What is a 504 Plan?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is federal civil rights legislation that protects individuals with disabilities in programs that receive federal financial assistance. Under Section 504, a person is considered to have a disability if that person:
1) has a physical or mental impairment which SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS one or more of such person’s MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES (such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.
2) has a record of such impairment,
3) or is regard as having such an impairment
A 504 is not an IEP nor is it a special education plan. A 504 plan allows general education students with a physical or mental impairment to receive free education with the implementation of classroom accommodations.
Parent Rights
1. Your child has the right to an evaluation prior to an initial Section 504 placement and any subsequent significant change in placement. The district shall consider information from a variety of sources, including aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, physical examination, social and cultural background, adaptive behavior, physical or medical reports, student grades, progress reports, parent observations and anecdotal reports.
2. Placement decisions must be made by a group (i.e., The 504 Committee), that includes persons knowledgeable about your child. They will discuss the meaning of evaluation data, the placement options, and the legal requirements for least restrictive environment.
3. If eligible under Section 504, your child has a right to an annual review and re-evaluation ( every three years)
Parent 504 Referral Form
La Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación del 1973 es una legislación federal importante que afecta las entidades que reciben fondos federales. Es una legislación de derechos civiles para personas discapacitadas, diseñada para prevenir cualquier tipo de discriminación basada en discapacidades. Individuos con discapacidades que de otra manera califican, están protegidos.
La Sección 504 establece que:
Ningún individuo con discapacidad de otra manera calificado… deberá únicamente por razón de su discapacidad, ser excluido de participar en, ser denegado los beneficios de, o ser sujeto a, discriminación bajo cualquier programa o actividad recibiendo asistencia federal financiera.