What is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
Section 504 is a federal law that prevents discrimination against schoolchildren (including high school) with disabilities so they are able to access and participate in classroom and other school activities. Schools that receive federal funds must make adjustments and provide necessary services so that children eligible under Section 504 can participate in the same educational and school-related activities as children without disabilities. Benefits under Section 504 are available to students in kindergarten through high school, and to pre-school children if they attend programs that receive federal funds.
While Section 504 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have similar goals, in some ways they are not the same. Schoolchildren under both Section 504 and IDEA receive help to overcome obstacles that keep them from participating in activities both in and out of the classroom. A main difference between these assistance programs, however, is that children under the IDEA receive individually designed instruction and undergo periodic assessment to see if additional resources are necessary, while children under Section 504 do not.
Section 504 also helps older children who hold jobs. Employers that receive federal funds must make reasonable accommodations so that employees with disabilities can do their jobs.
