Two federal laws require public schools to provide free special-education services or support: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
To be eligible for services under IDEA, a child must meet the criteria for one of 13 specific disability categories. AD/HD is not among these, but your child may be eligible if he is also affected by one of the specified conditions, which include learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, and developmental delays. Most ADDers, however, qualify under another IDEA category: "Other Health Impairments." In either case, it must be shown that having AD/HD substantially limits the child's ability to learn.
Section 504 covers AD/HD kids who don't meet the criteria for special-education under IDEA, but who would benefit from accommodations in the classroom, such as extra time on tests.
