A 504 Plan is a plan that helps students with disabilities or health conditions do well in school. It makes sure you get the support you need so you are able to learn just like everyone else. It’s called a 504 Plan because it comes from Section 504 of a law called the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This is a civil rights law. A civil rights law is a law that helps protect people from being treated unfairly because of things like their disability, race, or who they are.

There are different reasons you may need a 504 Plan. Here are a few common ones:

1. You have a health condition or disability that makes learning, focusing, or being in class harder.
2. You need extra support to help you succeed at school.
3. You need extra help to stay in regular classes.

A 504 Plan includes specific changes or adjustments a school will make to help you learn the same things as other students but in a way that works better for you. These changes and adjustments are known as accommodations. Accommodations are an important part of your 504 Plan. Some examples of accommodations are:

• Extra time to finish tests or assignments
• Taking breaks during class and tests
• Sitting in a quiet or special spot in the classroom
• Getting help with organizing your work
• Using tools like a calculator, fidget toy, or noise cancelling headphones
• Getting copies of notes or class materials
• Being allowed to eat snacks or take medicine at school
• Being able to leave class early or come in late
• Using a computer or tablet for writing or reading
• Having instructions read out loud
• Being allowed to use speech-to-text tools
• Going to the nurse when needed

Note: accommodations are different than modifications, which change what you are expected to learn (not how you learn). Modifications are rarely part of a 504 Plan, but may be included in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). 

A 504 Plan meeting is all about you. This is when people who support you at school come together to talk about how you are doing and how to help you learn better. This meeting is not about you being in trouble. It’s a meeting to make sure you are getting the right support so you can do your best.

Your 504 Plan meeting will happen at least once a year to make sure your plan is still working and to make any needed changes.

The people who will be at your 504 Plan meeting include:
• YOU – your voice is important!
• Your Parents or Guardians
• Your teachers
• A counselor or school nurse
• A 504 coordinator or special education staff member
• Sometimes other people who know about your needs, like a doctor or therapist

• Your information – This part has your name, grade, and school.
• Your disability or health condition – It explains why you need a 504 Plan.
• What you need help with – This says the things that are hard for you at school, like paying attention or walking between classes.
• Accommodations – This is where your teachers can read about things that help you learn better. This section includes a list of changes or extra support that you will get.
• Who will help you – This says the teachers or staff members who will make sure your accommodations happen.
• Review date – This explains when your 504 Plan will be reviewed to see if it’s working or needs to be changed.

• Your information – This part has your name, grade, and school.
• Your disability or health condition – It explains why you need a 504 Plan.
• What you need help with – This says the things that are hard for you at school, like paying attention or walking between classes.
• Accommodations – This is where your teachers can read about things that help you learn better. This section includes a list of changes or extra support that you will get.
• Who will help you – This says the teachers or staff members who will make sure your accommodations happen.
• Review date – This explains when your 504 Plan will be reviewed to see if it’s working or needs to be changed.

If you are not getting the help you are supposed to – it’s OKAY TO SPEAK UP. Here are some ideas of what you can do:
• Talk to a trusted adult. This can be a teacher, a counselor, your parent or guardian, or anybody else that you trust. You can say something like: “I’m supposed to get _______ in my 504 Plan, but it’s not happening.”
• Ask to talk about your 504 Plan. This is called a 504 Plan Meeting. You can ask a trusted adult to help set this up for you.
• Keep speaking up. You can respectfully remind people about what’s in your plan. Remember your 504 Plan is a LEGAL DOCUMENT. This means that schools must follow it.

The law requires the school to follow your 504 Plan. The better you understand your 504 Plan, the easier it will be to know if your 504 Plan is not being followed or needs to be changed, and the more power you will have over your education. 

You can be your own self-advocate. Advocating for yourself is a skill you will need your whole life. It means speaking up for yourself when the school does not follow your 504 Plan and letting people know what works best for you and what doesn’t. Doing that will make sure you get the support you need to succeed at school.