Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional 504 Plan + Gifted Accomodations?

Has anyone here been successful in getting gifted accomodations such as advanced coursework, subject acceleration, etc. included as part of a 504 plan? I'm gearing up for finally getting a plan in place for my DD9 with ADHD, and I'm trying to come up with a diplomatic way of saying "she needs subject acceleration or she'll get bored quicker and disrupt the class more often."

At a minimum, we're looking for them to let her type or dictate assignments and tests instead of handwriting them. I don't think we'll have much problem getting her writing issues accomodated, but I'd love to get acceleration covered as well. Any thoughts?

master of none is right - a 504 plan is used to remove the barriers so that the child can access the curriculum. It does not provide for changes to the curriculum such as enhancements.

Here is a good definition of an Accommodation: An accommodation allows a student to complete the same assignment or test as other students, but with a change in the timing, formatting, setting, scheduling, response and/or presentation. This accommodation does not alter in any significant way what the test or assignment measures.
Examples of accommodations include a student who is
blind taking a Braille version of a test or a student taking a
test alone in a quiet room. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.accoms.mods.pdf

If accelerated work is typically available to kids in his school, and he meets the criteria to take part, he should be given access to that work along with the needed accommodations such as typing, dictating, more time etc. But, an enhanced curriculum in and of itself would not be part of the 504 plan. The plan covers the accommodations needed to access the program.

All that is true about 504s - but I would ask anyway.

Here's my try at a more polite version of 'get bored quicker' -

Kids with ADHD are known to need more immediate rewards for their efforts. With subject acceleration our daughter will be in an environment where the natural reward of learning new and interesting material will be there to provide her with the increased internal emotional rewards from learning.

It need to be shorter, but maybe that will help spur a better idea.

How about -

ADHD kids are known to have wonderful focus - hyperfocus - when the material is really interesting to them. Please help my child suceed at school by allowing her subject acceleration so that she has a better chance of that full minded engagement that ADHD kids love.

Note - I would never refer to a child with ADHD as an 'ADHD kid' except in a very few instances - it so rude! But in this case you are signaling to the school 'take pity on us -I will talk your language - please give my dd subject acceleration.'

Love and More Love,
Grinity