How Do I Get a 504 in Arizona?

How does one get a 504 plan for their student in Arizona? A 504 plan is different from an IEP. And one major difference is how you go about getting a 504 plan. So, a 504 plan is for students K-12 and even in some public university settings as well. 

Who Can Apply? Parents or Teachers

To get a 504 plan, a parent or guardian is likely the person to initiate the process. I always recommend, with a 504-plan giving written notice to the school that you would like for your student to be evaluated for a 504 plan. Teachers can also initiate this but it’s a little bit rare, it’s normally a parent. So, I always just say, put it in writing, and send it to the school. 

Difference Between IEP and 504 Plan Requirements

Now, a 504 plan does not have the same time requirements as an IEP. You can check out my blog on how to get an IEP for your child. But once the parent initiates the process for an IEP, the clock starts ticking, and the school has specific time periods that they must adhere to for your student to receive the IEP. A 504 plan does not have that. So, sometimes parents really must keep reaching out, advocating for their students, and pushing for that. Now, once you give written notice that you like for your child to be evaluated for a 504 plan, the school must do some type of evaluation.

Student Evaluation

Now, the purpose of the evaluation is to collect data to assess the student. If the school already has enough data, teacher’s observation, parent observation, if they’re already going to different types of therapy or medical health providers, and they’re all providing data, an additional evaluation may not be needed. So, that process would be, that the 504 team would decide if an additional evaluation would need to happen. And once that evaluation has taken place where they feel like there’s already enough data, then they’ll decide if the student is eligible for a 504 plan. Again, a 504 plan is different from an IEP. In an IEP, you need a specific category of disabilities to qualify. For a 504 plan, that’s not the case.

Who Can Qualify?

The standard is that the student must be physically or mentally impaired, substantially that it limits major life activities. So, if that’s the standard that they’re looking at, it can be physical, it can be mental, but it must substantially impair them. If that is found, then the 504 plan will be written. And it will address accommodation for the students. 

Accommodations for 504 Plan Students

It’s typically going to look like some sort of accommodations within the general education setting. This may mean students receiving specific services from the school such as therapy, or more commonly, it’s going to be like exams and instruction. So, a student may be able to leave the classroom and go to a quiet area to take an exam or they’re given an extended period to take an exam or the exam might be read out loud to that student.

Those are all common accommodations in a 504 plan. And then once the 504 plan is in place, periodically, evaluations will need to take place. And the school is responsible for setting those parameters and policies. So, again, just to summarize, for a student to get a 504 plan, the parent or guardian can initiate the process. They’ll have an evaluation to determine if they’re eligible, they’ll write the plan with the accommodations, and then a periodic review or evaluation will happen.

Other Blogs of Interest

• Arizona Individual Education Program: How Arizona IEP Attorney Can Help
• Arizona Special Education Attorney | AZ Special Needs Advocate Attorneys

What is a 504 Plan in Arizona?

What is a 504 plan in Arizona? A 504 plan is codified in federal statutes within the Rehabilitation Act, specifically section 504 which addresses civil rights and non-discrimination against people with disabilities. And so, the 504 plan protects people who have a disability that affects their ability to learn. 

Difference Between IEP and 504 Plan

A 504 plan is very similar to an IEP, and sometimes parents and guardians get confused. So, a 504 plan just simply allows the school to give accommodations to a student who may have a disability that affects their ability to learn. It’s unlike an IEP in the fact that you can have any sort of disability. In IEP, there are specific categories that you would have to qualify for.

Students Qualify for 504 Plan

In a 504 plan, your student is potentially more easily able to qualify for it. A 504 plan also outlines accommodations for the student. It’s not special education, so that is a misconception there. That’s more of an IEP. A 504 plan just simply gives the student accommodation. Let me give you some examples of the most common accommodations.

Examples of Common Accommodations

Normally, it would be like a quiet place for the student to take an exam. So, maybe they could go to a separate place that’s quiet, maybe they have an extended period to take an exam, or maybe their exam is read out loud to them. And this is just within the academic setting. It can go further if there’s any type of therapy that needs to be provided for that student, medications, and the accommodation list is endless. Just whatever your student needs to learn.

And if they’re having a disability that’s hindering that, then the 504 plan is a great way to provide accommodations. It is not going to give your student special education, so the type of instruction is going to be the same as everybody else’s general education. This is not special education services, that would be more of an IEP. 504 plans, like I said, are generally easy to obtain. If a parent wants that or a guardian, it’s best to have it in writing, requesting the school for the student to have an evaluation, or if they currently already have a medical diagnosis, you can use that and that can start the process. So, a 504 plan is a much faster process than an IEP.