504

[Guest guest]

Hi Carolyn:

I know you have gotten some excellent advice from parents on this list. We

have a 504 modification plan for Steve at school. The accommodations we

have requested depended on what Steve needed. When he was very ill, he

needed to be out of school, then he needed accommodations to phase in going

back to school. As he recovered he has needed accommodations which

encouraged the teachers to increase their expectations of him.

When our kids are very busy with OCD symptoms, it is illegal for them to be

punished for behaviors caused by their disorder. It sounds like you are

dealing with teachers who do not understand OCD and its symptoms. One

accommodation that has helped us it to meet with all Steve's teachers and

explain OCD to them so they know when it is messing with his school work.

This helps them be very careful how they discipline him because of the law.

In fact I had to ask the VP to change her reduced penalty for Steve's

shoving of a kid who pushed him. She was suspending the other kid but just

giving Steve a lesser penalty, because he is 504. Steve was furious with

me, but I explained to the VP that this would blow any confidentiality

about Steve's 504 status as the school policy is that the instigator and

the victim are both sanctioned for physical incidents.

The best way we have found of keeping the school on track is to call a 504

meeting, and bring along Steve's psychologist or CBT therapist to explain

why the accommodation is needed. Another rule I have is never go to a 504

meeting without (my spouse) or another male. It is much more

difficult for the school to refuse something when a mental health

professional recommends it than a parent somehow.

Also getting the school to watch the OCF videos, or " The Touching Tree " and

reading some materials about OCD and how it is a real problem, not just a

badly raised child have helped. Education brings understanding and these

help us to ally with the school as much as is realistic.

If you specify what symptoms are most difficult at school I can try to

think of specific accommodations. Dr. Dornbush's book, " Taming the Tiger "

has lots of great suggestions. Another thing that has helped us work with

the school is to learn Steve's rights better than his teachers or

counselors know them. Also parent advocates have helped to prepare me for

going to these meetings and getting the outcomes needed. A lot of

preparation and one on one meetings with the various individuals ahead of

time will allow you to arrange things to go more smoothly once the whole

group is assembled at a 504 meeting.

Good luck, take care, aloha, Kathy (H)

kathyh@...

You wrote:

Hi everybody,

>>I sure could use some help from anyone who's utilized section 504 in regard

>>to their child's school. Can anyone give me some advice on what kind of

>OCD

>>accommodations are appropriate to ask for, and what accommodations have

been

>>helpful to your kids?

>>Would it be out of line to ask that my daughter not be marked down and made

>>to sit inside during recess time for late assignments, when the reason her

>>work is late is because she can't stop redoing everything over & over

again?

>>If not, how should I go about asking this?

>>Thanks!

>>from the desk of Carolynn