MYTH MONDAY - It is a common misconception that students can EITHER qualify for a 504 OR an IEP - but not both. In reality, some students may benefit from and qualify for both plans simultaneously, as each serves a distinct purpose in supporting student success.

In practice, most students who qualify for an IEP don`t also have a 504 plan because the IEP already provides more extensive support and legal protections. However, no law prevents a student from having both. Some students might have both plans to ensure comprehensive coverage of their needs, particularly if they have multiple disabilities or conditions requiring different types of support.

I work with a few families whose children have both a 504 and IEP.

HOW? Regarding the IEP, students must be found eligible for needing specialized instruction - services that work on specific skills related to their disability. Regarding the 504, students must be found eligible for needing accommodations around a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity. These are activities such as walking, breathing, or learning, to name a few.

WHY? When students have both a disability and a medical condition, this sets them up for assistance with both. One student qualified for an IEP under Serious Emotional Disability (SED) due to extreme anxiety. She also qualified for a 504 due to the migraines she was getting in relation to her anxiety. The IEP provided specialized instruction to learn skills around emotional regulation. The 504 provided accommodations for her migraines, such as receiving paper copies of assignments so that she did not have to look at the jarring light of a computer screen.

Another example is a student who qualified for an IEP under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Other Health Impairment (OHI). He also qualified for a 504 due to a feeding impairment. He needed appropriate accommodations to thrive at school, which included leaving class 10 minutes early to go to lunch so he could focus on eating.

Remember, it`s all based on individual need, and sometimes, these situations are best kept separate in their own plan.

MAINTENANCE MONDAY:
Did you know that school breaks can affect how well your child maintains their learning skills? That`s why checking your child`s progress right before and after breaks is so important! When teachers measure your child`s skills around fall, winter, and spring break, they can:

✳️See if your child kept up their learning during the break
✳️Figure out how quickly they get back to their previous skill level
✳️Use this information to plan the best support for your child

This information is very helpful when deciding if your child might benefit from extended learning opportunities over the summer (Extended School Year/ESY). Think of it like taking photos of your growing child - these progress "snapshots" help us see how your child is doing and make sure they`re getting the right support at the right time to meet that annual trajectory.

Don`t hesitate to give your child`s school team a friendly nudge about their progress monitoring plans.

#progressiskey #extendedschoolyear #regression #recoupment #winterbreak #kids1stadvocacy #diveintodata

What a milestone year!

From collaborating with 48 school teams to advocating alongside 50 families, each step brought us closer to educational equity in Colorado and neighboring states. My work centered on transforming special education delivery through robust accountability systems, bridging achievement gaps, and expanding critical support services.

Teams embraced innovative thinking to customize approaches for each student`s unique needs. We created sustainable, consistent support systems by identifying successful strategies utilized by outside providers and implementing them within schools. This systematic approach across multiple districts ensured schools moved beyond promises to deliver reliable, high-quality services to every student who needed them.

A big thank you to all of my families for trusting me to lead the way and embracing your parental voice.

#kids1stadvocacy #2024impact

ATTENTION ALL WITCHES, WIZARDS, MAGICAL FOLK, AND MAYBE A FEW MUGGLES!

By order of personal necessity (and approval from the Department of Magical Self-Care), I shall be taking leave to attend to matters of rest and rejuvenation. Much like Professor Dumbledore occasionally retreats to contemplate in his Pensieve, I, too, must take time to restore my magical energies.

I will be temporarily disappearing through Platform 9¾ through January 6, 2025. Like the Phoenix rising from its ashes, I shall return renewed and refreshed in 2025, ready to face whatever new adventures await.

Mischief Managed!

P.S. - Any attempts to contact me via Howler will be redirected to Peeves.

Q&A - WINTERBREAK EDITION
Question - How can I maintain a routine for my child with ADHD during the holiday break?

Answer - Winter break doesn`t need to be a perfect copy of school days (we all need a breather, right?), but keeping some basic routines can be a huge sanity-saver. Think of it like guardrails - they keep things from going off track while still letting kids (and adults) enjoy their break.

Here are some suggestions -

* Maintain Core Routines: Keep consistent wake-up and bedtime schedules. This helps prevent the disruption that can make returning to school more challenging. For example, if your child usually wakes at 7 AM for school, aim for 7:30-8 AM during the break.

* Create Visual Schedules: Make a daily schedule board using pictures or colors to outline activities. This gives your child a clear sense of what to expect. Consider dividing the day into morning, afternoon, and evening blocks, with specific activities for each.

* Balance Structure and Freedom: Include both scheduled activities and free time. Consider designating 10-11 AM for a structured activity (like holiday crafts or reading), followed by free play time. This helps maintain focus while allowing for the natural need to decompress during breaks.

* Build-in Movement: This is a BIG one! Regular physical activity is crucial. Schedule daily outdoor time or indoor movement breaks - dancing to holiday music, doing obstacle courses, or having "silly movement" sessions can make exercise fun while helping with focus and energy regulation.

Question for you - What kinds of activities does your child particularly enjoy? This will help you incorporate their interests into the routine. Check out the local sensory gym or trampoline park. Go to a local bookstore or library and let them check out some books. Or how about a movie? There are a few kid-friendly, sensory-friendly movies in your local cinema. Build it all into a visual schedule for them, and there you have your structure.

Stay tuned for more Q&As throughout the break!