Parent of child with IEP.

My $0.02. Start by asking for an IEP. They'll feel like they won if they only give you a 504 which is less legally binding to them.

I can't speak to the college implications as I only have one child but don't you want to set your child up as best as possible while they learn to manage this? Do you really want them to go to a college for the sake of its name that will not provide any accommodations for a medical situation?

Yes you need a 504.

Do not let anyone tell you not to do it. 90 % of mcps teachers are fabulous but for the 10% who suck, you need this in writing.

Your daughter needs extensions or excusals if she misses school.

And get every accommodation you can.
My son has a teacher now who said she doesn’t want to give him the extra time he is entitled to because he can’t possibly need it. It’s not up to her as only one of seven teachers to determine how much work he can handle.

Some teachers are jerks and won’t care if your child has a medical condition. Get the accommodations in writing.

Anonymous wrote:Kid has severe migraines with aura and missed a lot of classes last year because of it. Someone suggested pursuing a 504.

Anyone have a 504 for similar reasons?

I’d appreciate your guidance.

Also: anyone know if a 504 is a red flag on college applications?

504 should not be a red flag. My son has a 504 for medical reasons. He can wear different clothing than what is allowed under standard policy. He has the right to bathroom breaks whenever he needs. He also has special assistance and flexible deadlines for missed classes due to medical treatments at treatment centers. It is perfectly fine.

Anonymous wrote:Nice that teachers / schols don't have to provide standard educational materials like lecture notes unless someone with a medical justification forces them to do it.

Notes in a traditional lecture are supposed to be taken by the students, because distilling key information is one of the most important skills taught at any learning level, and doing so actively, in real time, -can- be an excellent way to exercise that - for certain people under certain specific circumstances.

Learning differences, however, can mean these distillation skills need to be acquired and demonstrated in different formats, which is why traditional lecturing is not appropriate in all situations or for all students.

If we have to give everyone the lecture notes so that they understand what is happening or can keep up, chances are we are not teaching properly and need to reconsider our delivery or our entire format. The course as conceptualized might not be right for that group of students, for example, or there might be principles of universal design that could help work out a delivery system that is better for everyone, or more active involvement might be needed to help students grasp what is going on.

- College prof

Nice that teachers / schols don't have to provide standard educational materials like lecture notes unless someone with a medical justification forces them to do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader has one for migraines. It gives extended time, frequent breaks, and notes and outlines for missed classes. Also a flash pass to the health room and ability to carry snacks and water. Most of the time she doesn’t need to use the accommodations but I feel better having them in place in case she has a teacher who isn’t flexible. It also makes the school aware of what she is dealing with and why she has more frequent absences.

I don’t understand the notes and outlines that you mentioned. Is the teacher supposed to write up notes and an outline for your child?

A different parent here but this was an accommodation my son had on his IEP for speech/ language and frankly, it was the one where MCPS teachers were most resistant, although it’s common in college. Teachers often have notes/ outlines they can give the student. If not, they sometimes ask a good student with clear handwriting to share their notes. In college, note takers are often work-study positions and students can be paid to take notes for kids who need it as an accommodation.

BTW being a scribe is is a great way to audit a course for enrichment or review.

Yes, OP, you should pursue it. Our DC has one for a different medical condition. Makes communication and coordination with the school much easier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader has one for migraines. It gives extended time, frequent breaks, and notes and outlines for missed classes. Also a flash pass to the health room and ability to carry snacks and water. Most of the time she doesn’t need to use the accommodations but I feel better having them in place in case she has a teacher who isn’t flexible. It also makes the school aware of what she is dealing with and why she has more frequent absences.

I don’t understand the notes and outlines that you mentioned. Is the teacher supposed to write up notes and an outline for your child?

I don’t think any teacher has ever given her notes or outlines, but it was one of the accommodations the school recommended when we went through the process. They do support her but it’s more like she goes to see them when they are available to help, not that she gets notes on what she missed.

My now-20 y.o had a 504 for a different medical condition, beginning in 4th grade (that year he missed 40 days of school). He kept it until he graduated, although he no longer needed accommodations after 9th grade. It was a huge help. Among his accommodations: extra time to make up work, ability to go to the nurse whenever he needed to, relief from class participation requirements on days he didn't feel good (this allowed him to just sit quietly and listen when he needed to and not have to contribute to class discussions or participate in gym class bad days), and the ability for teachers to waive assignments if he had already demonstrated mastery. This gave him a break on homework sometimes.

It was a very hard time in his life, and the 504 made it a easier. It had no detrimental effects that I could see. Colleges were not told about his 504, but he wrote his essay on having a chronic illness, so they knew about it anyway. (He has not needed accommodations college.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader has one for migraines. It gives extended time, frequent breaks, and notes and outlines for missed classes. Also a flash pass to the health room and ability to carry snacks and water. Most of the time she doesn’t need to use the accommodations but I feel better having them in place in case she has a teacher who isn’t flexible. It also makes the school aware of what she is dealing with and why she has more frequent absences.

I don’t understand the notes and outlines that you mentioned. Is the teacher supposed to write up notes and an outline for your child?

A different parent here but this was an accommodation my son had on his IEP for speech/ language and frankly, it was the one where MCPS teachers were most resistant, although it’s common in college. Teachers often have notes/ outlines they can give the student. If not, they sometimes ask a good student with clear handwriting to share their notes. In college, note takers are often work-study positions and students can be paid to take notes for kids who need it as an accommodation.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, for asthma. Kiddo was missing about 25-30 days of school/year.

Mine too: for asthma and anaphylactic allergies. I didn’t even know we could do a 504 until high school when kid was hospitalized twice and some teachers were being difficult. I asked for a 504 **to include the school nurse** and it was a godsend.

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader has one for migraines. It gives extended time, frequent breaks, and notes and outlines for missed classes. Also a flash pass to the health room and ability to carry snacks and water. Most of the time she doesn’t need to use the accommodations but I feel better having them in place in case she has a teacher who isn’t flexible. It also makes the school aware of what she is dealing with and why she has more frequent absences.

I don’t understand the notes and outlines that you mentioned. Is the teacher supposed to write up notes and an outline for your child?

Yes- my son has one for when he was taking a medicine that made him nauseated and sleepy and we were at doctor appointments all the time so lots of missed school. He’s better now but everyone says to just keep the 504. Def look into it Op

Teacher here. Several of my kids have 504s for this.

My 8th grader has one for migraines. It gives extended time, frequent breaks, and notes and outlines for missed classes. Also a flash pass to the health room and ability to carry snacks and water. Most of the time she doesn’t need to use the accommodations but I feel better having them in place in case she has a teacher who isn’t flexible. It also makes the school aware of what she is dealing with and why she has more frequent absences.