[gagoodenow]

I am a teacher in MA. I have had difficulty passing the Foundations of Reading test. I have multiple sclerosis and short term memory loss along with chronic fatigue. This makes it difficult to pass tests. Can the 504 plan help someone like me?

[Fr_Chuck]

The requirement of this test is to be able to teach. The 504 plan is to allow a student to partake of any Federal Program and a plan set up to allow them to contine in the program.

You are wanting to pass a test to be able to be employed. I do not see this referring to this.
If you need some accomidation to take the test, perhaps do it verbal instead of in writing, Perhaps do it over shorter times and more days even you may because of your disability ask for some assistant. But you will have to pass the test.

I guess I have issues seeing you teach if you have short term memory loss and chronic fatigue ?

[Schoolmarm97]

I have to agree with Fr_Chuck about the questionable wisdom of someone with the kinds of impairments you're describing opting to be a classroom teacher, but there are other ways to teach besides in the public school classroom, so I'm going to set that aside as a personal decision you'll have to make.

However, I also need to point out that Section 504 of ADA (Adults with Disabilities Act) IS available to you but only if you qualify as an "adult learner". In other words, you can expect and demand accommodations in an adult education setting (night school, college, graduate school, and so on), but that does not necessarily translate into accommodations for the taking and passing of a non-educational-setting test related to your employment prospects. If you were asking for accommodations in your college classroom, and you've been tested and found to meet the standards (here is a set of standards from Broward County, Florida, for you to check out: http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ctace/a...0%20Manual.pdf) then you could demand whatever you need to allow you to learn. But you are already out of school, and qualifying for a job isn't covered as part of your education. ADA is a civil rights law about educational services.

I wish you luck as you work towards finding a niche in the world of teaching!