What is a 504 Plan?
A 504 plan is a written plan schools create to give support to students with disabilities. It is covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and protects students with disabilities from discrimination in school. The goal is to help children with disabilities learn alongside their peers and remove barriers to education. Not all students with disabilities need specialized instruction under an individualized education program (IEP), but they may benefit from extra support at school. This is where a 504 plan can help. Unlike IEPs, 504 plans are not part of special education and do not provide individualized instruction. Examples of accommodations in a 504 plan include ramps, elevators, extra time in the hallways, scheduled nursing visits for catheterizations, preferential seating or extra time for tests.
What is an individualized education program (IEP)?
An IEP is a legal plan that sets learning goals and explains what services and changes the school will provide to meet those goals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide special education and related services to eligible students. One guarantee under the law is placement in the least restrictive environment. Students with disabilities should learn with their peers as much as possible without losing needed services. IEPs may be used in general classrooms, inclusion classrooms, resource rooms, self-contained special education classrooms or specialized schools. To qualify, a child’s ability to learn must be affected by one of 13 conditions listed in the law. Children with spina bifida often qualify for an IEP because of a specific learning disability or an orthopedic impairment. An IEP is created by a team that includes the parent or guardian, the child’s general education teacher, a special education teacher, a school psychologist, a district representative and the student, if appropriate. The team reviews the IEP at least once a year.
Resources: spinabifidaassociation.org
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What is a 504 Plan?
A 504 plan is a written plan schools create to give support to students with disabilities. It is covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and protects students with disabilities from discrimination in school. The goal is to help children with disabilities learn alongside their peers and remove barriers to education. Not all students with disabilities need specialized instruction under an individualized education program (IEP), but they may benefit from extra support at school. This is where a 504 plan can help. Unlike IEPs, 504 plans are not part of special education and do not provide individualized instruction. Examples of accommodations in a 504 plan include ramps, elevators, extra time in the hallways, scheduled nursing visits for catheterizations, preferential seating or extra time for tests.
What is an individualized education program (IEP)?
An IEP is a legal plan that sets learning goals and explains what services and changes the school will provide to meet those goals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide special education and related services to eligible students. One guarantee under the law is placement in the least restrictive environment. Students with disabilities should learn with their peers as much as possible without losing needed services. IEPs may be used in general classrooms, inclusion classrooms, resource rooms, self-contained special education classrooms or specialized schools. To qualify, a child’s ability to learn must be affected by one of 13 conditions listed in the law. Children with spina bifida often qualify for an IEP because of a specific learning disability or an orthopedic impairment. An IEP is created by a team that includes the parent or guardian, the child’s general education teacher, a special education teacher, a school psychologist, a district representative and the student, if appropriate. The team reviews the IEP at least once a year.
Resources: spinabifidaassociation.org
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