School Accommodations: 504 Plans & IEPs
What a 504 plan and an IEP are, how they differ, and how an evaluation report helps your child get the right supports.
An ADHD diagnosis on its own doesn't change what happens in the classroom. A 504 plan or IEP does. A good evaluation report gives the school specific reasons and specific recommendations to work from.
504 Plan or IEP?
504 plan
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. For students whose condition substantially limits learning or another major life activity. Provides accommodations, changes to how a student learns or is tested, in the general classroom.
IEP
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). For students who need specially designed instruction, such as special education teaching, services or therapies, in addition to accommodations. ADHD often qualifies under Other Health Impairment.
How It Works in New York City
For an IEP, a parent can request an evaluation in writing from the school, and the Committee on Special Education oversees the process for school-age children. 504 plans are handled through the school. Private schools have their own procedures, so ask your school which applies. In every case, the school team must consider an outside evaluation the family chooses to share.
Common Accommodations for ADHD
- Extended time on tests
- Testing in a separate, quieter room
- Movement or sensory breaks
- Seating away from distractions
- Directions given both out loud and in writing
- Long assignments broken into parts with separate due dates
- A daily check-in or planner check
- Copies of class notes or slides
Not every child needs every accommodation. Good recommendations are tied to the test results. For example, extended time makes sense for a student whose processing speed is low, while a separate room helps a student who is easily pulled off task by noise.
College Accommodations
IEPs and 504 plans end with high school. College students register with the disability services office and request accommodations themselves, and colleges generally want recent, thorough documentation. Planning the evaluation for the last years of high school or early college can save a scramble later.
A Parent's Experience
“My son was not receiving the right accommodations at school until we submitted Dr. Tutty's educational report, and the school now recognizes this need, and we are finally receiving the help he needs.”
Dayna MARNPCommon Questions
Does an ADHD diagnosis automatically qualify my child for a 504 plan?
No. The school decides whether the condition substantially limits learning or another major life activity. A clear evaluation report makes that case much easier to evaluate.
Can a child with ADHD get an IEP?
Yes, if ADHD or another condition affects their education enough that they need specially designed instruction. ADHD is often covered under the Other Health Impairment category.
Do IEPs carry over to college?
No. In college, students request accommodations from the disability services office themselves, usually with documentation from a recent evaluation.
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