504 Plan. Put in place now for a senior? Please help a newbie out.

[Anonymous]

Our DD is 17. Recently diagnosed with inattentive ADHD as well as a hereditary blood disease. The doctor's office suggested we go about setting up a 504 now with her current school in order to help her with college scholarships. We're concerned that having this officially in her file will hinder her from being accepted into her top schools. Can anyone please provide some advice?

[Anonymous]

Parent of a high school student with special needs.

I am totally unclear how having a 504 would help -- or hurt her -- with scholarships.

Is your DD struggling in school and does she need accommodations to access the curriculum or because she must miss school due to the blood disease? Not everyone with ADHD needs accommodations for school.

Prospective colleges will only learn that your daughter has a 504 or a medical condition if she chooses discloses it to them for some reason (e.g. writes about it in her application essay). The high school cannot share this information with a college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a high school student with special needs.

I am totally unclear how having a 504 would help -- or hurt her -- with scholarships.

Is your DD struggling in school and does she need accommodations to access the curriculum or because she must miss school due to the blood disease? Not everyone with ADHD needs accommodations for school.

Prospective colleges will only learn that your daughter has a 504 or a medical condition if she chooses discloses it to them for some reason (e.g. writes about it in her application essay). The high school cannot share this information with a college.

That's good to know, thanks. The office seemed to think as part of the accomodations - that there are many scholarship opportunities that would make a substantial difference in financial aid.

Our preschool son has the same issues, and they said we can even get private school scholarships for him under the 504.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a high school student with special needs.

I am totally unclear how having a 504 would help -- or hurt her -- with scholarships.

Is your DD struggling in school and does she need accommodations to access the curriculum or because she must miss school due to the blood disease? Not everyone with ADHD needs accommodations for school.

Prospective colleges will only learn that your daughter has a 504 or a medical condition if she chooses discloses it to them for some reason (e.g. writes about it in her application essay). The high school cannot share this information with a college.

That's good to know, thanks. The office seemed to think as part of the accomodations - that there are many scholarship opportunities that would make a substantial difference in financial aid.

Our preschool son has the same issues, and they said we can even get private school scholarships for him under the 504.

Never heard of this.

[Anonymous]

There are no specific scholarship opportunities for students with 504s. Colleges cannot ask about disabilities at all in awarding aid or admissions because it would be discrimination.

However if your child's disability has helped shaped who he/she is and they have done service work related to it, they want to seek out scholarships that are awarded to diverse students. In that case you aren't going to be asked to provide proof of the disability, but instead show how you have worked to expand inclusion opportunities for others, been an advocate etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no specific scholarship opportunities for students with 504s. Colleges cannot ask about disabilities at all in awarding aid or admissions because it would be discrimination.

However if your child's disability has helped shaped who he/she is and they have done service work related to it, they want to seek out scholarships that are awarded to diverse students. In that case you aren't going to be asked to provide proof of the disability, but instead show how you have worked to expand inclusion opportunities for others, been an advocate etc.

And almost scholarships will include "financial need" and a major factor in determining who is awarded them.

[Anonymous]

Unrelated to having a 504, some foundations provide scholarships to students with that particular disease. I am familiar with some for survivors of childhood cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD is 17. Recently diagnosed with inattentive ADHD as well as a hereditary blood disease. The doctor's office suggested we go about setting up a 504 now with her current school in order to help her with college scholarships. We're concerned that having this officially in her file will hinder her from being accepted into her top schools. Can anyone please provide some advice?

You don't need a top school: you need a school that will fit her academic and career interests.

If she doesn't need a 504 now, she doesn't need one in college. 504 accommodations are meant to exist beyond the academic setting.

[Anonymous]

Set it now so she can apply to get extra time on the SATs if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unrelated to having a 504, some foundations provide scholarships to students with that particular disease. I am familiar with some for survivors of childhood cancer.

There's one for JA that I see periodically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Set it now so she can apply to get extra time on the SATs if needed.

Extremely hard to get. I helped a student with a joint disorder get one for SATs and APs, but it took a full year almost. A second student with OHI was turned down twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Set it now so she can apply to get extra time on the SATs if needed.

Extremely hard to get. I helped a student with a joint disorder get one for SATs and APs, but it took a full year almost. A second student with OHI was turned down twice.

My experience has been different. DD got extra time in HS. Counselor filled out a form to College Board. DD granted 50% extra time on SATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Set it now so she can apply to get extra time on the SATs if needed.

Extremely hard to get. I helped a student with a joint disorder get one for SATs and APs, but it took a full year almost. A second student with OHI was turned down twice.

My experience has been different. DD got extra time in HS. Counselor filled out a form to College Board. DD granted 50% extra time on SATs.

But you weren't starting from scratch in late August. Your child had already been given testing accommodation under 504. With both of my students, they didn't have pre-existing 504s. This will be the case with OP's DD as well. Only once you get through that process can you apply for accommodation from College Board.

[Anonymous]

There are a couple scholarships for LDs and ADHD. My daughter got a small local one a few years ago.

I also just saw that there are a number of scholarships for kids with hydrocephalus through the Hydrocephalus Association.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Set it now so she can apply to get extra time on the SATs if needed.

Extremely hard to get. I helped a student with a joint disorder get one for SATs and APs, but it took a full year almost. A second student with OHI was turned down twice.

I just applied for SATs and the decision came back in a week.