Section 504 – what does it mean?
Section 504 is a sub-section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is an unfunded law that simply states that “a person cannot be discriminated against for a disability that substantially affects a major life activity, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself, and performing manual tasks.” This law addresses accommodations and modifications, not remediation. It does not require that a child need special education to qualify for Section 504. Example: Children with a learning disability who no longer meet Special Education (IDEA) eligibility criteria, may still be eligible for accommodations under Section 504. A few examples of accommodations may include preferential seating in the classroom, extended time on tests, and peer note-takers. For a comprehensive look at Section 504, see the following article: www.ldonline.org/article/5718.
