What is section 504 and how can it help my child?

Question

My daughter's therapist reccomended I fill out hte paper work for a 504 for my daughter, however I don't quite understand what it is other than it can help me in some way with her in school. I tryed looking it up by googling it, but I don't understand all that law mumbo jumbo. Can someone explain it in lamen's terms?

Answer 1

Section 504 requires a school district to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified person with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the person's disability.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funds. Section 504 provides that: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . ."

In general, all school age children who have disabilities are entitled to FAPE.

Your daughter would also be covered under IDEA (individuals with disabilities education act) which is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Infants & toddlers (birth-2yrs) are covered under IDEA Part C and children/youth (3-21yrs) are covered under IDEA Part B.

Also each public school child who receives special education and related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP is the cornerstone for the education of a child with a disability. It should identify the services a child needs so that he/she may grow and learn during the school year. It is also a legal document that outlines:

*The child's special education plan by defining goals for the school year

*Services needed to help the child meet those goals

*A method of evaluating the student's progress

The objectives, goals and selected services are not just a collection of ideas on how the school may educate a child. The school district must educate your child in accordance with the IEP.

Answer 2

I have a special needs child and I know this can be confusing.  Simply put, Section 504, is a disability act that assures the disabled person accommodation in school or in the workplace.  It allows special help for the disabled person to be successful.  (For example, it would allow a student with Dyslexia to have tests read out loud.)   I think of it as the "kindness law."  To me, it means doing that little extra for the disabled person to help them get along.

      Section 504, however, is not the same as IDEA, FAPE or the IEP you may have heard about.  These are all special educational terms, created by the Dept. of Education.  IDEA is a guideline that assures your child (who you suspect has a disability) will be evaluated and receive special educational services from the school district at no cost to you. It also outlines the regulations that protect the rights of the special needs child.  FAPE, simply put, means your child has the right to be educated with normal kids to the extent possible.  It prevents the school from just pulling a child out of mainstream education and putting that child in a "special" class. The IEP is the individual education plan each special needs child gets.  This is because many special needs children cannot do the same work or keep pace with normal children.

Section 504 may be enough to help your child.  It can't hurt to apply.  If you find that 504 accommodations are not enough, you can make a written request for a Multi-Factored Evaluation.  This simply means that you are asking the school to evaluate your child in several different areas to find out where the trouble is and what kind of help is needed.  This is where IDEA comes in.  It gives you the right to ask that your child to be evaluated and to receive special educational services at no cost. If your child qualifies, your child would then be given an IEP and educated--to the extent possible --in the mainstream.

I hope this helps,

Connie

Answer 3

a 504 is giving the school permission to place your child into a special education program in which she/he will be in during school hours.No fear.That does not mean your  child will not be socializing with children his/her own age.Whatever is the need of your child the school will split up the minutes/hours that they spend in each class.Such as my daughter is in regular first grade classroom for 30mins,pulled out for 3hrs for math and reading in a special settings class,90mins a week for speech classes,and 15 mins occupational threapy.Yes seems like alot but you will be amazed with how your child progresses from all this help.It does not make your child any less then other children.All our children learn at a different pace.Good luck and i wish both you and your child the best.

Answer 4

Actually a 504 plan does not necessarily have anything to do with special education.  A 504 plan is a function of regular education and is used for children with disabilities that impact their learning but more for student with physical disabilities who need a few accommodations to complete regular schoolwork.  It does not mean that your child is going to be given an IEP (Individualized Education Plan).  The 504 document outlines the types of accommodations that your child may need to be successful in the regular classroom.  Through testing it may be documented that your child has an actual learning disability in which case they would be given an IEP but only once there was a documented learning type disability.  For example, a student who has Cerebral Palsy may need a few extra minutes in between classes or may even need a scribe to complete written work.  This person may have average intelligence and be capable of grade level work but needs another means to produce the work.  504 is a legal document that protects this students rights and demands that the necessary accommodations are being made for this student.

Answer 5

Read this - http://www.ldonline.org/article/6086