Children with disabilities who do not qualify for necessary accommodations or modifications to receive an appropriate education may be entitled to what is known as a “504 Plan.”
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Children with disabilities who do not qualify for necessary accommodations or modifications to receive an appropriate education may be entitled to what is known as a “504 Plan.” Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance including public pre-schools, elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools.
The purpose of Section 504 is to eliminate barriers that exclude or limit the ability of individuals with disabilities to participate in federally-funded programs to the same degree as individuals who do not have disabilities. Under Section 504, all qualified elementary and secondary public-school students who meet the definition of an individual with a disability under Section 504 are entitled to receive an education and related aids and services that are designed to meet their individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of students without disabilities are met.
Section 504 also requires, among other things, that a student with a disability receive an equal opportunity to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities. Schools are required to establish policies and procedures for evaluating and identifying qualified children with disabilities and for determining the accommodations, modifications, supports and/or services they require to have equal access to the education and programs the school offers. In addition, schools must establish procedural safeguards including notice to parents of any action the school proposes and the opportunity for an impartial hearing to settle any related disputes.
Some resources related to Section 504 are below. Additional resources including those relating to transition services are located on our Education page.
Array ( [0] => Array ( [resource] =>DRC-NH Education Series: My Child is Struggling in School. What can I do?
) [1] => Array ( [resource] =>DRC-NH Education Series: Signs an Adolescent may have an educational disability
) [2] => Array ( [resource] =>DRC-NH Education Series: Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans: What’s the difference?
) [3] => Array ( [resource] => ) [4] => Array ( [resource] =>Section 504 rules (scroll down to sction D)
) [5] => Array ( [resource] =>The Guide to New Hampshire’s Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities
) [6] => Array ( [resource] => ) )
Information and Resources
DRC-NH Education Series: My Child is Struggling in School. What can I do?
DRC-NH Education Series: Signs an Adolescent may have an educational disability
DRC-NH Education Series: Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans: What’s the difference?
If You Need Help
Contact us if your think your rights have been violated or if you wish to speak with an attorney about a disability-related legal issue.