504 plan

A 504 plan sets out the supports a student with a disability needs to learn at school. It comes from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. That's a federal civil rights law. It bans unfair treatment based on disability in programs that get federal money. A student qualifies if a physical or mental impairment substantially limits a major life activity, such as learning, reading or speaking.

A diagnosis alone isn't enough, so an autism diagnosis doesn't qualify a child on its own. The school must evaluate your child first, using more than one source. Then it decides whether your child qualifies. Understood.org says 504 plans remove barriers in general education, while the federal rule also allows special education and related services.

For your child, a 504 plan might mean changes in the regular classroom. Classroom teachers must follow it. A child with an individualized education program (IEP) doesn't need a separate 504 plan, since an IEP is one way to meet Section 504. The rules for who qualifies differ, too, so a child who doesn't qualify for an IEP may still get a 504 plan. Parents also have rights, such as notice, access to records and an impartial hearing.

• Ask the school team: Ask how the school will evaluate your child for Section 504 and what information it will use.
• Ask about the plan itself: Ask the school whether the plan will be written down and how often it will be reviewed, since rules vary by state.
• Ask your behavior analyst: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) whether anything from your child's therapy could help you prepare for the school meeting.