Today I learned Heidi may not get a 504 plan for this year. Heidi is allergic to everything and feels sick/congested/wheezy most of the time. When we first moved to NJ, we had a great big hassle about Heidi?s absences. We used to get these threatening letters that she might not pass a class because she was out a lot.
One time, the attendance secretary told me that if Heidi was going to be sick so much, I should get a 504 plan for her. I thought she was joking! I?d never heard of such a thing.
In Maryland and on LI, a note from me was always sufficient and Heidi was never penalized for being sick. In NJ, though, the only absences that would be excused where ones accompanied by a doctor?s note. Well, I wasn?t always taking Heidi to the doctor because it was fairly obvious she was having an allergy attack and not some bacterial infection. Here, though, I?d have to get a doctor?s note every single time Heidi wasn?t in school. That might not seem unreasonable but the doctor is like a 30 minute drive and if I ask for the note without the visit I still have to pay $10.
So we got the 504 plan. It meant that if Heidi was absent due to her allergies, I'd just call her in sick according to her 504 plan. She was not penalized in her school work. If she missed more than 5 days, she'd have a home tutor to help her catch up. It was a big relief to all of us because Heidi is frequently totally miserable and on the worst days, she really is very sick (but no temperature).
The secretary was apologetic and explained that they have this problem with all of the kids who had 504s for asthma/allergies. There are new federal regulations and they criteria for need is a lot more rigid and specific. Even with a specific diagnosis and a list of medications, I?d still have to provide a doctor?s note every single time Heidi is out.
Hello? Then what do I need a 504 for? To get Heidi a tutor if she?s out 5 days in a row? I have a feeling I wouldn?t even get that. I think this crack-down in asthma/allergy related 504s are because the budgets to schools are slashed so we can fund Mr. Bush?s project in Iraq.
It pisses me off.