Stories from the team

504 Plan vs. IEP: What to Do.

You asked the school for more help, and someone told you a 504 plan is enough. Now you're wondering if that's actually true, and whether you're allowed to push for anything else. Here's the short answer: you can ask for a full evaluation in writing at any time, even if your child already has a 504 plan. You don't need the school's permission to ask, and an existing 504 plan doesn't take that right away. Let me walk you through what these two things actually are, so you can decide what fits you

504 Plan or OHI IEP? What Parents Should Know

The school says a 504 plan will take care of your child's health condition. You're wondering whether that's really enough, or whether you should be asking for something more. That's a fair question, and you have every right to ask it. Here's the short answer. A 504 plan and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are two different things under two different federal laws. If your child needs specialized instruction, not just accommodations, you can ask the school to evaluate for special educat

Does Multiple Disabilities Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

Your child has multiple disabilities and needs that touch every part of the school day. You want to know one thing: can the school help, and how do you start? The short answer is yes. A child with more than one disability can qualify for special education, and you can begin the process yourself, in writing, today. Here's what that support looks like and how to ask for it, all under the federal special education law. Can a child with multiple disabilities qualify for an IEP? Yes. A child with

What to Do When the School Says Your Child's Health Condition "Isn't an Education Issue"

"The school says my child's condition is medical, and their grades are fine, so they won't test for special education. Is that allowed?" Short answer: no, not on those two reasons alone. A health condition being "medical" and a child earning passing grades are not, by themselves, legal reasons for a public school to refuse to evaluate. Under federal special education law, what matters is whether the condition affects how your child does at school and whether your child needs specialized instruc

The School Says "Wait and See" After My Child's Head Injury. What Are My Rights?

You watch your kid closer than any teacher can. So when the school says "let's wait and see" after a concussion or a head injury, and you can already see the difference at home, that gap is hard to sit with. Here's the most useful thing to know: you don't have to wait. Under federal special education law, you can ask the school to evaluate your child in writing at any time. The school can't make you finish a waiting period first. Let's walk through what you're allowed to ask for and how to put

Does a Physical Disability Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

"My child has a physical disability and is falling behind at school. Can the school help, and how do I even start?" If that's the question in your head right now, here's the short answer: a physical disability can qualify a child for an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which is the written special-education plan a public school must provide. And you can start the process yourself, in writing, without waiting for anyone's permission. Here's how a physical or orthopedic condition can open

What to Do When the School Says the Hearing Aids Are Enough

You've been told your child is doing fine. The hearing aids work, the grades are steady, and the school says there's nothing more to do. If that answer left you uneasy, your instinct is worth trusting. A device that helps your child hear is not the same as full access to everything happening in a classroom. Here's the short version. Under federal special education law, hearing aids or a cochlear implant do not end the school's duty to look at what your child needs. Your child can still qualify

Does Your Child's Health Condition Qualify for an IEP? A Parent's Guide to Other Health Impairment

Your child has asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, ADHD, or another health condition that follows them into the classroom. Some days they're too tired to focus. Some days they miss school for appointments or a flare-up. You're wondering: can the school actually help, and how do you get that started? Here's the direct answer. A health condition can qualify your child for an IEP under a federal category called Other Health Impairment. An IEP, or Individualized Education Program, is the written special-ed

Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

If your child had a traumatic brain injury, even a serious concussion, and it's changed how they think, remember, or get through a school day, you're probably asking one question above all others. Can the school actually help, and does this count under special education law? Yes. A traumatic brain injury is its own category under federal special education law. That means your child can qualify for an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. An IEP is the written plan a public school must creat

Does Hearing Loss Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

Your child is deaf or hard of hearing, and you want to know one thing: can the public school help, and how do you start? The short answer is yes, and you can begin the process today with a written request. Federal law backs you up here, so this isn't a favor you're asking for. It's a right your child already has. The law that protects your child is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It requires public schools to provide an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, which is

The School Says Our Building Is Accessible. Does My Child Still Qualify for an IEP?

The school told you two things. The building is wheelchair accessible, and your child is passing, so there's no reason to start an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the written plan of specialized instruction and services a child gets at school. Here's the part that didn't come up: those are two different rules, and passing grades don't decide whether your child qualifies. You have the right to ask for an evaluation, in writing, at any time. Let's walk through why the school's answer does

What to Do When the School Says It Can't Serve Your Child's Complex Needs

The school says your child is too complex for a regular classroom, and you're being told they need a separate room or a different school entirely. That's a hard thing to hear. Here's the first thing to know: under federal law, "we can't serve them here" is the start of a conversation, not the end of one. Federal special education law is called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. It gives your child specific rights, and it gives you specific ways to use them. This isn't abo