Every 504 Plan Should Include These ADHD Accommodations
Impulsive behavior. Incomplete homework. Inconsistent focus. Whatever your child’s school challenges, these teacher-approved accommodations can put some real muscle behind his 504 Plan and put the attention back on learning.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-teacher_-Klaus-Vedfelt-scaled-e1650300317243.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Manage Impulsivity in the Classroom
Many children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) struggle with impulsivity and self-control. If your child speaks out of turn at school:
- Seat him front and center, near the teacher, and away from distractions
- Discuss the behavior in private rather than calling him out in front of the class
- Have him sit next to a well-behaved role model
- Increase the distance between desks, if possible
- For younger students, mark an area with tape around the desk where they can move freely
![Low grades on assignments can be improved by 504 accomodations for adhd.](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5_2-School_Accomm_504-plan-accommodations_Slideshow-5_failed-book-report-ts_522887203.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Help for Half-Done or Incomplete Assignments
ADHD also walks hand-in-hand with executive function deficits, which impact a student's ability to plan, execute, and complete his work. If your child's grades are suffering due to unfinished work:
- Allow extra time to complete assigned work
- Break long assignments into smaller segments, each with a deadline
- Shorten assignments or work periods
- Pair written instructions with oral instructions
- Set a timer for 10-minute intervals and have the student get up and show the teacher her work
![Child impulsive in classroom](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GettyImages-1205729130Marco-VDM-scaled-e1650418693534.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Help Classroom Focus
If your child doesn’t participate, drifts off when taking notes, or turns in work with mistakes:
- Listen with a copy of the teacher's notes to which they can add
- Arrange to get additional notes from another designated student
- Have the teacher ask questions to encourage participation
- Enlist the student to help present the lesson
- Cue him to stay on task with a private signal — a gentle tap on the shoulder
- Schedule a five-minute period for him to check over work before turning in assignments
[Free Download: How to Create an IEP or 504 Plan for Your ADHD Child]
![Children raising their hands in a classroom, following the rules for answering a question](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/School.Teachers.Classroom_rules_that_work_for_ADHD_kids.Article.770.classroom_kids_hands_up-1.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
End Disruptive Classroom Behavior
If your child is disrupting other students' learning:
- Ask the teacher to ignore minor inappropriate behavior
- Allow the student to use a pre-approved fidget
- Designate a place in advance where he or she can calm down or speak with the teacher privately
- Adjust assignments so that they are not too long or too hard
- Develop a behavior contract with the student and parents (share info about what works at home or vice versa)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/izzy-park-R3zp7T3LpBo-unsplash_daydreaming-scaled-e1650419542926.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Help a Daydreamer Focus
If your child is inattentive:
- Have the teacher use clear verbal signals, such as “Freeze,” "This is important,” or “One, two, three… eyes on me”
- Allow the student to earn the right to daydream for 5-10 minutes after completing her assignment
- Use a flashlight or a laser pointer to illuminate objects or words to pay attention to
- Illustrate vocabulary words and science concepts with small drawings or stick figures
![A student fidgeting during a test which 504 accomodations for adhd can help ease and mitigate.](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5_6-School_Accomm_504-plan-accommodations_Slideshow-5_hand-flick-pencil-ts_78032303.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Settle Fidgety, Restless Behaviors
If your child taps his foot or pencil nervously in class or gets up out of his seat a lot:
- Allow him to run errands, to hand out papers to students, clean off bookshelves, or to stand at times while working
- Give him a fidget toy in class to increase concentration
- Slot in short exercise breaks between assignments
- Give him a standing desk or an air-filled rubber disk to sit on so he can wiggle around
![A teacher assigning homework on the blackboard, which 504 accomodations for adhd can help your child to complete by improving communication.](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5_7-School_Accomm_504-plan-accommodations_Slideshow-5_homework-board-ts_87499824.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Keep Track of Homework and Books
If your child forgets to bring home homework assignments or books, return papers to school, or to put his name on his paper:
- Use an assignment notebook/student planner
- Allow students to dictate assignments into a Memo Minder, a small three-minute tape recorder, or their phone
- Allow students to take a photo their assignment using a phone, iPad, or ChromeBook
- Staple the teacher’s weekly lesson plan in the student’s planner
- Reduce the number of papers that are sent home to be signed
- Appoint monitors to make sure that students write down homework assignments
- Allow student to keep a second set of books at home
![Never be late again with time management tips](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/Clock-Time-Management_1328x747.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Put Time on His Side
If your child has trouble with due dates and deadlines:
- Give advanced notice about upcoming projects and report
- Stand next to the student to make sure that the assigned task is begun quickly
- Present all assignments and due dates verbally and visually
- Use timers to mark transitions — putting materials away before starting a new subject or project
![group of middle school girls with ADHD walking up stairs, talking](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/parenting-middle-school-social-spotlight-important-friendships-peers-girls-walking-up-stairs-talking.png?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Expand Her Social Network
If your child is clueless about social cues, doesn’t work well with others, or isn’t respected by peers:
- Set up social-behavior goals with her and implement a reward program
- Request that the school establish a social skills group
- Encourage cooperative learning tasks
- Assign her special responsibilities or a leadership role
- Compliment positive behavior and work
- Acknowledge appropriate behavior and good work frequently
![An apprehensive student contemplating his writing assignment, which 504 accomodations for adhd can help manage.](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5_10-School_Accomm_504-plan-accommodations_Slideshow-5_boy-daydreaming-desk-ts_dv1940096-e1650483775522.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Take the Fear Out of Writing
If your child is challenged by written assignments:
- Allow more time for written assignments and essay questions
- Shorten reports or assignments
- Allow students to print; don’t require cursive writing
- Allow the option of a recorded or oral report in lieu of writing
- Encourage students to use a computer for written work
- Allow the use of spell check and grammar check software
![Student with ADHD writing out math problem on blackboard with teacher looking on](https://i0.wp.com/www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/School.3Rs.12_math_techniques_to_boost_test_scores_for_ADHD_LD_children.Article.963.boy_doing_math_blackboard_with_teacher.ts_76754154-1.jpg?resize=480%2C270px&ssl=1)
Reduce Math Anxiety
If your child does not finish math tests, is slow to finish homework, or has problems with multi-step problems:
- Photocopy pages for students so they do not have to rewrite math problems
- Keep sample math problems on the board
- Allow use of a calculator for class and homework
- Give review summaries for math exams
- Give extended time on tests