Stories from the team

You asked the school for more help, and someone told you a 504 plan is enough. Now you're wondering if that's actually true, and whether you're allowed to push for anything else. Here's the short answer: you can ask for a full evaluation in writing at any time, even if your child already has a 504 plan. You don't need the school's permission to ask, and an existing 504 plan doesn't take that right away. Let me walk you through what these two things actually are, so you can decide what fits you

The school said no to an IEP. You still have options. Learn why schools deny IEPs, what the law requires them to tell you, and the steps you can take to disagree, from asking for a meeting to filing a complaint.

Disagree with your child's school evaluation? Under federal law, you can ask for an independent educational evaluation (IEE). The school must either pay for it or request a due process hearing to defend its own evaluation. Here's how the process works and what to do first.

If the school said no out loud, you're entitled to that answer in writing. Learn what prior written notice is, what it must include under IDEA, and how to use it to plan your next request.

504 accommodations for ADHD, grouped by symptom: seating, movement breaks, extended time, and how to get each one written into the plan so it sticks.

A parent's guide to what to expect at an IEP meeting: who's in the room, the agenda from start to finish, and a copyable checklist of what to bring, ask, and avoid.

An IEP is reviewed at least yearly and reevaluated every 3 years. Learn the IEP review timeline and how to request an early review in writing at any time.

Accommodations change how your child learns; modifications change what they're expected to learn. See 9 same-task IEP examples and why the difference matters.

The 13 categories of special education under IDEA are explained in plain language, with a real example for each and the exact next step to request an IEP evaluation.

Special education advocate guide: what they do, advocate vs attorney, IEP advocate cost, and how a free case review works if the school denied your IEP.

IEP transition planning is required by age 16. Get the checklist for transition goals, services, and assessments, plus where plans go wrong and how to fix them.

An IEP for dyslexia should teach reading, not just add extra time. Learn which structured literacy services and accommodations to request, and how to document your need.

A plain-language IEP accommodations list: 10 common classroom accommodations sorted into presentation, response, setting, and timing, with an example of each.

The short answer Your child wears hearing aids or a cochlear implant, seems to be keeping up, and the school says that's enough. It's fair to wonder if you're missing something. You're not. Here's the direct answer: yes, the school still has to help. Hearing devices are a huge help, but they don't end the school's duty to look at what your child needs. Under federal special education law, a child who is deaf or hard of hearing has needs that go beyond how well a device works in a quiet room. T

Is your child deaf or hard of hearing, and you're wondering whether the public school has to step in? It does. Under federal law, a child who is deaf or hard of hearing can qualify for an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. That's the written special-education plan a public school must provide to a child who needs it. Here's how the law works and how you start. Deafness and hearing impairment are two ways to qualify The law that covers this is the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Your child has trouble talking, being understood, or putting words together, and you're wondering whether the school has to do anything about it. The short answer is yes. A speech or language delay can qualify your child for school support, and you have the right to ask the school to check, in writing, at no cost to you. Here's what that support looks like and how you start it. Speech and language is its own special education category Under federal law, a speech or language problem is one of

The school says your child will "grow out of it," or that speech help doesn't need an Individualized Education Program (IEP). You're wondering what your child is actually entitled to, and whether "let's wait and see" is even allowed. Here's the direct answer: under federal law, you can ask the school to evaluate your child in writing at any time. The school cannot make you wait first. And if a speech or language delay is affecting your child's learning, you have the right to a full evaluation t

Is my child's anxiety something the school has to help with? If your child's anxiety, depression, or behavior at school has you wondering whether the school is required to step in, you're asking the right question. The short answer: yes, it can be. A mental or emotional health condition can qualify your child for special education support under federal law, if it affects how they function at school. Here's how that works, and what you can do this week. The law that covers this is the Individua

You've been told your child's grades are fine, so why worry about an evaluation? Maybe a teacher said it kindly. Maybe someone suggested you "try some support strategies first and see." If your child is anxious, shutting down, or struggling emotionally at school, that answer can leave you stuck. Here's the most useful thing to know: you can request a free school evaluation for an IEP in writing at any time, even when your child's grades look okay. Good grades don't cancel out that right. This p

You asked the school to test your child, and someone suggested waiting. Maybe they want to try more classroom support first, or give it another semester, or see how things go before doing a full evaluation. You are allowed to ask for that evaluation now, and the school has to respond. Here's the single most useful thing to know: under federal law, you can request a free evaluation in writing at any time. The school can't require you to wait through months of extra support before it agrees to te

Your child was just diagnosed with an intellectual disability, or a doctor thinks one might be there, and now you're wondering what the school has to do about it. The short answer: a diagnosis opens the door, but it doesn't hand you an Individualized Education Program (IEP) on its own. An IEP is a written plan, required by federal law, that spells out the special education and support your child gets at school. What "intellectual disability" means under IDEA Under the federal special educatio

Your child's teacher or doctor said the words "developmental delay," and now you're wondering what it means for school. The short answer: yes, a developmental delay can qualify your child for an IEP. Here's how that works. An IEP is an Individualized Education Program, the written special-education plan a public school must provide by law. That law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal rule that guarantees eligible children a free, appropriate public education.

If your child's school or doctor has said "let's wait and see" about a possible delay, you're probably wondering the same thing most parents wonder: Do I have to accept that? The short answer is no. You can ask for a free evaluation in writing, and once you do, a legal clock starts running. That one action is the most concrete step you can take right now. It doesn't matter that someone suggested waiting first. A written request puts the decision in your hands, not theirs. What "wait and see"

If your child has a diagnosis like asthma, epilepsy, ADHD, diabetes, or a heart condition, you're probably asking a very direct question: does this qualify them for support at school? The honest answer is that it can, but the diagnosis by itself isn't the deciding factor. What matters is whether the condition affects how your child learns and functions in the classroom. Here's the most useful thing to know first. You don't have to wait for the school to notice a problem. You can ask for a free

The school says a 504 plan will take care of your child's health condition. You're wondering whether that's really enough, or whether you should be asking for something more. That's a fair question, and you have every right to ask it. Here's the short answer. A 504 plan and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are two different things under two different federal laws. If your child needs specialized instruction, not just accommodations, you can ask the school to evaluate for special educat