The Section 504 Rehabilitation Act Program (Section 504) is a civil rights law that enables a student with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities to receive accommodations and/or related services to ensure equal access to education.
A Section 504 plan is not an Individual Education Plan (IEP) through Special Education. It is a formal plan written by the 504 team, that provides accommodations for those who have an impairment that substantially impacts their lives in school and needs scaffolding to access the instruction. Not all students with a medical diagnosis will qualify for a 504 plan, however, a Section 504 plan is not required for a teacher to provide an accommodation. Great teachers provide accommodations for their students through differentiation and individualization each and every day.
Any student who needs or is believed to need Section 504 accommodations and/or services because of a disability or suspected disability, should be referred for evaluation for eligibility to the school’s Section 504 Coordinator.