Kathy: Is there a law that mandates adopted children are eligible to receive
an IEP or 504 due to trauma?
Eligibility: ARE ADOPTED CHILDREN ELIGIBLE DUE TO TRAUMA?
Special Education Law and Advocacy
What about children who are demonstrating symptoms of Adopted Child Syndrome?
Would that qualify a child for sped or 504 on that diagnosis alone without breaking out severities of symptoms.
Doug, probably under 504. Under special ed they would have to qualify under other health impairment, or emotional disturbance. Sophie gives excellent advice.
Kathy – Well, neither IDEA nor 504 are one-size-fits-all procedures. They should both be based on the specific child’s needs. Some adopted children have experienced more or less trauma than others, and some have a more or less supportive environment than others. Also, each child responds differently to trauma. Do you see why IDEA and 504 can’t be based just on a diagnosis?
Anyway, back to YOUR child. A trauma diagnosis might help you explain your child’s needs in an IEP team or 504 committee meeting; bringing your child’s therapist to a meeting can often work wonders. You might have to pay the therapist out of pocket, but it’s usually money well spent. Good luck.
This would likely be a state law or rule dealing with identifying students at risk of dropping out & actions the schools should be taking to prevent this. This should be addressed on the state education agency website.