what is a 504? | ADHD Information

504 is a civil rights law, and all children being served by Special Education are automatically covered by 504.  You do not need a separate 504 Plan to deal with your daughter's ADHD.  It should be added to her IEP, but I do not know what the laws are in your state.  What I would try to do is to get her attending psychiatrist to write the dx and, if possible (this can be difficult with psychiatrists), a list of necessary modifications and accommodations that your daughter must have to be academically successful.  Then, call an ARD and rewrite your dd's IEP, encompassing the ADHD.Hi Mother Cardinal!
Do a search on all forums using 504 and you will come up with a recent post on differences between 504 and IEPs.  I haven't heard of them used together.  It sounds like it is time to rewrite her IEP.  the 504s are accommodations that the regular classroom teacher can do to make the regular curriculm more accessible.  Ex. extra time on assignments, shorter assignments, computer accommodations etc.

My dd already has an IEP because she has an expresive language disorder.She was diagnosed with severe(we're talking off the charts)ADHD.  The counselro said we needed to talk to the school about a 504.  what exactly is that, and could I just have her adhd added to her IEP?

Yes you can have the ADHD considered as a reason to continue an IEP.  You can request the school to do testing...if you havent done it yourself already.  Put your request in writing to the school.  A lot of ADHD kids do end up with a 504 plan.  It is very similar to the IEP.  The majro difference that I have found is that my daughter used to come out of class for one on one speach classes.  Now that she is doing well with speach, they make classroom based accommodations for her.  She gets up and does tasks every hour.  Additionally, the teacher adjusts her setting for certain tests.  I also have the right to do a "timed" amount of homework.  I dont because my daughter is also very bright and would quickly figure this out and never get anything done.  I dont have a 504 plan right now.  My school is actually fighting it. But I have an advocate who assures me she will have one by the next meeting.  Basically, my daughters teacher is one that will do these kinds of accomodations without a plan to direct her to do it. 

Good Luck to you!