Does your child struggle in the classroom but doesn’t have — or doesn’t qualify for — an IEP? You’re not alone.
An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a formal plan for kids with specific differences, such as ADHD, autism, or learning disorders, ensuring they get the special education services they need.
However, your child can still receive some classroom support even without an IEP. Schools can offer accommodations to help them thrive. Here are some situations where accommodations might help:
- Your child is anxious and needs help managing transitions or speaking in front of the class.
- They struggle with focus and miss important details during lessons.
- Reading or writing assignments feel overwhelming, even if there’s no formal diagnosis.
- They have sensory sensitivities to noise, light, or crowded spaces.
- They work slowly and need more time to process assignments.
Advocating for your child doesn’t require a diagnosis — every student deserves to feel supported and get what they need to succeed.
Classroom accommodations you can request without an IEP
Your child doesn’t necessarily need an IEP to get support at school! Here are examples of informal accommodations you can request:
- Preferential seating near the teacher or away from distractions
- Extra time for tests, quizzes, or assignments
- Access to noise-canceling headphones for focus in loud environments
- Chunking assignments into smaller, manageable tasks
- Movement breaks during long lessons to help with focus
- Written instructions to accompany verbal directions
- Flexible deadlines when your child feels overwhelmed
- Calm-down space for emotional regulation
- Peer note-taker to ensure they don’t miss key information
- Modified workload to reduce overwhelm without sacrificing learning goals
Reach out to your child’s teacher to start the conversation.
The difference between an IEP and a 504
If your child does have a diagnosed disability, learning difference, or physical or mental health condition, it may help to make it official by requesting a Section 504 Accommodations Plan or an IEP. Every public school is required to make accommodations or modifications (or provide access to services, when necessary) to ensure students with disabilities can participate.
But what’s the difference between a 504 and an IEP? The distinction can be confusing because they are both meant to support students with special needs but are based on two different laws.
In a nutshell, an IEP has more rules and requirements, but can also offer more robust support when a special education or specialized learning plan is needed. An IEP:
- Is only for students with one of the 13 disabilities listed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Creates a specialized learning plan that can make changes to what the student learns in school
- Is always a written plan that includes annual goals
- Must be created by a team that includes a certain number of specialists and district administrators
A 504 Plan has fewer requirements, and can provide support for a broader range of students with health issues. Basically, a student who doesn’t qualify for an IEP might still be able to get a 504. A 504 Plan:
- Is for students with any disability, physical or mental health issue that affects daily activity
- Provides accommodations that remove barriers to the student’s learning
- Doesn’t have to be in writing or include annual goals (but of course, the more detail you have in writing, the better)
- Can be created by anyone who has knowledge of the student’s needs, such as teachers, school nurse, principal, and parents
If you think your child might need one of these plans or programs, you can discuss it with their teachers, pediatrician, therapist, school psychologist or counselor.
Watch our video for more about how to request an IEP:
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