WHAT IS A 504 PLAN?

f you think your child has ADHD, or a teacher raises concerns, it is important to have your child evaluated to determine whether he or she qualifies for special education services. Once your child has been tested, he or she has several options, depending on their specific needs. If special education services are required and your child is eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the school district must develop an “individualized education program” specifically for your child within 90 days.

If your child is considered not eligible for special education services, and not all children with ADHD are eligible, he or she still can get “free appropriate public education”, available to all public-school children with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.

For more information on Section 504 visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights website, www.ed.gov. This department enforces Section 504 programs and activities that receive federal education funds.