My daughter will be a junior this year and will have a 504 for the first time. She is LD and received special services up through 5th grade when she was staffed out due to her excellent progress. Well, now school is more difficult and was recently diagnosed as bipolar along with ADHD. Last year was not too great and we’d like to not repeat that experience. School district is awesome and willing to do anything, but I need some ideas for accomodations. Here is what we have so far: 1)Provide a copy of notes if needed. By this age teachers are lecturing and expect students to be able to “catch” the notes which of course she can’t. Even if an outline is provided, she still struggles. 2)Preferential seating which for her is not right next to the teacher, but out of the way, far away from distractions. That’s it. She says she doesn’t need extra time on tests even though I want her to have that available to her if needed. Any others that anyone thinks would be needed by a highschool student? Sorry this is so long. Thanks for the help. Marciad
Re: Ideas for accomodations
Hi Marciad,
It isn’t unusual that note taking for her as an accommodation in 9th grade. Some other ideals is a recorder to tape lectures. But daughter has to be willing to do try. Anything you suggest I have found out as MOM usually is ignored. So strongly recommend you talk to the team if its possible and they can communicate ideals to her. Also ask her what she thinks what would help.
PS its great that she has come a long way in progressing.
It would depend on how her bipolar effects her at school. My dd also has bp and has specific accommodations for it. She has a “safe” area that she can use for self-calming, access to “safe” people to talk with, isolated area for testing if necessary, flexible start times for difficult times.
Other accommodations would have to follow her needs for her LDs.
If you would like support for the bp issues, there is a great site called Brainstorm - http://www.bpinfo.net - Very nice group of people who are going through the same things you are. :)
http://www.schoolbehavior.com/conditions_mood.htm - this has some great articles and listings of specific accommodations for kids with mood disorders. Lots of good info.
I hope this helps.