Help with 504 and middle school

[Anonymous]

My DC 12.5 who just started 7th grade has severe ADHD. Child wasn’t approved for IEP because there is no specific learning disability but grades are already showing up suggesting there is a problem with completing and submitting work. Any advice on how to make sure teachers are implementing the 504 accommodations and DC is getting the support they need?

[Anonymous]

Go over the accommodations with your child. Role play how your child can self advocate: "Ms. Smith, I need X and it's on my 504."

You can also email each teacher with the details, but unless a teacher is refusing to accommodate, it's so much better to empower your child to advocate.

[Anonymous]

OP is the problem happening in class or at home? What is your child doing? What is your child saying to you?

[Anonymous]

Child forgot binder on the day assignment was due and then forgot to turn it in the next class and got a 0. Clearly the child needs to get it together but wondering how else to support and don’t get the sense teachers are necessarily aware of the 504/accommodations.

[Anonymous]

What are the current accommodations?

[Anonymous]

I used to write an introductory email to each middle school teacher that briefly outlined the 5O4 accommodations. My DD’s accommodations were medical, hearing loss and ADHD. Each time she was out due to the medical issue, I reminded them of the accommodation in a friendly email. They have many, many kids with 504s. The reminders helped. I also checked in during parent teacher conferences about how it was going and thanked for their efforts. I also agree with role playing with your child to develop their self advocacy.

[Anonymous]

The current accommodations are mostly related to assessments which doesn’t help with the executive functioning challenges related to homework but but there is a little extra time to submit assignments

[Anonymous]

Public schools are notorious for not teaching executive functioning. It's possible that what you're hoping for isn't possible due to constraints in the digital infrastructure, time, and teacher expertise. Take 17:29's advice and expect to do a lot at home.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child forgot binder on the day assignment was due and then forgot to turn it in the next class and got a 0. Clearly the child needs to get it together but wondering how else to support and don’t get the sense teachers are necessarily aware of the 504/accommodations.

Does the 504 day extra time to turn work in?
My 13yo has an accommodation plan and it does. It also says she be given verbal reminders to turn work in.
She just had an E in Spanish and I emailed to ask why. Teacher said assignment wasn’t turned so she has a 0. I told him I would remind my kid in the morning to turn it in but if he could remind her as well that would be great. And it’s in her plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current accommodations are mostly related to assessments which doesn’t help with the executive functioning challenges related to homework but but there is a little extra time to submit assignments

Extra time for assignments -- alone -- is rarely helpful because it does nothing to address why she needs extra time.

Is it because she has trouble remembering to do the assignment? Then she needs support remembering to bring materials home/electronic versions of materials. Or help (from you or the school) collecting the list of assignments from the various portals.

Is it that she has a hard time getting started on assignments? Then she needs help (from the school, you, or a paid executive function coach) on chunking assignments or other strategies to initiate work.

Is it that she works really slowly? Consider if a reduced work accommodation or working only to show mastery is appropriate. Otherwise, she will always be behind.

Does she do the work but forget to hand it in? Consider accommodations directly for that, like reminders or (even better) submitting electronically as soon as she's completed the work. For work she does on paper, she can photograph and email it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current accommodations are mostly related to assessments which doesn’t help with the executive functioning challenges related to homework but but there is a little extra time to submit assignments

I think you need to clarify, including for your own sake, what the accommodations are. An extra day? Two extra days? Unlimited extra days until end of marking period?

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you so much for these really helpful, practical suggestions. The current accommodations are 1.5 times beyond the original due date, use of planner, checklist or digital calendar with staff supports. I don’t know for sure, but I do not get the sense that teachers are aware of the 504 plan since child is getting a zero the day the assignment is not being turned in. In a couple of cases, the child simply forgot to turn in the homework, and in the most recent case child was unaware of the assignment, possibly because it was assigned at the beginning of the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you so much for these really helpful, practical suggestions. The current accommodations are 1.5 times beyond the original due date, use of planner, checklist or digital calendar with staff supports. I don’t know for sure, but I do not get the sense that teachers are aware of the 504 plan since child is getting a zero the day the assignment is not being turned in. In a couple of cases, the child simply forgot to turn in the homework, and in the most recent case child was unaware of the assignment, possibly because it was assigned at the beginning of the school year.

Some teachers put missing assignments in as a 0 even if they intend to grade them once they are turned in, FYI.