Monday, September 21, 2009

504 Plan and Accommodations

Earlier during my son's schooling, the school suggested creating a 504 Plan, which enabled my son to receive accommodations, making schoolwork more manageable.

He was allowed to leave the classroom at the onset of a migraine. Rest in the nurse's office. Complete a smaller sample of math problems assigned for homework. Drink and eat when needed and more.

This was created in a public school. As time went on, he still couldn't function in school. He missed school due to migraines and had difficulty keeping up with the work when he was absent or in the nurse's office.

Eventually, we sent him to a private school where he received the individualized attention he needed. He didn't have a 504 Plan, but he was able to succeed in school because he received unconditional support every minute of the day.

Now, he is a self-sufficient high school student who is back in a public school setting. Four years of individualized attention, and he is able to both handle migraines and his school work

Homework Help

Sometimes it's just too hard to complete homework especially when a migraine hits. Over the years I have made accommodations for my son to make the work manageable. First, we assess how much homework there is. Then we assess the level of difficulty. Lastly, we determine how he can get the work done while having a migraine. Often I have read his assigned readings out loud or typed homework he has dictated to me.

I also taught him how to study over a period of time rather than the night before a test. This is critical because he is always prepared for a test even if a migraine hits!

He reads over his notes almost every day as a means of studying. So, when he gets to the night before he really doesn't have much to do. He can focus on the more difficult concepts because he has the fundamental information mastered.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Fox News: Kids and Migraines Article and Video

Recently Fox News did a story on adolescents and migraines. See how this conditions impacts school and family life.

Read the full article and watch the video here: