a civil rights law which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The first law includes something called a Section 504 Plan, which may be referred to as a “504 plan,” or more simply as a “504.” The second law includes an Individualized Education Program, which may be referred to as an Individualized Education Plan or more commonly referred to by it’s abbreviation, “IEP.” Section 504 Plan Basicsįor those interested in the history of Section 504, it is part of the United States Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that was designed as a support for parents of students with physical or mental impairments in publicly funded schools. There are two terms to be familiar with regarding these laws. As a parent, it is important to be informed about two important laws that help guarantee your child has access to the support they need in publicly funded schools. ![]() To understand what type of support is needed and what your child may qualify for can be complex. 504 plan…īy law, schools are required to provide appropriate education for your child, which may include specific accommodations, services, or environments to help them learn.
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