by: Barb Dunn, LPC
So, your child has just been diagnosed with ADHD, and your doctor mentioned checking into a 504 plan at school. But do they really need one? It depends. A 504 plan helps eligible students get the accommodations they need to better access their curriculum. Some kids with ADHD might not appear to need any extra help during school hours, but things can look a lot different when they get home.
Take a Look at Your Child’s Situation
First, think about how your child is doing. Are they getting good grades, turning in assignments on time, and making it to class without a hitch? If they seem to hold it together at school but come home and have meltdowns over friends, homework, or other stresses, it might mean they’re using all their emotional energy to manage their day. By the time they’re home, they might be exhausted and less able to cope. In these cases, a 504 plan might not be necessary.
Tips for Supporting Your Child at Home
1. Give Them Downtime: Make sure they have time to relax. This could mean going for a walk, playing games, making art, listening to music, or just napping.
2. Create Some Structure: Teaching your child how to stay organized and manage their time can really help both at school and at home. Set aside time to go over due dates, help them organize their backpack, and make sure they can easily find completed homework. Encourage them to pack their bag, prep lunch, and pick out clothes for the next day. Routines can really help reduce arguments and make things run more smoothly.
When Might a 504 Plan Be Helpful?
What if your child does their homework but just doesn’t turn it in? Do they forget due dates, throw tantrums over homework, or get in trouble for being late or too chatty? What if they’re quiet but lose focus easily (daydream) and miss important instructions? In these cases a 504 plan could really help.
Accommodations You Can Ask For
● Focus:
○ Preferential seating away from distractions (like friends, doors, or windows) or close to the teacher.
○ Movement breaks—maybe a quick walk, standing at the back of the room, or helping out with small tasks.
● Concentration:
○ Breaking assignments into smaller, manageable steps.
○ Reducing the number of problems on assignments if they understand the material (like doing every other math problem).
○ Testing in a quieter place with fewer distractions.
○ Getting a copy of class notes in exchange for the ones they attempted to complete.
A Heads-Up About Extended Time
Sometimes, people suggest giving kids extended time on tests and assignments so they can finish without feeling rushed. But students with ADHD can struggle with time management, often called time blindness. For example, an hour of video games may feel like 10 minutes to them. Reading a book for 15 minutes that they must read could feel like forever! If they are having trouble staying focused on work, giving them more time might just let them lose focus even more. So, instead of helping them concentrate, it might just give them more chances to get distracted.
The Bottom Line
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for students with ADHD. Take a close look at when and how your child struggles. Start by setting up some structure and routines at home, and then see what other supports they might need from school.
