Question: My child has special needs, but does not qualify for special education. When do you know if you need a 504 plan? How would I start looking into special needs resources?
Dr. Roth: Helping a child succeed in school means that we identify their needs as they progress along the road. Most adjustments to help children progress are informal. 504 accommodations were developed to help children of special needs. Requesting something to accommodate your child’s learning could be in any areas that enhance the ability to learn. Requesting help to facilitate test taking, homework, seating arrangement, organization or behavior only requires parent teacher communication in the form of a conference—nothing formal.
Brandi Roth, Ph.D. is the co-author of two books for parents: "Choosing the Right School for Your Child," (1995) and "Secrets to School Success" (2002), both published by Association of Ideas Publishing.