Both 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) can provide official school assistance for students who have been identified or diagnosed with dyslexia.
A federal special education law for students with disabilities, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, governs the IEP. Students who are falling behind in academic subjects, such as spelling and reading, can receive the specially created instruction they require through an IEP. Based on a student's individual needs, test scores, and learning profile, this instruction is "specially designed," or tailored. In order to close the gap and catch up to grade level, dyslexic students who are falling behind in reading and spelling require high-quality, evidence-based structured language instruction that is intense enough (i.e., requires more than usual instructional time). In order to close the gap between their literacy skills and grade-level expectations, they also require accommodations, modifications, and supports. For individuals whose testing indicates a need for these services and accommodations, an IEP also offers these necessary accommodations, such as read-aloud, dictation to scribe or speech to text, extended time, and assistive technology.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which provides necessary accommodations to ensure equal access for all individuals with disabilities in schools and other settings, is where the 504 Plan is located. Students with dyslexia who only require accommodations or who have successfully finished remediation plans and are able to decode and encode reasonably well are frequently the best candidates for the 504 Plan, which only offers accommodations. Although their spelling and decoding skills are roughly grade level, they frequently have trouble with reading and writing fluently and require extra time or other accommodations. Assistive technology options for read-aloud, spelling checks, speech to text, dictation to scribe, extended time, and other accommodations are available through the 504 Plan.
Submitted by: Parents & Families | Topic: Dyslexia, Legislation
References
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs, 39th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2017, Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Guidance, October, 2015. Washington, D.C.
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