Negotiating Your Way Through The School System Maze

NEGOTIATING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MAZE: HOW TO GET HELP FROM YOU STRUGGLING CHILD

C. Wilson Anderson, Jr., MAT, Kansas ADHD Grant Technical Facilitator

Being an adult with ADHD is difficult enough with out the hassles of trying to get help for your children with ADHD whether they are in or out of special education. This session will give you a specific Section 504 or an IEP plan so that you can help guarantee that your child's needs will be met.

ADD students who are eligible for IEP's (Individualized Educational Plans) should have their IEP's modified to meet the additional needs created by the ADD components. Students who do not have IEP's because they do not "qualify" for special education services, are eligible for an Education Plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Just because a school district claims that it is an "INCLUSION SCHOOL DISTRICT," it can not ignore the full range of services as outlined in IDEA.

TOPIC OUTLINE

SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND ACCOMMODATION STRATEGIES FOR CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

SECTION 504 AND HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS

Section 504 is the section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which applies to persons with disabilities. Basically it is a civil rights act introduced by Hubert Humphrey because his Downs Syndrome grandchild was refused admission to public school. The purpose of the act is to protect the civil and constitutional rights of persons with disabilities. Section 504 prohibits organizations which receive federal funds from discrimination against otherwise qualified individuals solely on the basis of handicap. Section 504 is enforced by the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

A person is considered to be handicapped if he/she: has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment.

NOTE: This includes persons with communicable diseases, temporary handicapping conditions, attention deficit disorder, behavior disorders, chronic disorders such as asthma, diabetes and physical handicaps.

For additional information, please consult the brochure entitled Guide To Section 504, published by LDA (Learning Disabilities Association of America) 4156 Library Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15234.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Some people see 504, IDEA and ADA as the full employment act for lawyers, especially when arguing over things such as "What does 'Reasonable Accommodations' mean'?." Fortunately, each state has a list of pre-assessment strategies/accommodations that is available for the asking. This is a list of strategies and accommodations that are to be used before an "official" referral for academic and cognitive assessment is made. IEP and 504 strategies and interventions can be taken from those pre-assessment strategies and accommodations.

NOTE: Keep in mind that the accommodations must be reasonable, measurable and accomplishable, should not take away from others, and should place your child at an equal starting level with other children.

Unfortunately, disagreements often arise over what best meets the needs of the children. There is in place a due process procedure for appeals regarding IEP's, school districts must provide parents with a copy of that procedure. Appeals for Section 504 Education Plan problems are filed through the Office of Civil Rights.

REASONABLE, SECTION 504 ACCOMMODATIONS OR IEP MODIFICATIONS MAY BE NEEDED IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL AREAS:

GENERAL TEACHING PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD BE ASSUMED;

PHYSICAL PLACEMENT WITHIN A CLASSROOM;

GROUP INSTRUCTION MODIFICATIONS;

CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION;

PERSONAL ORGANIZATION;

INSTRUCTIONAL MODIFICATIONS;

HOMEWORK MODIFICATIONS;

ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM MATERIALS;

OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL INVOLVEMENT;

LUNCH, HALLWAY, PLAYGROUND MODIFICATIONS;

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL MODIFICATIONS;

GRADING MODIFICATIONS;

TESTING MODIFICATIONS;

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM;

AND "OTHER MODIFICATIONS".