Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Academic Accommodations Are A Legal Right For 504 Plan ADHD Youngsters

By Charles Cox


For many parents, home or private schooling is not an option. They must rely on the public education system. When children have mental and physical disabilities and disorders, getting officials to recognize the problems and take steps to improve them can be difficult, even if the law is on your side. It is often up to the parents to overcome the obstacles for their children and advocate for academic accommodations that will suit their needs according to 504 Plan ADHD law.

When you have a school age child dealing with attention disorders, the first thing you need to do is become familiar with the law regarding their educational rights. There are two basic federal laws concerning special education. They are Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

ADHD kids are covered under Section 504. They may not require the school's special education resources, but they should get any needed extra time to take exams, preferential seating, and assistance with taking notes. If you assume the teacher will offer these accommodations automatically, you may be disappointed. In order to assure that your youngster's needs are being met under the law, you will have to follow the proper procedures.

The first thing you will need is an evaluation of your child. Discussing this with school administrators and teachers will not get you the best result. You should send a letter directly to the committee for special education services. The letter needs to be either hand delivered or sent by certified mail. You will find sample letters online. It not uncommon to be turned down initially. If that happens, getting a private assessment is the next step.

The evaluation consists of physical observation, academic reports, and an assessment on in-class behavior. This is typically handled by special education professionals and psychologists. You have the right to be informed of the findings and should keep careful records and notes.

Once your child has been successfully evaluated, you and your team should develop a customized plan for your child. You need to make sure the details are specific and that there is a time line to reach goals. It is not unusual for school officials to recommend plans that fit in with their existing programs, whether or not they are the best solution for your youngster.

Even though an agreed upon set of actions has been put in place, you will still have to be an aggressive advocate for your child. The plan should be monitored and reviewed. By law, school administrators do not have to conduct annual reviews, but most do. You have the right to be involved in the reviews and request additional meetings throughout the school year if appropriate.

Being a child can be difficult, even without brain based learning challenges. As the parent, it is your job to give your child every possible chance for success. It may be difficult and frustrating, but you have federal law behind you when you advocate for your youngster.




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