The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida - Other School Department Based Activities
Celebrating 10 Years Of Wellness
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The “sister” legislation to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education, including public schools. The regulations implementing Section 504 in the context of educational institutions appear at 34 C.F.R. Part 104.
The purpose of Section 504 in the school environment is to ensure that eligible students have educational opportunities equivalent to those of their nondisabled peers. Section 504 states:
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. 42 U.S.C. § 794.
To be protected under the provisions of Section 504, a student must be determined to: (1) have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; or (2) have a record of such impairment; or (3) be regarded as having such impairment. Section 504 requires that school districts provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Under Section 504, FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student's individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met.
According to Section 504, major life activities are broadly defined to include, but are not limited to: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. Major life activities also include the operation of major bodily functions, including but not limited to: functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. An impairment that is episodic or in remission is also a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active.
Section 504 “levels the playing field” for all students attending public schools and the District supports our students with disabilities. Every school has a designated Section 504 Designee responsible for facilitating the process for eligible students and coordinating the implementation of individualized accommodation plans. During the 2015-2016 school year, the District served 8,092 eligible students under Section 504.
"A 504 student is one that presents with a medical impairment either physical or mental that impacts a major life activity which directly impacts the student accessing their education appropriately and effectively. The 504 plan allows for accommodations and or modifications to the environment, class setting, behavior expectations or lessons in order for the student to access the curriculum and classroom appropriately. The plan should be reviewed yearly in order to continue to address the student’s needs and assess the level of support required to support the student".
Lisa Robol, Single School Culture Specialist, South Area
"When students have to deal with medical issues, accommodations on a 504 plan help bridge the access to school so that medical issues aren’t factors in accessing education. Section 504 Teams are great collaborative efforts between schools and parents and put the students’ needs first".
Janice Coe, ESE Coordinator, North Region
