504 Madness

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

It seems like just about everyone has a 504 these days, whether they truly need it or not, at least in my school division. I'm curious, how much involvement do you have with your 504 plan's and coordinators, and is medical documentation of a disability, or medical condition required? We only need a parent to say that the child has symptoms of******* and that's it....

[pedi_nurse]

I'm pretty sure we require some sort of medical diagnosis for a permanent 504. Temporary ones may have more wiggle room.

I only get involved in 504s if the student comes to the clinic for some sort of treatment, or if I want to make sure certain accommodations are going to be provided. Additionally, I actually push for 504s even if the parent isn't pushing for one and I think it will help. The teachers at my school are great and very accommodating. However, for example, if a diabetic student never gets a 504 in school because everyone is accommodating what happens when they go to college and now needs those accommodations protected? 504 can follow you to college and it's much easier to do it now for them than leave the student to navigate that as an 18yo.

[OldDude]

It’s certainly overused and medical documentation isn’t required to qualify. I get involved when I can’t get out of it!!

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

There has to be a triggering event and that usually means there's a doctor's note with a diagnosis.

Some 504s are temporary - kid broke his or her dominant hand, broke a leg, what have you. But again...those come with a note!

[pedi_nurse]

Yeah, everything I read says that there is not a legal requirement for a physician diagnosis, but that schools should be attempting to obtain them. The school could evaluate a student with parent-reported symptoms and determine they don't need certain academic accommodations though, and in the absence of a physician diagnosis, I don't see how parents could argue against it.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

41 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

There has to be a triggering event and that usually means there's a doctor's note with a diagnosis.

Some 504s are temporary - kid broke his or her dominant hand, broke a leg, what have you. But again...those come with a note!

I wish... We have parents that will say their child has "symptoms of" diagnosis A,B, and C.... there is no medical documentation at all, and they get the 504, accommodations and all.... I just find it frustrating, because when I'm not involved they will put clinic accommodations down that are inappropriate.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

55 minutes ago, OldDude said:

It’s certainly overused and medical documentation isn’t required to qualify. I get involved when I can’t get out of it!!

It's definitely overused in my school. If a student gets 1 bad grade the parents can blame it on something and get the accommodations no questions asked. I only want to be involved so they don't put clinic accommodations in there that are inappropriate, or without my knowledge..

[OldDude]

this is verbatim from the 504 Eligibility Determination...Initial Evaluation.

1. Does the Student have a physical or mental impairment? If so, please identify the impairment(s) in the box below. Notes (1) This is an educational determination only, and not a medical diagnosis for purposes of treatment. (2) Impairments that are episodic, in remission or mitigated should also be listed. (3) OCR guidance indicates that in "virtually every case" diabetes, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and autism will result in eligibility under Section 504. Extensive documentation or analysis should not be required for these impairments.

2. Does the physical or mental impairment affect one or more major life activities (including major bodily functions)?...

Then you go on to identify, etc., and establish interventions and accommodations, yadda yadda.

I hop this is helpful.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

17 hours ago, OldDude said:

this is verbatim from the 504 Eligibility Determination...Initial Evaluation.

1. Does the Student have a physical or mental impairment? If so, please identify the impairment(s) in the box below. Notes (1) This is an educational determination only, and not a medical diagnosis for purposes of treatment. (2) Impairments that are episodic, in remission or mitigated should also be listed. (3) OCR guidance indicates that in "virtually every case" diabetes, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and autism will result in eligibility under Section 504. Extensive documentation or analysis should not be required for these impairments.

2. Does the physical or mental impairment affect one or more major life activities (including major bodily functions)?...

Then you go on to identify, etc., and establish interventions and accommodations, yadda yadda.

I hop this is helpful.

That's exactly what we use... sigh.... I can't tell you how many are made up by the parents... unbelievable, and sad

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

We have a 504 coordinator and we review the situation together. A second set of eyes can be very helpful!!

[BettyGirard, BSN]

I'm not involved with IEPs and 504s UNLESS there is some "in building" medical reason (i.e., the student needs treatment, etc.). Our district "exceptional student" (formerly special ed) has their own RN who handles such things.

[EnoughWithTheIce]

Lots of parent requests for 504 at my school. However, we are pretty strict about parents providing physician documentation.

Interestingly, we have a lot of request because parents think if they are under 504 they get as many absences as they want automatically excused. Same parents that refuse to provide action plans, inhalers, etc........