Parent Raises 504 Accommodation Gaps at BCS Board Meeting

From the Blackford County Schools Board meeting on May 19, 2026

A parent told the Blackford County Schools board that her daughter's 504 accommodations for juvenile arthritis have not been consistently communicated to classroom teachers.

The accommodations — which include extra time between classes, extra time for assignments and tests, and absence accommodations — were not being followed because teachers were not informed they existed, the parent said during public comment. Her daughter was told by a teacher to self-advocate by requesting accommodations herself, which the parent said draws unwanted attention to the student's disability.

The parent emphasized this was a systemic communication issue, not a blame issue, and called for policy improvement.

The superintendent committed to meeting with the parent and reviewing how 504 accommodation plans are communicated to teachers. He noted each building has a 504 coordinator and acknowledged the issue had not been on his radar recently. A 504 plan, under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, provides accommodations for students who have disabilities but do not qualify for special education services.

Source: YouTube transcript — BCS School Board Meeting, May 19, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.