• What is a Section 504 Plan?
    Section 504 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Section 504 ensures that students with a physical or mental impairment that substsantially limits a major life activity have equal access to an education. Qualified students may receive accommodations and modifications put into place by the school's 504 committee, parents/guardians, and other persons knowledgable about the student. These plans are not part of special education; the central purpose is to give qualified students access to the same education as their general education peers.

    What is considered an 'impairment' under Section 504?
    This may include any disability, long-term illness, or various disorder that substantially reduces or limits a student's ability to access learning in the educational setting because of a learning, behavioral, or health related condition. Examples include, but are not limited to, medical diagnosis of ADD/ADHD, ODD, diabetes, epilepsy, chronic illness, low vision, poor hearing, heart condition, etc.

    What are considered major life activities?
    Major life activities may include, but are not limited to, learning, self-care, manual tasks, walking, seeing, speaking, sitting, breathing, concentrating, reading, standing, lifting, bending, etc. 

    What types of accommodations will my child receive if determined eligible under Section 504?
    As each student's needs are determined individually, determination of what is appropriate for each child is based on the nature of the disabling condition and its impact on the major life activity. Examples of accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
    -Extended time on tests or assignments
    -Prompting to refocus
    -Preferential seating
    -Frequent breaks
    -Enlarged text
    -Modified paper
    -Repeat, restate, clarify directions
    -Text-to-speech
    *It is important to note that accommodations can include changes to the environment, changes to the instruction, or changes to how curriculum is presented; Accommodations do not change what kids learn, just how they learn it.


    Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any additional questions 
    or believe your learner may qualify for a Section 504 Plan ♥

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/understanding-504-plans
    https://www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/behavior/504/
    https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/section-504-2/