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

Your child has multiple disabilities and needs that touch every part of the school day. You want to know one thing: can the school help, and how do you start? The short answer is yes. A child with more than one disability can qualify for special education, and you can begin the process yourself, in writing, today. Here's what that support looks like and how to ask for it, all under the federal special education law. Can a child with multiple disabilities qualify for an IEP? Yes. A child with

"The school says my child's condition is medical, and their grades are fine, so they won't test for special education. Is that allowed?" Short answer: no, not on those two reasons alone. A health condition being "medical" and a child earning passing grades are not, by themselves, legal reasons for a public school to refuse to evaluate. Under federal special education law, what matters is whether the condition affects how your child does at school and whether your child needs specialized instruc

You watch your kid closer than any teacher can. So when the school says "let's wait and see" after a concussion or a head injury, and you can already see the difference at home, that gap is hard to sit with. Here's the most useful thing to know: you don't have to wait. Under federal special education law, you can ask the school to evaluate your child in writing at any time. The school can't make you finish a waiting period first. Let's walk through what you're allowed to ask for and how to put

"My child has a physical disability and is falling behind at school. Can the school help, and how do I even start?" If that's the question in your head right now, here's the short answer: a physical disability can qualify a child for an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which is the written special-education plan a public school must provide. And you can start the process yourself, in writing, without waiting for anyone's permission. Here's how a physical or orthopedic condition can open

You've been told your child is doing fine. The hearing aids work, the grades are steady, and the school says there's nothing more to do. If that answer left you uneasy, your instinct is worth trusting. A device that helps your child hear is not the same as full access to everything happening in a classroom. Here's the short version. Under federal special education law, hearing aids or a cochlear implant do not end the school's duty to look at what your child needs. Your child can still qualify

Your child has asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, ADHD, or another health condition that follows them into the classroom. Some days they're too tired to focus. Some days they miss school for appointments or a flare-up. You're wondering: can the school actually help, and how do you get that started? Here's the direct answer. A health condition can qualify your child for an IEP under a federal category called Other Health Impairment. An IEP, or Individualized Education Program, is the written special-ed

If your child had a traumatic brain injury, even a serious concussion, and it's changed how they think, remember, or get through a school day, you're probably asking one question above all others. Can the school actually help, and does this count under special education law? Yes. A traumatic brain injury is its own category under federal special education law. That means your child can qualify for an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. An IEP is the written plan a public school must creat

Your child is deaf or hard of hearing, and you want to know one thing: can the public school help, and how do you start? The short answer is yes, and you can begin the process today with a written request. Federal law backs you up here, so this isn't a favor you're asking for. It's a right your child already has. The law that protects your child is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It requires public schools to provide an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, which is

The school told you two things. The building is wheelchair accessible, and your child is passing, so there's no reason to start an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the written plan of specialized instruction and services a child gets at school. Here's the part that didn't come up: those are two different rules, and passing grades don't decide whether your child qualifies. You have the right to ask for an evaluation, in writing, at any time. Let's walk through why the school's answer does

The school says your child is too complex for a regular classroom, and you're being told they need a separate room or a different school entirely. That's a hard thing to hear. Here's the first thing to know: under federal law, "we can't serve them here" is the start of a conversation, not the end of one. Federal special education law is called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. It gives your child specific rights, and it gives you specific ways to use them. This isn't abo

You've got a kid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), decent grades, and a school that says a 504 plan is enough. You're wondering whether to push for more. Here's the short answer: good grades don't settle the question, and you have the right to ask for a full evaluation to find out. "Grades are fine" doesn't decide eligibility Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal special education law, ADHD is served under a category called "Other Health

Your child has ADHD, and you're wondering if the school has to help. The short answer is yes, a public school can help, and often the plan that does it is called an IEP. An IEP is an Individualized Education Program. It's a written special-education plan a public school must provide to a child who qualifies. It spells out the support your child gets, in writing, and the school has to follow it. Here's what qualifying actually depends on, and how you start. Does ADHD qualify for an IEP? ADHD