Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provided safeguards for people with physical or mental disabilities impacting one or more major life activities.  Under Section 504, agencies receiving federal funding are required to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified individuals can access their services. This mandate was further strengthened by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires any entity which is open to the public  to make reasonable accommodations so that people can access their services.   Although Section 504 applied only to public schools, the ADA applies to both public and private schools.  

Students who are identified as having a physical or mental disability which is impacting their ability to access school are entitled to an assessment conducted by their school district.  If they are eligible, a plan will be developed indicating the accommodations that they require.  Although they are not considered to be "Special Education students" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the SELPA has developed a handbook with best practices for school districts to document the accommodations that they agree to provide to students with 504/ADA eligible disabilities. 

 Students who have an IEP do not also need a 504/ADA Plan

Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Handbook     /portals/0/section%20504%2022_23.pdf /portals/0/section%20504%2022_23.pdf /portals/0/section%20504%2022_23.pdf /portals/0/section%20504%2022_23.pdf /portals/0/section%20504%2022_23.pdf

PowerPoint    Case Study "Jeanie" (to be used as an activity with the PowerPoint presentation)