For San Luis Obispo High School students with learning disabilities, mental health issues, or unpredictable medical problems, the rigorous structure of high school classes can be extremely inhibiting to their academic success, and, in some cases, dangerous to their health. To overcome these difficulties, students may be given a “504 Plan”, which grants certain accommodations such as an alternative testing environment, extended deadlines, and the ability to leave class as needed. Expressions interviewed senior Rachel Burns, a student with a 504 plan, to get her perspective. 

Expressions: When did you get your 504 plan and for what?   

Senior Rachel Burns: I got it once I came off of Home Hospital and was able to return to school in the tail end of third trimester sophomore year.

Expressions: What does your 504 plan entail?

Burns: My 504 plan gives me extended time on tests and assignments, options for testing in a conference room/area by myself, I am allowed to eat snacks and drink water whenever need be and I am allowed to excuse myself from class to go find a quiet place to sit if my symptoms are getting to be too much.

Expressions: Has it been helpful?

Burns: Ever since my 504 plan was instated I have been well taken care of by my teachers and staff. It has been so helpful for when my symptoms become too much to handle while sitting in class and I need special accommodations. When I get stomach aches and migraines it’s nice to be able to excuse myself to a quiet and sometimes low lit room (because of my light and noise sensitivity). For my brain fog symptoms, it’s nice to have extended time and a quiet place by myself to take my tests because it can take me longer to get things from my memory and having distractions only worsen it.

Expressions: Is there anything about your 504 plan you would change? If so, what?

Burns: There’s nothing I would change about my 504 plan. It is all determined by my needs and they are all met. Every year we have a meeting to go over and update my 504 plan to put in anything new that comes up that I might need and then it is sent out to all my teachers so I am very well taken care of.