In 1973, when the Rehabilitation Act was passed, the intent was to encourage participation and equal access to federally funded programs by the disabled. As applied to schools, the language of the Act broadly prohibits the denial of public education participation or enjoyment of the benefits offered by public school programs because of a child’s disability. The law was enacted to “level the playing field” for disabled students.

Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) aim to eliminate discrimination based on disability. Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

Section 504 provides accommodations in the general education setting for those students with disabilities that are not severe enough to qualify for special education, yet still, substantially limit a major life activity. Section 504 also includes service animals, homebound services, auditory impairments, and visual impairments and may include Dyslexia services.

A student is eligible for Section 504 when the student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major activities. Eligible students under Section 504 will receive a 504 Individual Accommodation Plan that outlines any reasonable accommodations to the general education classroom or educational environment that are required for the student to have equal access to the educational benefits of the school. These accommodations may be based on physical or mental health, emotional, behavioral, environmental or academic needs of the student.

A 504 Plan should include only those reasonable accommodations to the regular classroom or educational environment that are required for the student to have equal access to the educational benefits of the school program. A 504 plan cannot modify the student’s curriculum or the expected level of mastery of the curriculum. A 504 plan follows the student through all school activities, including extracurricular activities.

Please contact your campus administrator if you feel your child may benefit from Section 504.