Which Does Your Child Need: IEP or 504b?
In a recent interview with Iowa professional learning and leadership consultant, Jennifer Peter. She explained the difference between an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and a 504b plan. Her explanation was so elegant and clear-cut, you deserve to hear it, too.
IEP
Schools are required by federal law to create IEPs for any school-aged student who has been tested and identified as needing special education assistance. IEPs are educational tools. They focus on remediating significant learning problems through instruction, not through medical treatment or physical means. Many students with IEPs have no physical disabilities.
504b
504b plans are for students who need environmental accommodations so their physical disability won’t hinder their education. Students with disabilities requiring 504b plans may need no extra learning assistance, just some simple accomodations to remove physical barriers. Or they may need help with a physical disability or condition such as extra room for a child in a wheelchair, insulin shots for diabetics, an amplification system for a child with hearing loss, or help with a colostomy bag for a student with spina bifida.
Educational vs. Medical Diagnosis
Students with IEPs have an educational diagnosis, usually through the school system. Students with 504b plans have a medical diagnosis from a health care professional. Jennifer gave this example. “Learning disability is an educational diagnosis. Dyslexia is a medical diagnosis.”
Which One’s Right for Your Child?
Some students, those with both learning and medical issues, may have an IEP and a 504b plan. But if your child has learning issues, you need to pursue school testing, not a medical diagnosis. If your child has a medical condition that needs accomodation, you need a 504b plan from a doctor.
If you’re still puzzled, don’t feel bad. I taught school for 25 years and didn’t fully understand until Jenn cleared up my confusion. But if you have questions or another way to explain the difference between IEPs and 504bs, leave a comment. I’ll be glad to get back to you!
Jolene
PS – I found the cute t-shirt in the picture at www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com. Check it out!
4 Responses to “Which Does Your Child Need: IEP or 504b?”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Three Ways to Maximize Services for Kids with Special Needs | Different Dream - [...] Once children reach school age, their disability must affect their educational progress to qualify for educational services. Schools are ...
My daughter has been on an IEP plan for most of her elementary years because of her ADD and learning disabilities, such as reading. She is reading at a normal level now and is doing really well in Math also. So now they want to place her on a 504b because she still has some focus issues. Is this appropriate for a child who has been diagnosed with ADD. I know it is a medical diagnosis but it is not a physical medical diagnosis as she as stated above.
Thanks,
Bobbie
Hmmm…I haven’t heard of using a 504b for ADD before. Could you tell me more about what would be included in the plan? It’s hard to comment without knowing a little more.
My son keeps getting poor marks in hand writing, and has been seen by a private occupational therapist who states that he would qualify for OT. The schools state that he has to have a cognitive delay in order to get OT in the schools. Would a 504B plan allow him to receive private OT during school hours (as my husband and I work during the week, leaving no time for therapies otherwise)?
Thank you.
Kristen,
Sorry this response is so delayed. Life has been crazy around here for the past few weeks.
I’m sorry I can’t answer your question very well. Qualifications for IEPs and 504b plans vary state by state, and I would hate to give you wrong advice. So instead, I will refer you to the 504b information and Q & A page at the WrightsLaw website:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm
If that doesn’t answer your question, scroll to the bottom of the page and send your question in an email via “contact us.”
You didn’t mention your son’s age, but as a former teacher, I have this advice. If your son’s handwriting is legible, don’t worry to much about the handwriting marks. They are the least of a child’s school worries. In this day and age, a simple solution is to teach him to keyboard (by middle school, teachers accept assignments printed out) instead. In fact, that could be his 504 accommodation now – learn keyboarding and allow him to turn in assignments printed on the computer.
Jolene