Intro to 504

Sample Section 504 Plan and Health Care Plan for a Student with Diabetes

DREDF and the American Diabetes Association drafted sample Section 504 Plan and Health Care Plan detailing typical medical and academic needs of a child with diabetes at school. The Plan outlines the responsibilities of the student, parents/guardians, and the school. The Health Care Plan sets out the student’s specific medical needs as determined by his/her health care team. Ideally, these documents are developed as a result of a cooperative effort involving the family, the child’s health care team, and the school/school district.

The terms “Section 504 Plan” or simply “504 Plan” refer to a plan developed to meet the requirements of a federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as “Section 504.” Section 504 applies to all public schools and to private schools that receive federal funds. This sample plan would also be appropriate under another law that protects students with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act covers all public schools and all private schools except those run by religious entities. Although such plans are typically referred to as “Section 504 Plans,” your school may use a different name.

If your child has qualified for services under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, also known as “IDEA,” your child’s school plan may be called an “Individualized Education Plan” or “IEP.” Typically, an IEP is more specific than a 504 Plan with regard to the student’s academic needs.

It is important to keep in mind that the attached 504 Plan is only a sample plan listing those things typically needed by children with diabetes in schools. The sample plan must be adapted to the individual needs, abilities, and medical condition of your child. Not all of the accommodations listed are needed for every child with diabetes. You should include those items in the sample that are needed for your child. Talk to your medical team about what plan makes sense for your child.

The Sample 504 Plan envisions a child with type 1 diabetes who takes insulin by injection. Therefore, the plan would have to be modified for a child with type 2 diabetes, especially a child who does not take insulin, or for a child who is on an insulin pump. In addition, your state or school district may have its own standards for training those staff members who provide diabetes care to students. As the parent/guardian, you should feel comfortable with the training given, so it is important for you to find out what the standards for training are, if any. You might want to attend or participate in the training or seek verification that the training took place.