Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights statute designed to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities and to assure that disabled students have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students. It provides that:
No otherwise qualified individual with disabilities in the United States… shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance…. 29 U.S.C., paragraph 794.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving federal financial assistance. The federal act defines a person with a disability as anyone who:
- Has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity (major life activities include activities such as learning, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks and working);
- Has a record of such impairment; or
- Is regarded as having such an impairment
In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Paradise Schools recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. Discrimination against any person with a disability will not knowingly be permitted.
The school has specific responsibilities under the Act which include the responsibility to identify, evaluate, and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services.
For more about this process or if you have questions, please feel free to contact your student's counselor.
