IEP, 504 Plan, and the Current State of the Department of Education Date: 3/21/2025

by Noriko Abenojar

Mar 21, 2025

Hello everyone!

With so much uncertainty surrounding education and special education right now, I wanted to send out an extra newsletter this week to help keep us informed.

Special education law—or any law—is not my area of expertise, so I’m sharing information from a reputable source. I’ll include links so you can explore further and stay updated.

Since this situation is evolving quickly, I’m marking this newsletter with today’s date. Please keep this in mind if you are reading this newsletter at a later date.

As always, I am grateful to have you here!

Noriko

The Difference Between an IEP and a 504 Plan

Read this article from www.understood.org

IEP vs. 504 Plan: What Is the Difference Between IEP and 504 Plan?

What Happens to my Child's IEP if the U.S. Department of Education Closes?

Read this article from www.understood.org

How changes at the U.S. Department of Education could affect neurodivergent kids

Noriko Abenojar, MSW PPS
Parenting REdefined

www.NorikoAbenojar.com

www.SocialAndCognitiveLearningCenter.com

Instagram: @NorikoAbenojar

Facebook: Parenting REdefined by Noriko Abenojar MSW PPS

Responses

Join the conversation

t("newsletters.loading")

When Summer Builds Real-Life Skills

As you start mapping out camps, vacations, and childcare, this is also the perfect time to intentionally build a few real-life skills into your summer rhythm. I want to share something I did when my kids were younger. I picked two weeks each summer and called it “Mommy Camp”. This did not necessarily mean I took two weeks off work.Sometimes I was working. Sometimes I wasn’t.What changed was my ...

Is Spring Affecting Your Child’s Mood and Friendships?

Around this time of year, some parents start noticing small changes in their children. Bedtime becomes harder. Emotions can feel unpredictable. Friendships can feel a little more complicated. Energy is up and down. And sometimes the explanation is seasonal. Spring brings several changes that can affect children’s nervous system, which in turn affects how they function socially. 1. Sleep sh...

When Play Levels Up, Friendships Follow

*I am using an example of kids 'playing' but this also applies for older kids or adults. Often, play can look great on the outside. Two kids are talking. They are laughing. They are doing something near each other. That is a good start. But if you slow down and take a closer look, you might notice something important. You want to dig deeper by asking: Are they truly interacting with each o...

Parenting REdefined Newsletter

Join my email community for weekly tools, insights, and real-life strategies to help you support your child’s social–emotional development with more clarity and confidence. Providing parents with tools and education to confidently guide their child's social skills development.