auntie..504?

realisticdreams

So P went to the preschool today and did her own little observation.  Our meeting next week is with the director I believe plus the teacher I've been working with and one at the school closer to us.

I was told that they have had a couple of meetings about P and when we left she assured me one way or another she was set to go there..Either as a neurotypical peer or under a 504.  She said recently 504 was just re-defined and more or less told me to read up on it but that it didn't come from her..I can't really find anything about 504 & preschool/IDEA.  

Do you know anything about it?  Any ideas on what else I should arm myself with for this meeting?  I don't know how to not be so emotional about it, and i'm afraid i'm going to cry lol. 

MaxandRuby

A 504 plan is more of a civil rights law then disability law like IDEA. From what I understand, a 504 is more about accessibility (like a wheelchair ramp to get into a building). Hopefully Auntie can provide some more info.

heddy79

Hi.  I'm just snooping around and I saw your question.  I'm a special ed teacher so I wanted to share with you what I know.  504 plans establish that a child does have a need and ensures that the proper accomodations are provided to the child to access the learning environment and to learn to their best ability.  504s are given when a disability is not determined, but needs are visible.  As the child gets older and if a specific disability is given, an IEP would be provided at that time which would continue to provide accomodations and would also include educational goals.  I hope this helps.

realisticdreams

heddy79:

Hi.  I'm just snooping around and I saw your question.  I'm a special ed teacher so I wanted to share with you what I know.  504 plans establish that a child does have a need and ensures that the proper accomodations are provided to the child to access the learning environment and to learn to their best ability.  504s are given when a disability is not determined, but needs are visible.  As the child gets older and if a specific disability is given, an IEP would be provided at that time which would continue to provide accomodations and would also include educational goals.  I hope this helps.

Thanks..her accommodation is that she can't be potty trained, so we had very little luck with getting her into a private preschool.  Our 2 options were a daycare center that had an educational curriculum or a church based program an hour away.

We were previously denied the county preschool because she is not cognitively delayed but after telling them we had no luck elsewhere they are doing more meetings, etc.

I wasn't sure offhand if the 504 came with the IEP/goals or if that was the OHI.  

I'll be glad when this is all overwith and we have something in place. 

realisticdreams

Thanks auntie.  

When M's developmental therapist was out last week she asked why P didn't get into the pre-school.  She was a teacher for the special needs preschool in our area previously.  She said that technically speaking with the ways to qualify she should have qualified and that I should fight it.

I'm really really hoping that this meeting goes well, and I don't have to do anymore fighting..for a while atleast lol. 

wendyone

hi there.

i work in disability rights advocacy.  section 504 of the rehabilitation act IS disability law (modeled after civil rights law).  section 504 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment appropriate.  Part c of IDEA provides for early intervention services for children under the age of three with a disability.  check out this link for general information and please feel free to instant message me.  this does not constitute legal advice and i am not a lawyer- i can refer you to more detailed information, however, if it is helpful, and would be very happy to do so.  there is a WEALTH of free information on the internet in plain, layman terms about IDEA and 504 plans

https://nichcy.org/laws/section504

 https://nichcy.org/babies

https://nichcy.org/laws/idea/copies/

The first link will take you to a page with information about section 504 and 504 plans.

The third link will take you to a resource page for Part C of IDEA which applies to children under 3.

Again, I hope this helps.  Also, check the DOE website for the state in which you live.  It will may give more helpful information because although 504 and IDEA are federal laws, they are implemented by the states, so these pages may have valuable information (and it may be very family friendly)!

Good luck and best wishes!