AboutElizabeth Hamblet Expertise My specialty is transition to college for students with learning disabilities and ADD. I can answer specific questions about the laws governing services and accommodations and about the changes in focus for students with learning disabilities and ADD headed to college.
Experience I was a learning disabilities specialist at the post-secondary level for over a decade. I now give speeches and do private consulting on this topic, and I am a contributing writer for Disability Compliance for Higher Education.
Organizations Association for Higher Education and Disabilities
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Publications Disability Compliance and Higher Education
Education/Credentials M.Ed. in Special Education
M.A.T.
State-certified Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant
Training in Orton-Gillingham
Past/Present Clients Princeton High School
The Pennington School
The Newgrange School
Delaware Valley Regional High School
Hillsborough Public Schools
New Jersey Association of Learning Consultants
Don Bosco Prep
Middlesex County Guidance Association
Question Hi, my son has been on an IEP for 11+ years. He has ADHD and a tough time processing info. This is his graduating year. We met with the school to discuss his iep in Sept and he decided he wanted to try without iep..they discussed putting him on 504?> We never signed anything and now are looking to get him a grant for college. When I called the school he currently is enrolled in they said they took him off the IEP. When I asked how could they without signature they said they didn't need one. Can you help answer these questions. I have many more questions. Can you call me at (508) 277-6828 or write back with any/all help. Thank you! Colleen Garrett
Answer Hi, Colleen. I'm not sure that I'm clear on all of the details of this, but I'll do my best to help.
IEP's only last a year, and their expiration date should be right on the cover sheet. So, if you haven't signed a new plan since the old one expired, your son has no paperwork to guarantee him services.
I admire your son for wanting to wean himself off services, if he is indeed willing to work hard with compensatory techniques to make sure he performs as well as he can. If your son is 18, it is up to him to decide whether to pursue a 504 plan, as he is an adult and the decision is his. If he is not 18, you still have the authority to deal with the school. What is important is not whether it's a 504 or an IEP, but what services or accommodations are written into the plan.
I'll assume that the school has good intentions in moving him to another plan or off of services altogether. The truth is, things are often very different at college, and many of the services and accommodations available at college are not the same as what is available in the high school. And if your son is willing to take on more responsibility himself now, this will help to prepare him for the college environment.
I'm not sure what you mean about getting your son a "grant" for college. Do you mean a scholarship related to his disability? If so, this is not something about which I am knowledgeable. I know that they are out there, but I'm not sure how students qualify. In case this is what you mean, the majority of colleges don't typically offer special scholarships for students with disabilities. Since it is illegal for colleges to ask about disability during the admissions process, they don't know who is coming in with a disability, which makes it hard for them to offer a scholarship.
I think you might want to start by asking the school why they want to move him to a 504. What are the benefits? It may be that he no longer qualifies for an IEP based on how your state defines eligibility. If that is the case, there is nothing you can do about it. Again, the most important thing to consider is the services. I always suggest keeping services to just what students need to survive. The more independent they are, the better.
