504 Plans
Official Guides to 504 Plans
This button will link you to a great resource put out by the U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights, which oversees Section 504.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. Under Section 504, “A free appropriate education is defined as ‘the provision of regular or special education related aids and services that… are designed to meet individual educational needs of persons with disabilities as adequately as the needs of persons without disabilities are met and…are based upon adherence to specified procedures.
(34 C.F.R.§ 104.33(b)(1))
Does my child qualify for protections under this law?
If a child has a disability but does not need special education services, the child will not qualify for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act but may receive protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. To be eligible for protections under Section 504, the child must have a physical or mental impairment. This impairment must substantially limit at least one "major life activity".
Major life activities include (but are not limited to):
walking
seeing
hearing
speaking
breathing
learning
reading
writing
performing math calculations
working
caring for oneself
performing manual tasks
How can a 504 plan help my child?
If a child is making "academic progress", but struggling while doing so, under Section 504, the child with a disability may receive accommodations and modifications that are not available to children who are not disabled. The goal would be to allow them to access school without having to struggle because of their disability. Accommodations should be based on the needs of the child, and may include:
preferential seating
extended time on tests and assignments
reduced homework or classwork
verbal, visual, or technology aids
modified textbooks or audio-video materials
behavior management support
adjusted class schedules or grading
verbal testing
excused lateness, absence, or missed classwork
pre-approved nurse's office visits and accompaniment to visits
occupational or physical therapy
fidget toys
weighted vest
quiet testing area
Wright, Peter W D, and Pamela Darr Wright. Wrightslaw : From Emotions to Advocacy : The Special
Education Survival Guide. Hartfield, Va., Harbor House Law Press, 2017.
What is the process for getting a 504 plan?
The process is similar to that of and IEP evaluation. In fact, the same personnel and evaluations may be used. This button will take you to the U.S. Department of Education's introductory page about 504 evaluations.