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Section 504

Section 504 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based solely upon disability in any program, receiving federal financial assistance.

Any public school, that receives federal funds, is subject to the requirement of Section 504. Students who have a disability that meets the general definition of a disability, but that does not fall into one of the IDEA categories, may be eligible for services under Section 504. Unlike IDEA, Section 504 does not describe a precise procedural scheme for implementation. Instead, school districts set their own policies, but most use a process very similar to that used for special education students.

To qualify for protection under Section 504, a student must have a documented disability that substantially limits his/her learning or other major life activity (e.g., walking, talking breathing).

    *  Under Section 504, we are able to provide accommodations that "level the playing field" for a student with disabilities. These services are typically different from special education services. We can offer accommodations in the way we present material to a student or in the way a student is asked to respond, but if the student requires specially designed instruction, then the student would need to be evaluated for special education services. Examples of accommodations are: having a lengthy assignment presented in smaller segments (e.g., instead of giving all 20 problems to the student at once, present the student with five problems; when those are complete, present the student with five more, until all are complete), giving additional time to complete a test, allowing a student with a visual impairment to copy from notes on his/her desk rather than from the board, or redirecting a student to task who has an attention deficit disorder. The accommodations that are put in place must be directly related to the disability. Under Section 504, we do not modify or change the curriculum or standards being taught, nor do we provide pull-out service to a special education resource room.

    *  There is a referral and eligibility process for Section 504. Depending on the documentation available, additional testing to confirm the disability and it's impact on learning may be needed. If the student is eligible, a 504 Plan, if needed,  is developed. The 504 Plan will specify the accommodations this student needs. 504 Plans are updated annually.

If you have questions, regarding Section 504, you may contact your child's school counselor or Dr. Annie Spike at 256-582-3171.