IEP vs. 504: Understanding the Difference So You Can Advocate with Confidence

You find yourself sitting at a round table with professionals from your child’s school. Terms like disability, 504, IEP, and accommodations start flying around.

To say you’re feeling “overwhelmed” is an understatement. As jargon fills the air, you wish for a magic crystal ball to tell you exactly what’s best for your child. But here’s the truth, you can’t make a confident decision without informed consent. If your consent isn’t informed, it’s not truly consent at all.

Let’s break this down so that the next time you’re in this situation, you feel more empowered and equipped to take the next step for your child.

IEPs and 504 Plans: Similar, but Not the Same

At their core, both IEPs and 504 plans:

• Provide support to students with a disability.

• Are legally binding — the school must follow them or risk breaking the law.

• Offer accommodations tailored to the student’s needs to help them access learning.

Key Difference in a Nutshell:

• 504 Plan = Accommodations (no specialized instruction)

• IEP = Accommodations + Specialized instruction + Related service providers/time

Accommodations

Both IEPs and 504 plans include accommodations — but what does that really mean?

Accommodations remove barriers so students can access the same tests, homework, and classwork as their peers.

Think of it like making dinner with three children at home — a 1-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 13-year-old. You want all of them to help:

• The 1-year-old can’t reach the counter, so they sit in a high chair and use hand-over-hand support to pour pre-measured sugar into the bowl.

• The 5-year-old stands on a stool, pours pre-cracked eggs into the bowl, and stirs — with you steadying the bowl so ingredients don’t fly everywhere.

• The 13-year-old stands on the floor, cracks eggs, uses the mixer, and preheats the oven.

In this example: the high chair, stool, pre-cracked eggs, and hand-over-hand support are accommodations. They don’t change the activity (cooking), but they give each child the tools they need to participate despite differences in age, height, or skills.

Specialized Instruction & Service Time

Here’s where the IEP offers more:

• Specialized instruction: Different or adapted ways of teaching that meet a child’s unique learning needs.

• Service providers/time: Direct support from specialists such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, or special education teachers.

A 504 plan does not include specialized instruction — only accommodations.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	IEP	504 Plan
Definition	Individualized Education Program	Civil rights law, not special education law
Law	IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Eligibility	Meets specific disability criteria and needs specialized instruction	Disability substantially limits a major life activity
Services	Specialized instruction, related services (speech, OT, counseling, etc.)	None – accommodations only
Goals	Yes, measurable annual goals	No formal goals
Progress Monitoring	Required	Not required
Team Members	Parents, general & special ed teachers, admin, specialists	Parents, general ed teacher, admin/counselor

Making the Decision

Information is powerful — but it doesn’t automatically make the choice easy. Here are starting points to guide you:

• Request a comprehensive evaluation to determine your child’s needs and eligibility.

• Consider instruction needs:

  • If your child needs different ways of being taught → IEP may be the right fit.

  • If your child can learn the same content but needs help accessing it → 504 plan may be best.

• Review what’s already in place: Are current informal supports working? If not, a formal plan — especially a 504 — can make them legally protected.

Final Encouragement

Whether your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, the goal is the same: removing barriers so they can learn, grow, and succeed alongside their peers.

You don’t have to know every acronym or law right away. Your role is to bring your knowledge of your child, ask questions, and make sure your voice is heard.

Remember — informed parents are empowered parents.