son's illness as excuse? 504?

Question

My son is saying he's sick before school alot, missing alot, and I need to get a 504 form, anyone familiar with this and how I get it?
His sugar/keytones are fine, but he complains of headache/nausea, I never see him get sick, though, he's 12, I don't know whether to believe him or not?
I can't call John's Hopkin's everytime he says he's sick, any advice?

Answer 1

Through personal expirience with my son, it sounds like stress , just like others have advised you. There is always an underlying problem when the doctor has given him a clean bill of health. He is really not lying, he does feel this way. Talk to him and try to understand what or who is making him feel this way. Try counseling. Speak to his teachers and try to figure out a way to help him. Be patient and loving. Let him know you are there for him and that you do believe what he feels is true. Peace and Love your way.

Answer 2

How long has your son been diagnosed? At the age of 12 kids really want to fit in. Him having diabetes makes him different. If it's a fairly new diagnosis then it will be harder to get past this feeling and he may be having some anxiety about having to face his peers on a daily basis, and not be like them. See if you can get him involved with other diabetic kids his age, go to a diabetic camp. Don't just right it off just because he doesn't have an illness. Anxiety can be very debilitating and the symptoms are very real. It could be something completely unrelated to his diabetes, like bullying, or maybe he's having a hard time in classes. What does his teachers say? How are his grades? Has his grades changed recently? These are all clues. And talk to him, let him know he has to go to school but that you want to help him.

Answer 3

Can't help you with the 504 form. When I was in school there was a time when I didn't feel like going and it took me forever to get out of bed, if I managed to at all. Eventually the VP called me to her office to get an explanation.

If his levels are fine, he could be telling you this because he doesn't want to go to school. It's not unusual for kids to use existing conditions as an excuse for missing school -- he probably knows you don't want to send him off to school for fear that his sugars could drop, etc.

I'd suggest keeping a journal for 2 weeks of his problems. Then take him to the doctor with this info to see if the doctor should address anything.

If you don't get any "hits" there, perhaps check with his teachers for those days to see if there's a quiz, exam, assignment due. Or even check to find out if other kids are giving him a hard time.

You can always do the tough thing and send him anyway with a call to the school nurse. Ask him/her to check in on your child periodically. If he goes a couple of times without any vomitting, my guess is he's fine and just trying to use his illness.

Answer 4

Here's information about the 504 plan from the American with Disabilities Act Website.

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

It is your responsibility as a parent to initiate your 504 letter and decide what accommodations your child needs. Most schools don't offer the help that a parent needs to do this. Do a search on the web that can give you ideas of what to put in your 504 plan. Here is an example of a 504 eduction plan of a child with diabetes.

http://www.special-ed-law.com/504planforchildrenwithdiabetes.htm

Good Luck

Answer 5

If he hasn't been found to have and valid medical illness, he may just be trying to get out of going to school. You really need to talk with him, or get him a counselor. There might be a problem at school that he isn't telling you about. If he says he's sick, then sits around at home, without any symptoms, he can sit around in school the same way. There's a nurse at school who he can go to if he feels sick during the school day. Send him and let him go to her if he starts not feeling well. Then make sure he's gone to every teacher, collected every assignment he needs to complete, and does ALL the school work when he gets home.

Answer 6

have you taken him to the doctor yet? maybe he just has some problems at school, and is afraid to tell you, so he fains being ill. If the doctor says he's fine, and he has no physical sigh, such as fever, or rash, ect. then he should be fine. as for the 504, good luck with that, ask a librarian, they know more about papers than anyone.

Answer 7

i DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE 504 FORM, BUT SCHOOL SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU, I WOULD CHECK WITH TEACHERS AND SEE IF HE HAS A PROBLEM AT SCHOOL. WHEN THERE THAT AGE THEY WANT HARDLY TELL MOM MUCH. MY DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH THIS AT A SIMILIAR AGE AND COME TO FIND OUT, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF BULLYS JUMPING ON HER AND TAKING HER LUNCH MONEY EVERYDAY. I FINALLY FOUND OUT FROM HER AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS WHAT WAS GOING ON, TEACHERS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. MAYBE LET HIM KNOW YOUR NOT MAD AND YOU WANT TO HELP HIM AND THEN LET HIM DO THE TALKING IF HE WILL.

Answer 8

Sounds like stress to me. There must be some reason that he doesn't want to go. If the doctor has checked him out and can't find anything. Also, let your son know that there is nothing wrong and that he just HAS to go to school. End of discussion. When you won't let him stay home he'll have to go.

Answer 9

I did the same thing when i was his age.....he may not want to go to school....I would sit him down and ask him what is going on, if he is stressed, or if he is having trouble at school...talking to him will really help...i wanted to miss most of my 6th grade cause i was having trouble,....and when my parents finally sat me down i was able to talk to them and things became better...so i would sit him down..Good luck!

Answer 10

is there a reason he doesnt want to go to school
maybe stress ,not understanding work,bulling
you need to take him to the doctor if everything is okay then you need to find out the reason he dont want to go to school!