ADHD and School: How to Get a 504 or IEP (Even When the School Keeps Stalling)

Send us Fan Mail 504 vs IEP for ADHD, explained by a former teacher. What each plan is, who qualifies, how to request an evaluation in writing, and what to do when the school stalls. ____________________________________________________ A mom messaged me this week. Her medicated third grader was on the honor roll last year. This year he's dropped to a 68 in his favorite subject, coming home drained, and the school's answer to three years of asking for help is still "let's try this first." If that's you, this one's for you. If you've ever felt confused about the difference between a 504 and an IEP, or gotten the runaround when you asked for help, this episode breaks it all down. As a former teacher and a mom, I walk through what a 504 plan actually is, what an IEP adds on top of it, and who qualifies for each, straight from federal law and the U.S. Department of Education's own guidance. I bust the two myths that trip parents up most, that a medicated child or a child with passing grades can't qualify, and I give you the exact five-step process for requesting an evaluation in writing, including what to do when the school refuses or hides behind RTI. The throughline: you can be calm and persistent at the same time, and that combination is far more powerful than anger. Inside this episode What a 504 plan is: a civil rights protection that changes the environment around your child, with real ADHD accommodation examples. Why an ADHD diagnosis is generally presumed to substantially limit major life activities, so you don't have to prove your child is "disabled enough." The medication myth: why a school legally must evaluate your child as if the medication were removed. The grades myth: why a child earning A's can still qualify, because the standard is substantial limitation, not failure. What an IEP is and how it goes further: specialized instruction, related services, measurable goals, and stronger legal protections. Who qualifies for an IEP under the "other health impairment" category, and why the discrepancy model does not apply to ADHD. The clean way to tell them apart: a 504 changes the environment, an IEP changes the education itself. The five-step process to request an evaluation, starting with the single most important move: put it in writing. Why looping in the district's 504 coordinator changes the room, and how to find that person. What to do when the school refuses: prior written notice, procedural safeguards, and the one sentence that restarts the process. Why RTI cannot be used to delay or deny an evaluation, with the exact Department of Education guidance to cite. Timestamps 00:00 A mom hits the wall at school 02:08 Teachers aren't the enemy, and a quick disclaimer 03:40 504 plans explained, with ADHD examples 08:08 Eligibility myths about medication and grades 10:51 IEPs explained and what they add 13:51 Who qualifies for an IEP 16:10 How to request an evaluation 18:14 Handling a refusal with prior written notice 20:23 Why RTI can't delay an evaluation 24:18 Be calm, persistent, and prepared 27:56 The free download and final encouragement Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2531405/episodes/19791858-adhd-and-school-how-to-get-a-504-or-iep-even-when-the-school-keeps-stalling One thing to do next Grab the free download: a list of ADHD-specific 504 accommodations plus the five questions to ask before your next 504 meeting, including the exact language to use when the school pushes back and where each one is grounded in federal law. Get i