504 Plans--Educate me please

[ChicagoMom]

With school starting soon I'm trying to figure out exactly what I need to do to make sure that L has a good school year. She was diagnosed at the very end of the school year in May so we really didn't do much other than let her teacher know what was going on. She's starting 6th grade in a few weeks and really doing great right now, but I want to make sure that her teachers and principal and school nurse know what is going on in case something changes during the year.

So, I guess I'm wondering if it is enough to just meet with them and provide them with some basic info on CD, L's meds, etc., or if I should just jump into the whole 504 plan? How much do you tell the school? What sorts of accommodations have you asked for?
Thanks!

 

[Maya142]

We went for the 504 plan - you never know what will happen! M ended up having a bad year and missed a LOT of school so I was very glad we had it in place. When she was diagnosed with IBD (which was years after being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis) we were able to just add on accommodations for that.

CCFA has a great 504 template for IBD: http://www.ccfa.org/resources/template-section-504-plan.html

 

[my little penguin]

DS has a 504 as well.
His was from food allergies prior to kindy so crohn's was just added on.
You want it documented he is a student with medical issues - so if she misses school they are less likely to fight you on it.
You will need a letter to the school 504 coordinator requesting an evaluation.
Also a letter from her Gi stating her dx and possible accommodations recommended .
We gave the teachers ccfa booklets .
Be aware the Gi letter is just what they recommend the school doesn't have to follow it at all .
The 504 can be a few sentences long or pages .
It is a living document so it can be changed.
Your child has a right to a FAPE and is covered under the federal American with disabilities act amendment specifically section 504.
It outlines what is expected of everyone.
The medical dx has to affect a major life function such as breathing ,this case Gi function). And does not need to affect learning at all - that would be an OHI under an IEP.

Schools do not get funding for 504 plans so expect some push back - they get funding for IEPs. Also their funding is based on attendance rates so again expect push back here as well.
You can have a medical excuse from her Gi or other medical doctors for every abscence and be fine always - they can only object-limit to parent signed excuses .

Good luck

 

[my little penguin]

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

Plus many many more

 

[Jmrogers4]

504 here. Especially important in junior/middle/high school where you have so many teachers. It really helps get everyone on the same page.
As MLP says it can be added to and changed over time. We started Jack's in 5th grade about 1/2 way through the year and it started out with free anytime bathroom pass, stop the time testing and he was allowed to have a snack in the classroom. It has since been modified to include waived tardies (when he's flaring mornings are a problem getting anywhere), extended time to finish assignments after an absence (at the teachers discretion but no fewer then 5 days extra) most of his teachers gave him until week before final semester testing, waive or shorten assignments at teacher's discretion (for example he would need to do 5 math problems instead of 20 to show understanding of concept) we call this the meat and not the potatoes, frequent snacks throughout the day.
I've posted a video before that is a good one aimed at educators and why IBD kids need a 504. I'll see if I can find and repost.

 

[Patricia56]

We ended up with an IEP which has more protections but requires proof of disability that limits a child's ability to benefit from regular classroom instruction. 504 plans are virtually unenforceable if the school doesn't want to follow it. IEP's are much more enforceable but have a higher bar to meet.

It really depends on the school, especially the top administrator, as to how easy or difficult it will be to get support from the school if she flares. And we never ever got all the teachers on the same page even when there was only one teacher. School was a very frustrating experience even this past year when he had the IEP and was gone nearly 3 months between a flare and pancreatitis and had an IEP in place. We couldn't get teachers (he was a sr. in HS) to give him homework consistently, asked for home hospital and it took them 4 weeks to find a teacher (by then he was back at school), some teachers froze his grades from when he stopped attending (As and Bs) others gave him Fs due to his absences and despite direct instructions not to do so.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Having a 504 plan is better than nothing and with your school may be sufficient.

 

[Mehita]

We also have a 504 plan. I pretty much copied the one from CCFA and then modified it to DS's needs. Like others have mentioned, you'll really need something for middle and high school when you are working with multiple teachers. We struggled with getting homework, but on the flip side, many teachers allowed him to skip the fluff work, which helped a lot.

One thing that wasn't in the CCFA template was ways to avoid germs since many IBD kids are immune suppressed with their meds. We added that and he had his own keyboard in the library, when possible his own laptop in classes, wipes in every classroom, and the ability to change seats if someone next to him was obviously ill.

We didn't have any push back really except when we updated his plan last year. I asked for more homework days when he was out sick, but they wouldn't allow it and said teachers would accommodate his needs. Why that couldn't be in writing, I don't know, but I didn't make an issue of it.

Good luck!

 

[Book Diva]

As a mom of a teen with IBD and being a special educator I feel that a 504 is an important tool for you and your child. Some school districts and principals are more accomodating than others but your child is entitled to a plan with their medical disabity. I find that having one eliminates difficult situations that could arise and gives the parent the opportunity to team with the school. As a sixth grader your child will have many different teachers. This keeps everyone on the same page. It also allows for protocol to be established for daily issues like bathroom visits and extending assignment due dates - due to sick days. Teachers are very receptive to them as the 504 plans give them much needed information. Best of luck!

 

[AZMOM]

Rachel - We've had a 504 since 1st grade and I'm thankful. It just ensures that everyone is on the same page. We have most of the accomodations everyone has mentioned and yes, the ccfa page is a great starting point.

Most teachers are MORE than accomodating but all it takes is one teacher who lacks empathy or understanding and you will be glad you have it. Ours was a PE teacher requiring push ups from a 1st grade with an arthritis flare in her shoulder. Same teacher wasn't fond of frequent bathroom breaks.

The 504 puts an end to the "gray area" and we've never had another problem! Claire transitions to Jr. High this year. The 504 coordinator doesn't want to revise her plan for Jr. High until after 2 weeks of school. So, of course, I'm NERVOUS about those two weeks. He's promised me they will comply with the existing 504 until then. Fingers crossed. :ycool:

I hope you can get it put into place easily.

J.

 

[Jmrogers4]

We have only had an issue with one teacher as well (PE) said he needed to tell her before he left for bathroom. What don't you understand about urgent must go immediately, not oh let me get my teachers attention while I have an accident in my pants. I informed him he was to just go per his 504 and I would handle the teacher if there was a problem. Same teacher he broke his foot in her class and she said I didn't know he was hurt.

 

[malorymug]

One more vote here for the 504. The protection is important. And proactive is good so when you need it you'll have it in place and you can concentrate on you kid and not legal stuff.

 

[ChicagoMom]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I have found them to be very helpful. So, I have a couple of follow-up questions.

1. Did you need to provide documentation from your child's doctor to the school in order to get the 504 plan in place?

2. Did you provide the school with the 504 plan that you wanted or did they have their own for you to work off of?

We are meeting with the school next week and I just want to be as prepared as I can be for the meeting and the process.
Thanks!

 

[my little penguin]

You need to have a letter from the child's doc stating the dx plus any accomindations they feel are necessary for your child to receive a FaPE( free and appropriate public education.) similar to their able a bodied peers.
You can use the docs list as a starting point some schools have fixed things they are willing to do others are flexible - cost can be a real issue .
The school only needs to provide reasonable accommodations.
Do not sign anything your not comfortable with .
We had three meetings until the wording was what both parties could agree on.

Most doc offices have form letters for the condition .

 

[Jmrogers4]

Yes letter from the doc. Ours have changed over time but I started with and brought a copy of the template from CCFA and we worked from there.

 

[DanceMom]

Our district has a simple form that needs to be filled out by the physician. You can ask your school guidance counselor if your district has a required form or if a letter from the physician is needed.

I brought a list of suggested accommodations to the meeting, things I thought my daughter would need. The ESE coordinator and assistant principal added a few of their own. The process was smooth and easy for us.

 

[Mehita]

We provided the 504 plan that we wanted and all our school did was modify it to fit their template. We're their first IBD family so they were open to what we provided since they didn't know much about the disease.

 

[SupportiveMom]

Instead of starting a new thread I thought it was best just to add here about D & school. In Canada we don't have 504s but IBD is a recognized disability under the disability act. I was prepared as many of you have shared in the last year with modified 504 type literature. I met with the principal & guidance counselor to set up modifications and was prepared to start pushing for them. The school has marked her file with a medical IEP, which means she is guaranteed additional time for tests, open access to the washroom, electronic learning, and no penalties for being late to school. I am hopeful things go as smooth as they have told me it will. D has asked me to write a note to each of her new teachers so if they didn't understand the staff meeting on her health she wouldn't have to explain. Crossing my fingers things go smooth for the 1st day of high school tomorrow.

 

[Jmrogers4]

Hope all is smooth sailing all through high school for D. We haven't had our official review yet for this year but all teachers/staff have a copy of last years and were told to follow it. We should be meeting this month to review.