A 504 should spell out exactly what testing accommodations are offered and under what conditions they can be used.

Testing ConditionsĪ testing area where a student cannot compare his or her pace to that of peers (and the format of the test itself), can make all the difference for a student who experiences performance anxiety. Participation may need to be avoided at first to make the student comfortable however, the end goal is to desensitize the student to the fear of failure in front of peers and to foster growth. What specific supports the child needs to be successful in class.Spell out how a supportive culture will be developed.Having to walk up to the board to answer a question can trigger a panic attack in some students. These can keep students up at night, unless they are clearly prepared for these situations. Class Participation Expectations and Presentations While you cannot request one teacher over the other, your 504 plan can outline what type of teaching approach best suits your anxious student. A classroom environment that fosters a calm approach to issues that arise is most helpful. Seating the anxious student away from kids who tend to need reprimands is one way to handle this. This is often the greatest fear of a student with anxiety. For this reason, anxiety should not be left out of 504s. In addition, anxiety often parallels other learning challenges. While each child is different, five basic 504 accommodations for anxiety can go a long way for the child with this diagnosis. Anxiety is a rapidly increasing diagnosis, and often the most misunderstood in the school setting.