Definitions & History

Result of ... Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

“No otherwise qualified individual with a disability…shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…” 

"disability": physical or mental impairment - that substantially limits - one or more - major life activities. 

• Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (“ADAAA”).

• Note:  impairment does not equal disability

"major life activities": broadly defined -- physical and psychological functions, e.g., seeing, hearing, speaking, sleeping, walking, standing, breathing, eating, caring for one’s self, learning, concentrating, reading, writing, interacting with others, communicating, ability to perform manual tasks, and major bodily functions, e.g., functions of the immune system, digestive track, and respiratory and circulatory systems.

What's the general process of developing a 504 plan?

• With parent permission, an evaluation is done to determine eligibility of services

What happens as a result of a 504 plan?

• appropriate, reasonable adaptations to the general education learning environment 

to meet the needs of the eligible student as adequately as those of students without disabilities