12 Steps To Smarter School Accommodations

1. Document warning signs.

Start compiling documents that substantiate the poor grades, behavior reports, and hurt feelings that

follow your child home from school.

2. Schedule a teacher meeting

Gather firsthand information while building important bridges

3. Pursue a diagnosis

Make an appointment with a medical professional who specializes in ADHD or learning disabilities, or with a neuropsychologist.

4. Request a school assessment

• Ask the school to assess your child's eligibility for special services
• Discuss the request - and supporting documents - in person with school officials.

5. Evaluate your options

Review the school's formal assessment results and recommendation of IEP, 504 Plan, or no services.

• Individualized Education Program (IEP): Children diagnosed with ADHD, who fall under the Other Health Impairments category of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), may qualify for services if they also have an LD or another of the Act's named conditions.
• 504 Plan: Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides for in-classroom accommodations for students with disabilities. 504 Plans offer fewer protections than IEPs, but require fewer protections than IEPs, but require less extensive documentation.
• No Services Recommended: The school's evaluation concludes that the child's ADHD or learning disabilities will not be helped by accommodations.

6. If you disagree with the school's assessment

• Ask about informal classroom assistance, such as tutoring or teacher help.
• Make a formal written request for an independent evaluation.
• Request mediation or a due process hearing. (You may do this if you disagree at any stage with the IEP process.) Consider hiring an education advocate or attorney.

7. Prepare for your IEP/504 meeting

Following the school's evaluation, you will attend an IEP/504 meeting. In preparation, gather
documents demonstrating your child's strengths and weaknesses, including paperwork evaluated by the assessment team.

8. Research accommodations

• Develop a list of homework and classroom accommodations that will work for your child.
• Make copies for each person attending the IEP/504 meeting.

9. Draft IEP with the team

• Agree on your child's present levels of performance
• Develop detailed IEP goals with the school team
• Discuss proposed accommodations and services with your child's tutor, therapist, or psychologist before signing a written agreement.
• Sign the IEP. If you give only partial consent, the team will decide on the next steps.

10. Summarize the Conclusions

Follow up the IEP/504 meeting by restating all agreed-upon goals, accommodations, and processes in thank-you notes to the school team members.

11. Track progress against goals

• Agree on a communication plan with teachers
• Maintain a file for your child's schoolwork and document all contact with school.
• Schedule periodic reviews with teachers.

12. Review and reassess

• The IEP team must meet annually
  Parents may request a meeting at any time if they feel changes are needed or the IEP is not being followed.
• Prepare for meetings by organizing and copying all relevant materials.
• If the school remains uncompliant, request mediation or a due process hearing.