The difficulties of living with a chronic, rare, life-threatening disease or disorder are troubling enough without having to worry about its influence on education. That unfortunate situation is exactly where a 504 plan comes into play.
A 504 plan—often referred to simply as “a 504”—is a formal plan developed to ensure that a child with a disability attending a public school receives accommodations that support their academic success and access to the learning environment.
With the efforts of our dedicated team members, LUX Infusion has been engaged in the work of tailoring 504 plans to individual students. We have benefited many by advocating for necessary classroom and time-essential adjustments. In this article, we’ll explain more about how 504s work and what you need to know as a parent or student.
One particular story comes to mind about an 8th grader with hemophilia who began experiencing a persistent and severe elbow bleed. He struggled to carry his books and sling his backpack over his shoulder due to his compromised arm. We needed to write an accommodation to help this child as it was clear that carrying the books between school and home was painful and likely exacerbating his bleeding.
Every day, the student had to decide whether to endure the pain in his elbow while transporting his textbooks between school and home, or to leave the books at school and deal with incomplete homework and falling behind in class. Felix Jacquez Garcia, a LUX Infusion Territory Account Executive, worked with the family to help the student. They advocated for the school to allow the student to have a duplicate set of textbooks: one to keep at his desk in school, and the other for use at home, and the school agreed to this arrangement.
This is exactly the purpose of a 504 plan: to address issues stemming from a physical impairment and guarantee that students with such impairments do not lag behind in their education. Every child should be afforded the same opportunities for learning—a chronic diagnosis like a bleeding disorder should not put any child at a disadvantage. Let’s look more specifically at 504 plans to gain a clearer understanding of their intended function.
The 504 plan was created to ensure that a child with a disability (broadly defined) as identified under the law will have accommodations provided to support their access to learning successfully. Named after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the 504 plan is a federal civil rights law that protects against discrimination.
A 504 plan is available to students attending a federally funded school who are impacted by a qualifying health impairment that affects one or more “major life activities.” To qualify, a child must be age 3 to 22 and meet one of the following criteria:
Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activity
Have a record of such impairment
Be regarded as having such an impairment
There is no specific list of qualifying conditions; eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis using information like teacher reports, medical records, and parent input. For example, students with a bleeding disorder will qualify for a 504 plan due to the documented evidence of limitations caused by bleeding episodes. The 504 plan also specifies the limitations should be assessed based on the child without medication. In other words, would the child experience limitations if the bleeding disorder were untreated?
504 Plans are only enforceable in public schools, though some private schools may also follow these guidelines.
This criteria can seem a bit loose, but when we talk with families about 504 plans, we encourage them to imagine their son or daughter without medication. The available therapies and treatments today allow most persons with a bleeding disorder to experience a full and almost “normal” life (whatever that is!). With a 504 plan, consideration must be given to what the child’s life would be without medication. Would they be ambulatory? Would they be on crutches or in a wheelchair? Would they have full use of their arms? What “major life activities” would then be impacted? The list below offers a few of the more common issues for students, for example, with bleeding disorders:
Caring for oneself – bathing, brushing teeth, getting dressed, managing bodily functions
Walking – accessing the classroom and seating
Bending – being able to pick things up from the floor, tying your shoes
Performing manual tasks – lifting items, carrying books or backpack
Academic challenges such as learning, reading, study skills or sustaining attention/concentration
Communication skills
Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression or self-esteem issues
To start the process for a 504 Plan, a referral is all that’s required. In most states, parents can make this referral themselves; however, for a smoother process, obtain referral or recommendation notes from the child’s doctor, nurse, or clinician whenever possible. You can submit the referral to the school counselor, nurse, teacher, or 504 coordinator. While medical documentation isn’t always necessary, it’s helpful to be prepared with the following information:
Your child’s diagnosis
Schedule of doctor visits and any hospitalizations from the past year
School attendance records for the past year
A list of any potential or foreseeable issues
A list of requested accommodations
A 504 plan will include the specific supports and services needed by the student (aka “accommodations”), who is responsible for providing them, and how the plan will be implemented. Accommodations in a 504 plan will vary from student to student and as each individual student progresses through the grades. As much as possible, the child will be kept in regular classrooms rather than in a special class.
Common accommodations include:
Extended time on tests, assignments, and post absence make-up work
Class notes to be provided post-absence
Home services/supplements if the absences extend beyond 2 consecutive school days
Visual, verbal, or technology aids
Extra travel time between classes
Extra set of text books for home use
Adjusted class schedule, grading, and homework requirements
Preferential seating
Adjustments to physical education class, elective school sports, and playground time
Occupational or physical therapy
When preparing for a 504 a meeting with the school administrator and/or any school staff involved in the process, have the following information ready:
Diagnosis
School attendance issues for the past year
Planned absences for medical appointments or procedures
A list of potential or foreseeable issues
A list of requested accommodations
It can protect the student’s educational integrity given their medical condition
It helps prevent their disability or chronic condition from negatively impacting their educational performance
It protects the student’s educational interest under similar protections from the Office of Civil Rights
It does not categorize your child as a special education student and does not alter the standards or expectations of the educational goals
504 plans enable adjustments to be made in school settings to remove barriers for individuals with physical and/or mental impairments. On the other hand, IEP goals are specifically targeted at addressing learning disabilities and eliminating barriers in those cases by providing specialized instruction and services.
A 504 Plan should be implemented before a child enters the public school system or within a few weeks, but can be initiated at any time. It’s recommended that the plan be reviewed at least every three years, or sooner if there are major changes, such as transitioning to a new school level (i.e. entering middle or high school). Although there is no set end date for a 504 Plan, conducting an annual review with school staff is essential—even if the accommodations haven’t been used—to ensure continued support without having to restart the process.
Even if a student has an accommodating teacher or attends a school a parent is sure will do “what is right” for the child, it is advised that a 504 Plan still be put into place as a safeguard.
Often, public colleges and universities honor existing Section 504 Plan accommodations. The Disability Resource Center at institutions of higher learning will use these recommendations to help affected students set in place safeguards for their education, especially as it pertains to absences when taking “for credit” classes.
Parents should consider and obtain 504 plans for their children affected by a disability or chronic condition. Implementing a 504 plan is a wise decision, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t give a child an advantage in their studies or provide a free pass on tests or assignments. They will still have to do the work. They will still need to complete assignments, study for tests, and pass educational goals like any other student. A 504 plan assures that when their condition raises complications, the student will not be negatively impacted and will have an equal opportunity to achieve academic success.
For assistance in starting the process for your student, email us at education@luxinfusion.com.
As an independent specialty infusion pharmacy, we provide injected and infused medications not typically found at your neighborhood pharmacy. These medications are costly, involve unique shipping + handling, and require patients to receive training or home nursing support to safely administer the medication at home.
Because of the high level of care required to handle these complex infused or injected medications and the conditions they treat, we support our patients at every step. From prescription intake and insurance clearance, through medication delivery, training, and beyond, we are committed to our patients’ success.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. All information, content, and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider or as legal advice. Please consult a physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here or on our website.
