Section 504 is found in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It states, "No
otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States...shall,
solely by reason of...handicap, be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Section 504
protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in any
activity or program that federally funded based on their disability.
Section 504 has great impacts on colleges and universities who receive
federal funding. These institutions must accommodate students with
disabilities in both academic programs and activities. Public schools
are held to the same standards. A student's 504 plan, which may be an
I.E.P., describes all reasonable accommodations that include a change in
routine, method or approach and must be stated on the I.E.P. or a
separate form. Section 504 provides that each student with a
disability is entitled to free and appropriate public education. Each
student must be individually evaluated to determine if this educational
right is best met in a regular or special education classroom. Section
504 allows parents to hold a hearing if they disagree with the
identification, evaluation or placement of their child. Section 504
requires that the parents be provided counsel.