Every parent of two or more children will tell you that each child is different. Each may live in the same home with the same guardian(s) or parent(s), but they have vastly different needs. For example, one child may have been diagnosed with a disability at birth or at a young age, while the other may not. Yet, at some point in your non-diagnosed child’s life, they may experience the need for a temporary 504 Plan to help them better succeed at school.?


Defining 504 

Parents of school-age children with special needs quickly learn the term “504 Plan.” Yet if you have a school-age child who was not diagnosed with a disability, you may be unfamiliar with this term. A “504 Plan” refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The act is “a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability.” Under Section 504 of the act, the “regulations require a school district to provide a ‘free appropriate public education’ (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability students with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodations.”? 


If you feel your child is suffering from a physical, psychological, or emotional impairment that impedes their ability to attend and/or participate in school fully, you should consider whether a 504 Plan may help.


If you need extra support navigating this process from a professional, please contact the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) for help finding an attorney to guide you.?


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