General

Assignment 1
Hannah Durham
Intro to Special Education
Jeffery Jones
Saturday, February 28, 2015

IEP vs. 504 Plans

Special education is very important in schools; it helps kids succeed who

could have not been able to succeed without the proper help. Special education is
the practice of educating students with special needs in a way that addresses their
individual differences and needs. Needless to say, special education plays a big part
in all schools. Parents of a child with a disability will probably come across both
IDEA and Section 504 special education regulations and requirements if their child
is in public school.

With these two plans, there is a difference in both the type and purpose of

the regulations. Section 504 is a civil rights law, and it was originally put in place to
stop discrimination by places that were getting public funding, including public
schools. This was because the funding was usually grants, or other forms of
government money. IDEA is a law set for education. It is a law stating that public
schools are required to provide Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to
students that have disabilities. The disabilities in IDEA have to qualify to one of the
specific categories that are listed by the law.

The services between these two regulations are also different. The 504 plan

makes it so the public schools adapt and accommodate the student with a disability.
They are required to adapt and accommodate them, but they arent required to
provide more than what is provided for students without disabilities. If a student
qualifies for IDEA, they are also required to get an IEP, Individualized Education
Program. IDEA is more individualized and could potentially include specialized
instruction and other services that arent given to other students.

Another difference between the 504 plans and IDEA is the definition of the

term disability. In 504, the definition of disability is broader that it is in IDEA. It

could include a vast group of students that could have both disabilities that are
mental, physical, and disabilities that limit life functions. IDEA regulations are much
more specific. They have to be defined as one in thirteen specific diagnoses. Most of
the time they have to follow the thirteen diagnoses, but sometimes states can have
their own criteria, but it must be approved by the US Department of Education.

In the 504 plans, parents are required to be notified on how their student

will be accommodated if they have a disability. In other words, the parents dont
necessarily have to consent; they just have to be notified. A lot of the time, though,
school districts like to hear parents input and offer them a chance to decline the
services if they wish. IDEA is a little stricter with it, though. Many more schools
require a parents consent. Parents are both notified and they are supposed to go to
a meeting to talk about what accommodations and modifications their student will
receive.

One thing that both the 504 and IDEA have in common is that evaluations are

required. They both require an evaluation to make sure that the student is eligible
for the services. A lot of the time IDEA has more comprehensive evaluations than
the 504 evaluations. 504 evaluations are designed and limited to specific questions
that are meant for the individual student and their individual needs.

Basically, IDEA and 504 plans have many big differences. They are different

because they have different purposes and regulations, different services, different
definitions of disability, different procedure, and different evaluations. They may

be a lot different from each other, but there are also some similarities. They both
accommodate children with disabilities and they make sure students get the right
help that they should by evaluating them to determine how to help.

Accommodations and Modifications

If a student has either an Individualized Education Program or 504 plans, the

terms accommodation and modification will most definitely also be involved.

Even though they may come off as being similar, they are pretty different.

An accommodation generally changes a couple things for the student to make

it so they personally learn better. It does not change or lower the standard or
expectation of the course for the student. Accommodations are physical or
environmental changes. Some of these changes could include; extended time,
breaks, various activities, or change in the classroom. Basically it is good teaching
strategy, making it easier for the student to learn. Accommodations could include
presenting material differently to students so that they have a better time
understanding it, or even giving them different tools in order to help a student
understand material.

A modification is different in the fact that it changes the course, standard,

expectations, among other things. A modification does change or lower the standard
or expectation of the course, standard, or test. A modification could adapt or
simplify the task by modifying the content area. A lot of the time this is done by
shortening an assignment, and making it easier. Changing the grading standards and
adapting tests by lowering reading levels can also do it.

Accommodations and moderations are both very different from one another,

but they have a couple of similarities also. Both of them require decisions to be
based by and IEP. The decision must also be based on their individualized needs,

and it should be able to demonstrate each childs progress. Both are made to help
children that are disabled.

Accommodation and Modification Scenarios

Case Scenario 1

Susies story is an example of a modification. It is an example of a modification
because it changed the actual test of the student. It made it so the student could
cover less of the material and made it less complex.

Case Scenario 2

Marcos story is an example of an accommodation. It is an accommodation because
Marco is still expected to do the same amount of work as the other students; he just
uses a different method to obtain the answer.

Case Scenario 3

Bobbys story is a modification. Its modification because his expectations are lower
than the rest of the classes. Bobby is only required to identify the main idea, while
the rest of the class is supposed to identify the main idea and the supporting detail.

Case Scenario 4

This is an example of modification. Patricia only has to complete 10 math problems,
not even simplifying them, whereas the rest of the students have to simplify them
and do 30 problems.

Case Scenario 5

Malcolms scenario is an example of accommodation. The teacher figured out that he
could do the same amount of work, and learn the same as long as the print is bigger.
He still comprehends everything as well as the other students.

Case Scenario 6

Jacobs scenario is an example of an accommodation. He sits closer to the teachers
PowerPoint, so he can focus on the information better. He is still expected to
comprehend what the class is going over, the teacher is just trying to make it easier
for him.

Classroom Example 1

Rajivs accommodations could include;
a. text in bigger print
b. a device that can read aloud for him
c. extended time
d. him being in a separate room

Classroom Example 2
Elizas accommodations could include:
a. using a calculator
b. extended time
c. using a book that explains how to do the math problems
d. highlighting key words in problems

Classroom Example 3

Jesses accommodations could include;
a. using a flowchart to demonstrate steps for problem solving
b. giving him well-defined worksheets
c. giving him steps to the easier math problems
d. giving him formulas

Classroom Example 4

Victors accommodations could include:
a. using a pencil for as long as he can
b. using an iPad or laptop when he cant use a pencil anymore
c. doing his work orally with a teacher helping
d. take short breaks from writing

Classroom Example 5

Stevens accommodations could include:
a. maybe try a flipped classroom with him
b. have Mr. Michaels talk to him about missing class
c. have Mr. Michaels talk to his other teachers to see what helps him
d. give him extended time on certain things

Classroom Example 6

Tonyas accommodations could include:
a. have her teachers make sure she fills her planner out daily, having them
check it off
b. talk to her about when the assessments are, telling her to make sure she
studies
c. give her extended time to get her assignments finished
d. have her come in afterschool for help on her missing assignments