Stories from the team

Can Anxiety or Depression Qualify Your Child for an IEP?

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

My Child's Grades Are Fine, So Why Would the School Evaluate for an IEP?

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

Intellectual Disability and School "Wait and See" Delays

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

Does an Intellectual Disability Qualify for an IEP?

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

Does a Developmental Delay Qualify for an IEP?

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.

What to Do About a Developmental Delay Now

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"

Does Your Child's Health Condition Qualify for an IEP?

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

504 Plan vs. IEP: What to Do.

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

504 Plan or OHI IEP? What Parents Should Know

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

Does Multiple Disabilities Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

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

What to Do When the School Says Your Child's Health Condition "Isn't an Education Issue"

"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

The School Says "Wait and See" After My Child's Head Injury. What Are My Rights?

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