Julie
Mari is so correct. Now a IEP is a legal binding contract. And so technically
is a 504 and some states and schools do a much better job of following through with them. But in my dealings with schools a IEP is a much better plan. For a student with the kind of issues you are dealing with. And if there are any issues of learning difficulties at all then it diffentially is.

I have three sons that have different disabilities. They all had IEP's. They
had different experiences with other kids, and with how they dealt with the issues. But even though they could any of them tell you that it hurt them.

I can tell you that they are all three successfully doing something today.
In this economy. My oldest has a emotional handicap that wasn't diagnosed
for many years. And it took lots of time and love to get the right medications. And I honestly started thinking I would have to accept that I would be visiting him in jail for murder or something like this. But we were lucky that he was put into the juvenile justice system. And they decided to help us get him help. By placing him in a program for troubled teen boys needing a medical placement, not a bad kid placement. So we finally found the psychiatrist that found the diagnosis and medication that worked.
At 16 my son started to turn around his life. It was and is a hard road for
him. But he is a wonderful person, his doing his best to support his small
family and I'm so proud of him.

But he is my one that would tell you labeling him was bad for him. I can
tell you it didn't hurt him one bit.


I'm here, just ask the questions so we can help. Sometimes all you need
is for us to listen.

Donna