“Is My Child with ADHD / ADD Entitled to a 504 Plan?” It Depends.
Your child may be entitled to special school services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), but ADHD alone does not merit an IEP. Learn why a 504 Plan is often implemented instead, and what that might look like for your child.
Two federal laws require public schools to provide additional educational services to children who need them — at no cost to parents.
To qualify under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a child must meet the criteria for one of 13 specific disability categories. Although attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) is not one of these 13 listed disability categories, your child may be eligible on the basis of one of the specified disability conditions, which include learning disabilities and developmental delays. Or, often, children with ADHD / ADD qualify under IDEA’s “Other Health Impairment” category.
In either case, having ADHD / ADD (or LD) alone doesn’t guarantee eligibility for special services. To qualify for an IEP or 504 Plan for ADHD, the disorder must substantially affect a child’s ability to function in school. Read on to learn what different laws cover, and what a finalized plan might look like for your child.
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What Your Child Is Entitled to Under IDEA
Children who qualify under IDEA are entitled to special education services, including individual instruction by education specialists. Parents, teachers, and other school staff work together to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
An IEP is a plan for the delivery of special education and related services. It should describe the child’s learning problems, detail the services to be provided, set annual goals, and define how progress will be measured. By law, parents have the right to ask for changes to the plan.
What Your Child Is Entitled to Under a 504 Plan
The other federal law providing educational support is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It guarantees certain rights to people with disabilities, including access to a “free and appropriate public education” (also called FAPE).
If ADHD symptoms “substantially limit” a child’s ability to learn, he is entitled to Section 504 services.
[Free Download: IEP vs. 504: What’s the Difference?]
Usually, services included in a 504 Plan involve accommodations in the classroom — like extra time to complete assignments. But the plan may also include the use of assistive technology, such as computer-aided instruction, or access to therapy. There are no legal requirements about what a 504 Plan should include, and the school isn’t required to involve parents in developing it (although many schools do).
