Section 504

What is Section 504?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law designed to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination for reasons related to their disabilities.  Section 504 regulations state "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States....shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance......."29 U.S.C. 794(a)

These regulations require local education agencies and school districts, receiving Federal financial assistance, to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to eligible students.  The FAPE must meet the students' individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students.  To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and (2) have record of such impairment or (3) be regarded as having such impairment.