What is Section 504?
Section 504 is a federal law which protects the rights of persons with qualifying disabilities. It requires that recipients of federal funds make their programs and activities accessible to all persons with disabilities.
Section 504 has three areas of emphasis: employment; facility and accessibility; and requirements for preschool, elementary and secondary education programs/activities.
How does Section 504 define disability?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects persons from discrimination based upon their disability status. A person is considered to have a disability within the definition of Section 504 if he or she:
- has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities;
- has a record of such impairments; or
- is regarded as having such an impairment
In general terms, this means that without accommodations and/or interventions, the student would not have a comparable opportunity to an appropriate education.
Special thanks to MaryAnn T. Strawhacker R.N., B.S.N., M.P.H., Special Education Nurse Consultant with Heartland AEA 11 for developing and sharing many of the resources in this section.