504 v IEP- I am going to SCREAM!

Jamaica_Bride

Again the school is dickingmearound when it comes to Owen and his speech services. They are telling me he qualifies for a 504 (in MA) and can have directed services. Mind you Owen has a sever speech delay/ articulation issues and disfluency.

 

Does this sound like what Massachusetts describes as a 504 student??

 

A 504 Plan helps a child with special health care needs to fully participate in school. Usually, a 504 Plan is used by a general education student who is not eligible for special education services. A 504 Plan lists accommodations related to the child?s disability and required by the child so that he or she may participate in the general classroom setting and educational programs. For example, a 504 Plan may include:

• Plans to make a school wheelchair-accessible
• Your child?s assistive technology needs during the school day
• Permission for your child to type assignments instead of writing them by hand
• Permission for your child to hand in assignments late due to illness or a hospital stay

Your child may be eligible for accommodations under a 504 Plan if he or she has a physical or mental health disability that limits one or more major life functions. A 504 Plan is supported by the federal civil rights law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A 504 Plan is to be provided in programs that receive federal funds, such as public schools.

Each school is required to have a Section 504 Coordinator. Developing any plan requires working together as a team. Work with your child?s school nurse, primary care provider (PCP), and the Section 504 Coordinator to create a 504 Plan.

In developing a 504 plan, the process should include:

• A school evaluation
• A letter from your child?s PCP describing the disability, related problems, and needed medications and/or treatments
• Identification of the accommodations to be provided ? physical and instructional
• Your child?s Individualized Health Care Plan (IHCP

r9stedt

I thought 504 plans were more for physical disabilities, which, I don't think is O's case, right?!

I would be infuriated.  Does he have an IEP currently? 

Jamaica_Bride

He has an IEP now but they want to mee on the 19th to move him to a 504. This is the second time they are pulling this ***. Time to retain a lawyer and take this to court.

KrisBriMcBunny

I was gonna suggest a lawyer!

r9stedt

What is the benefit for them to move him to a 504 vs an IEP?  What is their gain?   Is it giving them an advantage?

That is what I would want to know.  Is there different funding for 504 vs IEP?  

What type of services is he receiving right now?  Is he being pulled out?  Or..? 

Glendi2.0

Stay the F away from a 504- it's not protected legally by IDEA, while IEP's are... there's no way to legally enforce what's outlined in the 504.

femmegem

I'm so sorry, L. They put A on a 504. He's getting great services anyway, but if we move (which is likely) we're screwed. Fight with everything you've got, mama.

meghans30

I can tell you that as an educator, 504 plans do not carry much weight in the classroom. When I have to sign a 504 plan for a student, the accommodations do not relate to a service such as speech, but special seating needs, permission to go to the nurse whenever needed, or extensions on class assignments due to extensive medically necessary absences. I do not think your son sounds eligible for a 504 and I would fight it!

mrs_kelly1014

I'm a HS Principal and I would suggest that you stay far away from a 504 plan for the speech delays that you described. A 504 is not meant to accomodate students with that type of need - but an IEP is exactly what you need. I really can't even believe that they are suggesting it and would be interested to hear what their basis  for doing so was.

An IEP will give him the accomodations and special services that he needs - both in and out of the general classroom, depending on the severity of the delays and what you and his teachers decide is best. Do you have a child advocate? I would suggest finding on that can attend the meeting with you and advocate on his behalf.

r9stedt

mrs_kelly1014:

An IEP will give him the accomodations and special services that he needs - both in and out of the general classroom, depending on the severity of the delays and what you and his teachers decide is best. Do you have a child advocate? I would suggest finding on that can attend the meeting with you and advocate on his behalf.

I will answer for her, but her sister is a child advocate, I believe.  She has been really beneficial for them the last time the school district tried to screw them around.  

I hope they can get this figured out, for O's sake! 

Brewster

Is his speech services taught in a special ed or general education area?  If he is removed from general ed and taught in a special ed classroom he needs to be on an IEP.  Unless they are dismissing him from speech, he should not be 504.

 When I was teaching, I would often offer to take some strugglers with me to teach in a smaller group setting.  It was illegal for me to taech non-special ed students in a special ed classroom.  I could, however, teach them in a general ed setting (empty gen ed classroom, hallway, in a corner of their classroom, etc.)  If Owen is removed from the general ed setting at all and has goals (modiofied curriculum) he absolutely has to be on an IEP.  The laws are federally mandiated and special ed is federally funded, so it has nothing to do with Mass.  Sounds like you are being dickedaround.  That sucks.

teacherjulie

I am a teacher.  Disclaimer not a special education teacher.  In my experience 504 is generally for other health conditions ADHD Bipolar etc.  My previous students that received speech services HAD to have an IEP or we did not have to follow the plan. 

Lisa102304

teacherjulie:

I am a teacher.  Disclaimer not a special education teacher.  In my experience 504 is generally for other health conditions ADHD Bipolar etc.  My previous students that received speech services HAD to have an IEP or we did not have to follow the plan. 

This. In my district, speech is serviced on an IEP. NOT a 504. We rarely, if ever, do 504s. An IEP protects EVERYONE and is in the best interest of the CHILD ... and isn't THAT the goal?!?! Don't let them fuckwith you. Jackholes.