504 plans
Accommodations that go where your child goes
A 504 plan is for a child whose disability affects school but who doesn’t need specialized instruction. It is shorter than an IEP, and easier to lose track of.
Does my child qualify?
A diagnosis helps, but the question is how it affects learning, attention, eating, hearing or getting around school.
Asking in writing
A request sent by email starts the clock and leaves a trail. I’ll help you write one that is short and specific.
Words teachers can follow
“Extra time” means nothing until it says how much, on which tests, and who gives it.
Tests, homework and the bus
Accommodations reach beyond the classroom: state tests, field trips, medication and transportation.
A new school, or college
The plan should move with your child to a new school. College works differently, and the paperwork has to be ready earlier than most families think.
The plan is ignored
If teachers haven’t seen the plan, or don’t follow it, there are steps to take before anyone files a complaint.
In everyday terms
What an accommodation looks like on an ordinary Tuesday
A good plan changes small things: where a student sits, how long a quiz lasts, whether a tablet is allowed in class, how a missed day is made up.
The more specific the list, the less your child has to explain themselves to every new teacher.
Extra time, with the amount written down
A quiet space or movement breaks
Notes, audio or a tablet in class
Accommodation questions, answered plainly
What’s the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP?
An IEP adds specialized instruction. A 504 plan changes how a child gets the same instruction. Some children move from one to the other, so it’s worth asking which fits.
Who sits on the team?
Usually a parent, a teacher, a school administrator and someone who knows your child’s evaluations. You can bring a friend or a lawyer.
Does a 504 plan carry over to college?
Not by itself. A student asks the college’s disability office and brings documentation. The plan and its evaluations are useful to bring.
How often is a 504 plan reviewed?
Often once a year, and any time you ask in writing. Ask for a review when something changes: a diagnosis, a new school, a new set of classes.
The plan says one thing. Is the school doing another?
Send me the plan and tell me what the teachers are doing. I’ll look at the gap.