As a Child Study Team coordinator, I see approximately 20% of the student population for one reason or another. Services range from In-Class Support to Out-of-District Placement, and the range in between is significant. There are the services of a lunch aide for allergic children; there are temporary ramps that are put in place for children with broken legs; there is the allowance of extra time on tests and quizzes for children with AD/HD.
If you would like to obtain a 504 Plan for your child, your first course of action is to request an evaluation. You'll write a letter to your district's 504 Coordinator and he or she will have a short time period (usually 20 days) to hold an Identification meeting with you. At that meeting, you'll discuss your child's condition with the Team, which consists of (at a minimum) the Coordinator and teachers who are familiar with your child. If the situation calls for it, the School Nurse may be present, as will a Speech-Language Pathologist/Occupational Therapist/Physical Therapist. At this meeting it will be decided whether or not to evaluate your child. It is possible that the Team may decline to evaluate, but there are ways to contest this.
If your child is deemed to necessitate an evaluation, then a three-pronged evaluation will begin. Depending on your child's condition, their IQ may be assessed; their learning profile will be derived from both functional and standardized information; a background interview will be conducted during which you'll provide all pertinent information on your child. You'll receive copies of these reports, typically within a 90-day period.
You'll reconvene to discuss the results of the assessments. At that meeting it will be decided whether or not your child qualifies for services, and placement will be discussed when the Individualized Accommodation Plan is devised. You'll have plenty of opportunities to interject and offer your opinion – after all, it's your child! If you disagree with the findings, there are procedures you can take. You can refuse services altogether. Remember, though, that if your child is found to be disabled your Team may initiate a Due Process hearing to implement services if you refuse. There are legal protections for you, and for your Team.
Whatever the outcome, at the very least your child has been brought to the attention of the school, and they are no longer just a face in the crowd. They'll be better off after the process is complete.
~Nadine OReilly is a school psychologist and Coordinator of Special Services. She creates hundreds of Individualized Programs for students each year. She is the author of the IEP Resource GuideMine and the Section 504 Resource Guide, as well as numerous children's books for toddlers with food allergies. Visit http://www.my-section-504.com for information on how to obtain a 504 Plan for your child.