What is Section 504?  

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was designated to eliminate discrimination against any student with a disability in any program offered by the school district. 

Section 504 states that: 

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 subjected to discrimination under any other program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

What is the definition of a disabled student under Section 504?  

A disabled student is one who:

1. Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including learning.

2. Has a record of such impairment; or

3. Is regarded as having such impairment 

    

What is meant by "otherwise qualified"?

For an individual to be covered under Section 504, the student must be otherwise qualified, meaning that a student with a disability must be qualified to do something before the presence of a disability can be a factor in discrimination.  Therefore, if a student wants to participate is some activity, but the individual is not otherwise qualified for that activity, not allowing the person to participate would be considered discrimination. 

What is a "major life activity"? 

Major life activities are:

• Caring for oneself

• Doing manual tasks

• Walking

• Seeing

• Hearing

• Eating

• Sleeping

• Breathing

• Standing

• Lifting

• Bending

• Learning
  Reading

• Concentrating

• Thinking

• Communicating

• Working

• The operation of a major bodily function.  

An impairment that substantially limits one major life activity need not limit other major life activities in order to be considered a disability.

How do I learn more about the Section 504 law? 

Visit the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

For specific information about this program, please feel free to contact the Counseling Office at 254.547.6959.