504 vs. IEP

[?] Subscribe To This Site

504 vs. IEP

by Anonymous

My 5 year old son has recently been diagnosed with SPD; he is just 3 months into the school system--Kindergarten. He currently has a 504. My question is, would an IEP be more beneficial?! I need to know the differences between a 504 vs. and IEP. I know that an IEP would classify him as Special Ed, but what else? What are the other values?!

Currently he is in a 1/2 day Kindergarten program--- 2 & 1/2 hours a day. Next year he will enter 1st grade which is 7 hours a day! This is a huge difference! Would an IEP at this point prove beneficial in preparing him for a full school day in the future?

Shouldn't his 504 offer him the same "in-class supports" as an IEP?
Shouldn't the 504 offer him the same "modifications" as an IEP?

What am I not understanding?!

Comments for
504 vs. IEP

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 03, 2010
Rating

504 info
by: Anonymous

504 plans ARE legally enforceable. We have one in place for my daughter with arthritis. 504's are just for accommodations for a student. They are primarily used for students who have physical issues but not learning issues. IEPs are for students who need extra services to help their learning. My daughter only needs things modified to deal with her physical disability. (such as seating, gym class, rest periods, absences, assistance with carrying)

We are looking into either a 504 or IEP for her big brother who has SPD and trying to figure out which he'd qualify for. If his SPD was dealt with and under control he would have no problem with his learning. And contrary to someone's response earlier, we have been told by OTs and psychiatrist that SPD IS a learning disability but is not on the official list yet so different school districts will handle qualifications for IEP plans differently.

Good luck figuring all this out and what works best for your child.

Feb 08, 2010
Rating

Heading towards IEP
by: Anonymous

Thanks for your input. I am anguishing over this. I cannot believe I am about to classify my 5 year old as Special Ed, simply because he is "antsy-pantsy", and as far as I am concerned, because his teacher cannot "meet his needs" through the 504. But, I am trying my best to focus on my child (not the teacher), and his day-to-day experience in school.

Please provide any input, as I truly need as much professional advice as I can get.
Also, any advice on how I can get insurance to pay for OT therapy? What is necessary?
Thank you, again.

Feb 07, 2010
Rating

IEP
by: Anonymous

I'm going to school now to be a special education teacher and honestly for K, I think it is fine for a 504, how is he doing academically at this point? If he is on target or close they may be avoiding the IEP b/c 1 he may not qualify yet and 2 once he has one it will sort of "stick" with him. However, as a parent you know what is best for your child and if you feel he is not getting enough from the school then seriously DEMAND more, it's your legal right and the earlier the intervention the better. Good luck

Jan 24, 2010
Rating

maybe montessori school
by: Anonymous

I dont know if this will help but, my mom put me in a montessori school for my kindergarten year. I have SPD and Im not as extreme as a lot of kids i have read about but the montessori school was very accommodating and then i was able to go into first grade the next year. Me and my mom would both recommend a montessori school for a child so maybe that is something you would consider.

Jan 10, 2010
Rating

More questions :)
by: Anonymous

Me again, with more questions! My son does currently have a 504, but personally I believe the accommodations are too vague. So, would you be willing to offer some specific accommodations such as those your child had in Kindergarten? I am fully aware that accommodations are specific to the child, but quite honestly, they really seem to be "generic" at best. (ie: preferential seating; not to be held accountable for spelling, etc.) I do know the 504 is "a working document", and I can tweek it at anytime, and I just may do that in the future.
I appreciate your help, so keep the info coming!
Thanks!

Jan 09, 2010
Rating

iep
by: Anonymous

In our school district, I'm in CA you can't have OT as a stand alone service.. I'm not sure if he receives other services?

Jan 08, 2010
Rating

504 vs IEP
by: Anonymous

An 504 provides for accommodations for your child. An example would be having him have sensory breaks during the day or a child who has difficulty with motor control may need a special chair to sit in during the day. These kids for the most part (providing they are receiving appropriate accommodations don't really have difficulty learning or any learning disabilities.

An IEP is an individualized education plan for students with learning disabilities (of which there are many that qualify) They are provided educational support and therapy (OT,PT ect). Basically that's it in a nutshell.

My son has SPD, he had a full educational evaluation and it was found that he had a learning disability with written language and some fine motor control difficulties (was this caused by his SPD? That could be debatable) but the fact is is that his writing and fine motor skills aren't up to par. It was explained to me that if a child has just a 504 plan they can not qualify for therapy services through the school, they are only given accommodations.

My advice would be, and this is what I did - I had the school try different accommodations for my son during kindergarten (ie 504) with the reasoning that if the accommodations worked and he was learning fine then we did not need to pursue further testing in order to qualify for the IEP. However, the accommodations just were not enough for him so an educational evaluation was done showing a learning disability and an IEP was written. He now gets educational support, and OT plus the accommodations that did work for him.

Try some accommodations for your son first and see how he does - he may do fine, if not you would need to further pursue it with the school.

X Close Editor

Jan 08, 2010
Rating

Submitted by: Anonymous

Title

Comment
An 504 provides for accommodations for your child. An example would be having him have sensory breaks during the day or a child who has difficulty with motor control may need a special chair to sit in during the day. These kids for the most part (providing they are receiving appropriate accommodations don't really have difficulty learning or any learning disabilities. An IEP is an individualized education plan for students with learning disabilities (of which there are many that qualify) They are provided educational support and therapy (OT,PT ect). Basically that's it in a nutshell. My son has SPD, he had a full educational evaluation and it was found that he had a learning disability with written language and some fine motor control difficulties (was this caused by his SPD? That could be debatable) but the fact is is that his writing and fine motor skills aren't up to par. It was explained to me that if a child has just a 504 plan they can not qualify for therapy services through the school, they are only given accommodations. My advice would be, and this is what I did - I had the school try different accommodations for my son during kindergarten (ie 504) with the reasoning that if the accommodations worked and he was learning fine then we did not need to pursue further testing in order to qualify for the IEP. However, the accommodations just were not enough for him so an educational evaluation was done showing a learning disability and an IEP was written. He now gets educational support, and OT plus the accommodations that did work for him. Try some accommodations for your son first and see how he does - he may do fine, if not you would need to further pursue it with the school.

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Jan 07, 2010
Rating

504 vs. IEP
by: Anonymous

Thanks for the info. Yes, I have been doing alot of research on the topic. Here is what I know: 504 (ADA) is primarily for physical -or- mental handicaps that impair 1 or more life activities, such as learning. A 504 offers "modifications & accommodations".

An IEP (IDEA) is the same, but with a learning disability. IEP offers more protections, all of which I do not fully understand at this point.
This is the thing---I do not want to classify my 5 year old who is only 3 months into the school system!!!! They don't even know him yet; his learning style; the extent of SPD; so on & so on!
SPD is not a learning disability; however, the behaviors associated with SPD can very easily lead to problems with "attending to schoolwork", which in & of itself could disable child's the ability to learn.

I'm just trying to educate myself on (1) SPD, and (2) 504 vs. IEP's. I need very specific info on 504 benefits, and IEP benefits, in simple (not legal) terms. Bottom line is this: I only care about my kid & doing what's right for him. That's what I am trying to research: what is right for my son at this point & time.
Keep the info coming!!! It's all an education to me---Thanks!

Jan 06, 2010
Rating

504 vs. iep
by: Anonymous

hello,

it is my understanding that with a 504 the school can make accommodations for the child but is not legally bound to provide these services. i was always told an iep is better for this reason. if an accommodation or request for services is in the 504 they dont have to provide it they can but with an iep they have to...

did you google 504 vs iep?

good luck!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to The SPD Q & A

504 vs. IEP

Comments for 504 vs. IEP

Comments for
504 vs. IEP