Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law that protects students with disabilities against discrimination in the school setting. Under Section 504, a student with a disability is defined as an individual who:
(1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity;
(2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment
Determining whether a student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity is done on a case-by-case basis. Major life activities 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, working, and major bodily functions.
Allegan Area ESA has developed a Section 504 Manual to support parents, guardians, schools and districts in identifying students who may benefit from a Section 504 plan and building that plan to support one's success and progress in school.
