Question regarding Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act)

[Sonia]

It has been a long time since I have posted here! My daughter, is 8 years old with a LOBI. Fortunately we have not had to do any surgeries, only lots of physical therapy. Every year I go through the same thing with her PE Coaches. I give them the brachial plexus information sheet and explain her injury. They still have no clue. The coach was talking to my husband and said that Kendall still cannot do "correct" pushups that have a Pass/Fail critera for some program they have to submit to the State of Texas. Well I about blew a gasket. I called the Principal and informed her about the problems with the PE Coaches and their cluelessness. We have never made our daughter think of herself as disabled. But now I feel the need to protect her from these type of misunderstandings with the school (something I have never had to do). The principal is having me fill out an application for the Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act). Has anyone done this and what other steps have you taken to make sure your child has this injury documented at school? I would appreciate any input. Thank you!!

[ironmansmom]

My child has had a 504 plan in plac since he was in kindergarten(he is now in 5th grade). He has a severe injury and the 504 helps him since he cannot do push ups or chin ups in p.e. class. His typing is slower than other kids in 5th grade due to his injury (injury affected C5, C6, C7, C8). They have graded typing tests and cannot let his disability effect his grade. He has had surgery 8 weeks ago and we had a 504 meeting to put certain changes in place for his surgery/rehab phase. He cannot participate at all in PE classes except for written work, no recess due to risk of falling, may have to dictate answers due to overuse of non-affected arm, shortened assignments/ extended time to complete assignments. The OT oversees his case, although he doesn't receive OT at the schools, they know nothing about his injury although I have tried to educate them. I honestly think that they are afraid to hurt him as far as therapy goes. We go to Easter Seals for formal therapy and our Easter Seals OT is wonderful about attending the 504 meetings with me. Hope this helped.

[Josh'smom]

MY son Joshua who is in 6th grade has a 504. I think he has had it since he started school.. It is good for things such as you are saying. It is noted the child has a disability and therefore can not be graded poorly for not being able to do something properly. Joshua has had problems in music class. Just as you had said, I go to school every year and hand out the pamplets and talk to certain teacher, but of course there always is an issue. In 4th grade he had to play the recorder, which is fine, then he came home one day and said the teacher kept correcting him on how he was holding it, but he was unable to hold it correctly due to his injury (left BPI)....just like you I made a million calls and ended up at the school talking to the music teacher....I kinda said to her, let him play whatever way HE CAN and please stop constantly correcting him infront of the class. The next year he tried the trumpet and I had to go in and talk to the teacher, the trumpet was hard, but he finished the year, but didn't want to play anymore.
I think the 504 is a good thing for our kids.

[Carolyn J]

Sonia,
I strongly suggest that you take someone with you to all in person meetings with any school personnel,even teachers. They could take notes even if you don't use them. This tends to keep "talks" & meetings on focus to your child's needs and nothing can be forgotten or denied later. It is a "Safety net" for you too..& les stress for you.

Carolyn J
LOBPI adult
[Experienced in 3 states'School Distrists with son 's non-BPI Disabilities]

[AngieD]

Kayla has had a 504 since Kinder. she is now in 7th grade. She has a severe injury and after talking with coaches and doctor's she actually does not do PE in middle school but she did in elementary. They knew she could not do push-ups, chin-ups, monkey bars etc... I believe for the fitness test in Texas they just had her skip the ones she was not suppose to do.

When she started middle school we also added that her books are to be left in each of the classrooms and she has set for home. That way she only has to carry a binder into the classroom. She also gets out of every class 3 mins. early to get a head start opening her locker and getting down the stairs, she doesn't always use that 3 mins. but it's there in case she needs it. Plus if she needs to go to the bathroom it takes her a little while longer to get everything back up so that way she won't be late to her next class.

It's a great plan to have and then as the years go, you can add things to it if needed or make any changes. There are days that Kayla can use her BPI hand and then there are days she can't so with the plan all her teachers are aware of this and know that she may need a little extra time.

After the paper work, you usually just meet, with the counselor and teacher's, once a year to discuss anything and make changes if needed.

Best of luck.
Angie

[Mare]

A 504 plan is a good thing it enables the state to protect your child from idiot teachers&forces them to provide things that without it your child wouldn't get Franbkie is in high school he has an extra set of books at home so he doesn't have to lug them home and all his books are kept in the class room so he doesn;t have to carry them Frank has a very severe bpi non functional. He also gets breaks if needed during testing since he struggles with overuse of the right hand. He is excused from certain gym activities and they can't fail him. I highly recommend getting one put in place ASAP and update it every year as they get older there needs change