PKD Life - Spring 2020 - 8

Ages & Stages
THE KID ZONE

Guide to IEPs
and 504 Plans
Learn what school
accommodations may be
available for your child.
By Liz Krieger

or services to help them succeed in school. There are two
types of formal plans that can help children with medical
challenges-504 plans and Individualized Education Programs
(IEPs), says Marcellis Washington, a certified school counselor
in Missouri. Both IEPs and 504 plans are intended to give
students with intellectual or physical disabilities equal
access to education.

A LEVEL FIELD

In general, 504 plans have
broader definitions of disability, but both ensure that
if something is affecting a
child's ability to learn in the
classroom, the school will
work with you to level the
playing field, Washington
says. In some cases, this may
involve specialized instruction or adapted materials,
but for others it can mean
giving extended time for tests
and assignments, large-print
classroom materials, or
modified seating.

8

For a child who has PKD,
it may be that his or her
ongoing health needs are
affecting certain aspects
of school, requiring special
accommodations including the potential for school
absences. "In these cases,
parents of kids with PKD
may also want to work with
their school to create an
Individualized Health Plan,
or IHP," Washington says.
The IHP will cover any
possible medical issues
that arise during the school
day and will provide the

school with accurate and
up-to-date information
about your child's health.
The IHP may be in addition to a 504 plan or the only
thing you and the school use,
depending on your child's
impairments, overall needs,
and your school district. All
504 plans and IEPs have
standardized formats and
set criteria, but IHPs can
vary by district.

DIET AND ACTIVITY

These health plans can
clarify important details
such as how medication will
be administered and any
special accommodations
that need to be made.
For example, a child who
has PKD may need to have
access to meals, snacks,
drinks, and bathroom visits
at different intervals than
other children, and it's vital
that "all the teachers and

nurses need to be aware of
this," Washington says.
Teachers and staff will
often help monitor a child's
nutrition and water intake,
which can be important
because small children may
need help staying on track.
Physical education is
another area where special
accommodations might
need to be made for a child
with PKD, says Washington,
because certain contact
sports can be off-limits
with children's vulnerable
kidneys. It's important that
staff members help modify
or restrict participation so
children can stay safe, learn
skills, and still have fun.

*

DANILO ANDJUS/GETTY IMAGES

is rarely a one-size-fits-all experience, and
E ducation
that's especially true for kids who might need support

A child who has
PKD may need
to have access to
food and drinks
at
different interva
ls
than ot her stud
ents.

PKD LIFE * SPRING 2020

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3/23/20 11:39 AM
PKD Life - Spring 2020

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