504 .. What are the steps?

[camismom]

Can someone that has a 504 in place tell me the steps that took place to get it on file? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a 504 an "official" document, typed, with the modifications in writing and put on file?

I have been trying since late November to get a 504 in place for Cami. A brief history of what I have gone through (or haven't gone through) thus far follows:

1. Late November I requested a conferance with teachers and counselor to discuss getting a 504 started.
2. Had conferance Dec. 5th. The 6th grade counselor was out so 7th grade counselor sat in as well as 6th grade Asst. Principal. Several modifications were discussed and agreed upon. Counselor wrote the modifications on a form they have and all parties signed. I asked for and received copy of said form. Was informed at this meeting that the modifications would be implemented at the first of the year upon return from Christmas break. Was also informed that in order to make these suggested modifications become an official 504 they would need some form of paperwork from Cami's doctor showing that she was indeed diagnosed with ADHD, and upon receipt of this paper we would need to meet again to go on with the next step.
3. Sent paperwork showing ADHD diagnosis to 6th grade counselor at first of year the day they returned from break. Sent email to counselor asking what the next step would be in implementing the 504. Never received a reply, or even confirmation that paper was received.
4. Sent email to Asst. Principal last week (and asked her to forward to counselor since her email addy had apparently changed) asking them to again let me know where we stood with the 504 and what next step needed to be. According to Cami none of the modifications discussed in Dec. meeting have been started and I questioned why this was. Asked for Cami to be counseled on problems she is having with other students at school, and her attitude of late. Received call from Asst. Princ. that day telling me she had forwarded message to counselor and she would get with Cami on the other things mentioned.
5. Cami came home two days later (last Wed.) and told me she had met with the counselor, but they had only discussed the problems she was having with some classmates. Nothing was mentioned about the 504 or supposed modiciations and why they were'nt being done. She did confirm that the couns. had received the paperwork I sent with the dx on it.
6. A week after sending email to Asst. Principal and talking with her on phone, I have still not heard from counselor. Still do not know what next step is and what needs to be done.

Soooooooooo, what should I do? Needless to say I am getting a little frustrated. Due to an adjustment in Cami's med she is doing better than she was when we had the meeting in December so the mods may not be really needed at this time, BUT, I still want to have one in place so if it IS needed it can be implemented, and it will be in place for future grades. I think they are thinking that just the spoken aggreement on the mods we made in meeting are enough and we don't need to go any further. I have asked twice already what the next step is and have gotten no reply.

Am I missing something here? What should be being done that isn't and how should I handle this? Advice needed please!

[Sorka]

There is a great step by step guide at www.tourettesyndrome.net under their advocacy link.
You should find that helpful. It has alot of copies of form letters you can use to 'light a fire' under their bottoms to get them moving on this.
The most important thing is to not let up or give up if you think that she needs the help.

[Madison]

yep...yep...yep!
I'm going through that right now. It takes bloody FOREVER to get something going in school that can really help a child. I started this LAST Sept. Were now into Feb. and she's still doing the same thing school wise before I talked to them about it. She did the mini evaluation and the main meeting with all the councelors and HOOO HAAAAA....Love they way they ALL say their name like I'm to remember all of them...another story...They ask about how I feel and what they seen from the tests and tell me "She'll be doing another battery of tests on a BIG scale and that was the last I heard from them." She tested AVERAGE and below average in reading. They seemed to want to get something down on paper that could help her in class with this problem and that's why they are doing the big battery of tests. They missed a week of school due to snow days so that doesn't help much...I do REMEMBER they are allowed something like 60 SCHOOL DAYS to complete any of these evaluations. I just thought it was like 60 days total. That's like 3 MONTHS if your counting school days only. I'm still glad I did this BEFORE she really is failing at school. I saw it coming and wanted to approach this BEFORE 3rd grade. Hope this helps a little....your NOT alone in your wait for school to get something in place to concrete help your child succeed in school....

take care...madison

[camismom]

Cami's never even been evaluated by this school in any way. I met with them, we discussed a few mods, which was written on a form and signed by all in the meeting and we were done. I got a call from the counselor finally (after a email was sent to the asst princ) and she told me the 504 was in place! Ok, I was told at the Dec meeting that they would need documentation from her doc that she has ADHD and after that was rec'd we would need to meet again and finalize everything. That's what I've been waiting on, then today I'm told that a second meeting isn't necessary, all they needed was the form from her doc and the form that was filled out in handwriting at the Dec. meeting IS the 504. Call me naive, but I thought it be a little bit more of an official looking document than this, typed not written, and signed by ALL her teachers. What am I missing?