IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that public education provide appropriate services to children whose disabilities limit or impede the ability to function in an educational setting. Under IDEA, your child may qualify for special services if they have ADHD and the ADHD significantly impairs academic performance. IDEA lists many different categories of disability under which a child can be eligible for special education. ADHD children often qualify under the “Other Health Impaired” category. Your child’s ADHD does not automatically make them eligible for services under IDEA, but they may qualify if the ADHD symptoms severely inhibit learning and behavior at school. If the outcome of the school evaluation indicates that your child meets the criteria for special education services, you and school personnel will meet to develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) specifically tailored to your child. The IEP is a written document that outlines goals for your child, as well as the educational, developmental and behavioral support and services your child will receive in order to help them reach these goals.
Section 504
The definition of a disability is much broader under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 than it is under IDEA. If your child does not qualify for services under IDEA, they still may be able to qualify for services under Section 504. Section 504 requires that the needs of students with disabilities be met as adequately as the needs of those students without disabilities.
Determining a Need for Special Services and Accommodations
The school system will determine if your child qualifies for specialized services and accommodations under section 504. You may make a request for services by submitting the request in writing to your child’s school. Be sure to ask for a copy of your school district’s policies and procedures on Section 504, so you can better understand your rights and responsibilities, as well as those of the school. Special education services and support should be provided in the least restrictive environment, so often ADHD children continue in the regular classroom with appropriate modifications and accommodations rather than being placed in a separate special needs classroom. Removal from the regular mainstream classroom would only occur if the student continues to struggle significantly in the regular classroom despite accommodations and interventions. Below is a list of accommodations that are often granted to children with ADHD.
Classroom Accommodations Helpful for Students with ADHD
For more information on special education services and procedures, contact your local school district or your State Department of Education. You will also find information and support at your state Parent Training and Information Center and at the Office of Civil Rights.
