SECTION 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Subpart D of 504 Regulations | Civil Rights for

Children and Youth with Disabilities

School Level Training

Presenter

• Not an attorney• Director, TAESE• Technical Assistance Provider• Special Education Teacher• LEA Director• School Psychologist• Section 504 Coordinator• General Education Teacher• Educational Surrogate Parent

Section 1

IntroductionWhat is Section 504 Subpart D of the Section 504 Regulations and how does the law and regulations apply to schools?•Purpose—to provide practical guidance, information, and best practices

•ADA Amendments of 2009

•Not legal advice

•Final word should be with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and your school legal services.

Disclaimer

This presentation is not intended to provide legal advice or establish policy, but practical implementation strategies. The content is for general information only and might not reflect the opinion and/or policy of the U.S. Department of Education or Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

The slides of this presentation should not be used out of context or distributed to other parties. The content of the presentation was reviewed and approved by the regional Office for Civil Rights.

Section 2

Office for Civil Rights (OCR)What agency provides technical assistance and enforcement for Section 504 and other Civil Rights laws?

Office for Civil Rights

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education is a law enforcement agency charged with enforcing federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age by recipients of federal financial assistance.

•Investigates complaints•Technical assistance•Collects data

Section 3

Overview of Section 504

What is the purpose of Section 504 and other civil rights laws?

Critical Laws/Regulations

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and

Amendments of 2009• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)• State special education regulations• Elementary/Secondary Improvement Act (1965)• Title VI and Title IX—Race/gender• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) • OCR/OSEP Letters

Section 504—Regulations• Subpart A — General Provisions• Subpart B — Employment Practices• Subpart C — Accessibility• Subpart D — Preschool, Elementary, and

Secondary Education• Subpart E — Postsecondary Education• Subpart F — Health, Welfare, and Social Services• Subpart G— Procedures

Focus of presentation—Subpart D of 504 Regulations

* Refer to handout.

Americans withDisabilities Act

Title II

Americans withDisabilities Act

Title II

Terminology

Section 504Section 504

Similar Requirements

Title 34 Education, Part 104

Focus of Presentation Subpart D of 504

Regulations• Requirements in regards to preschool,

elementary, and secondary education• We will address student issues,

not employment.• Follow the school policies and procedures.

ADA Amendments of 2009

The Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendments of 2009 created some changes to Section 504.

* Refer to OCR Q&A.

Pupose—504

Section 504 is a civil rights law aimed at discrimination. Like the sister statutes of Title VI (race) and Title IX (gender), Section 504 focuses on discrimination based on disability. Obligations come with receipt of federal funds.

Civil Rights

• Section 504 is often referred to as the first civil rights law for individuals with disabilities—1975.

• Section 504 applies to students, parents, employees, and other individualswith disabilities.

Civil Rights

Prior to Section 504 and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, children were denied a free and appropriate public education.

Types of Discrimination

Disability, aging, gender, and culture are all part of human existence. We should accept and respect these realities.

disABILITYFocus on what a person can do,

not what they cannot do.

Who Must Comply?

IDEAAll public, charter, and virtual schools

Section 504Schools that receives federal funds of any kind or any amount. This includes private, charter, and virtual schools.

ADAAny business, governmental agency, or public accommodation other than churches or private clubs.

Discrimination

Discrimination occurs when people are treated unequally or less favorably than others because of some real or perceived characteristic. In schools, discrimination can make it difficult for students to learn because they don’t feel safe or accepted.

Discrimination

Discrimination can be…•Real•Perceived•School records

* Bullying and discrimination are related.

Life is Not Fair!

• Two students, one with superior academic abilities and one with low academic skills, cope with the same general curriculum and expectations.

• One student has 20/20 vision while another is legally blind.

• One student comes from a supportive familywhile another deals with the problems of a dysfunctional family.

• Individuals with disabilities have a higher unemployment rate than those without disabilities.

Key Section 504 Concepts

Fairness

Substantial Limitation

Level Playing Field

General Education

Accommodations

Civil Rights

Access

Identification

Access to Educational Programs

• For many years, schools thought the main responsibility under Section 504 was to make buildings accessible (ramps, curb cuts, elevators, larger restroom stalls, etc.)

• Within the last few years, the Office for Civil Rights has become active in assisting schools to further define access.

• The definition of access means more than physical access; students may need special accommodations, such as modified assignments and behavior plans to benefit and access their educational program.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

General Requirements• Prohibits discrimination against any individual

because of a disability. • Requires physical accessibility of public buildings,

including schools.• The school program must provide accommodations in

the general education program to allow the identified student with disabilities to access their educational program.

• Prohibits discrimination based upon a “record” or “perception.”

Funding and Civil Rights

Civil Rights is a constitutional guarantee. Congress will never provide money to States for implementing civil rights; it’s just the right thing to do.

“It is too bad we have to legislate civil rights.”Martin Luther King

Section 4

Section 504Procedural

RequirementsWhat are some major procedural requirements under Section 504 and how are they to be implemented?

Some 504 Requirements(CFR 34.104)

• Written Assurance• 504 Coordinator—15 or more employees• Public Notice• Grievance Procedure• Child Find• Written Notice • Procedural Safeguards

* Refer to 504 regulations

Section 5

Section 504 Student Identification, Evaluation,

Placement and Accommodations/Services

What is the process and requirements for a student to receive 504 accommodations/services?

Understand the 3 prongs relating to 504 identification.

FAPE and 504 | (CFR 34: 104.33)

Under Section 504, “free appropriate public education” is defined as “the provision of general or special education and related services that are designed to meet the individual educational needs” of a disabled student as the needs of non-disabled students are met. A Section 504 Plan, therefore, can address such issues as health care, behavioral, instructional, and educational services and accommodations.

Procedural Safeguards | (CFR 34.104.36)

Once identified, the student and parent are entitled to all of the procedural protections of the law/regulations—notice, consent, team meetings, manifestation determinations, due process hearings, etc.

Identification = Procedural Safeguards Protections

Section 504 Identification Criteria

Prong 1 Identification, Evaluation, & Eligibility

Prong 2 Record

Prong 3 Perception

3 Prongs

The individual has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.

Section 504Identification Criteria

Prong 1

Walking Breathing Learning Reading Concentrating Thinking Communicating Bending

SeeingSpeakingEatingHearingLiftingStandingSittingWorking

Reaching Sleeping Performing manual tasks Caring for one’s self Interacting with others Operation of a bodily function Other ____________________

* Determined through an evaluation and a school team that includes the parents.

* Many relate to “employment.”

Impairment or Disability

There are many more people with “impairments” than there are people with “disabilities.” The difference lies in the effect the impairment has on the person. If the impairment causes a “substantial limitation” of “major life activity” then the person has a “disability.” If the impairment does not “substantially limit” the person, then it is an impairment—not a disability.

How Does Section 504 Fit?Big Picture

All studentswithin the school

Students with

Impairments

504ImpairmentsSubstantialLimitation

IDEA13 Disabilities

Evaluation and 504

Although a 504 evaluation may include formal assessment, it is not required. Only an “evaluation” sufficient to provide information to determine the existence of a disability under Section 504 need be obtained. An “evaluation” under Section 504 could consist of a meeting to examine all existing data, including observational data, to determine whether it is sufficient to support a determination that the student is/is not disabled under Section 504. (34 CFR 104.35)

Determining Identification(34 CFR 104.35(c))

Three steps are required in interpreting evaluation data and in making placement decisions. A school shall:draw upon information from a variety of sources, including aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, physical condition, social or cultural background and adaptive behavior

establish procedures to ensure that information obtained from all such sources is documented and carefully considered

ensure that the placement decision is made by a group of persons, including persons knowledgeable about the child, the meaning of evaluation data, and the placement options.

* A medical diagnosis only is not sufficient.

Three Standards for Determining Section 504 Identification

Good evaluation dataVariety of sources

A team knowledgeable about the student, including the parent

Individual(s) on the team knowledgeable about the disability

Related Services

Many students under Section 504 mightonly need a related service.•School counseling•School nurse services•Transportation•Other

Public SchoolsIncreased Numbers

Prong Two

“Has a record of such an

impairment”

Possible Discrimination

There are times when a student can experience discrimination based on their school record.

Johnny

Jones

Prong Three

Is regarded as havingsuch an impairment

— Perception—

Remember Ryan White

Contracted HIV though a blood transfusion.

Definition Issue

NOTE: The second and third prongs of the definition referring to individuals with a “record of” or regarded as “having an impairment” are relevant only when some negative action is taken based on the perception or record. “This cannot be the basis which the requirement for a free appropriate public education (FAPE) is triggered.” (OCR Policy Memorandum, August 3, 1992).

Section 6

Section 504: Suggested

Identification ProcessWhat are the best practices of a Section 504 identification process?

School Policy and Practices

Suggested 504 Process

• Building Level Support Teams

• Interventions and modifications not successful

• Complete referral• Notice/consent• Formal and

informal evaluations.

• Section 504 committee• Has a mental or

physical disability that substantially limits a major life activity.

• Meets criteria.• Assign case manager.

• Accommodation plan• Possible membership

•Parent(s)•Teacher(s)•Principal•School counselor•School nurse•Others, as needed

Areas of accommodation could include:

•Academic•Health care•Physical•Behavioral•Training•Placement

Collect data and monitor to determine effectiveness of accommodations.

Periodically review and revise plan.

1. At Risk Program

2. Referral/Evaluation

3. Identification

4. DevelopingSection 504 Plan

5. Implement Plan

6. Evaluate Plan

7. Review

John Copenhaver, MPRRC, 1999

Section 7

Comparison of Section 504 with Special Education

What are some similarities and differences between special education IDEA and Section 504?

Comparison

IDEA Section 504 ADA

Age Range Birth to 21 years*

Birth todeath

Birth todeath

* Varies by State.

Comparison

Area of Comparison Section 504/ADA Special Education

Type Civil Rights Education

Responsibility General Education (shared)

Special Education (shared)

Comparison

Area of Comparison Section 504/ADA Special Education

Administrator Section 504/ADA Coordinator

Special Education Director

Funding School Responsibility Local, State, and Federal

Comparison

Area of Comparison Section 504/ADA Special Education

Enforcement Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

Office of Special Education Programs

(OSEP)

Identification

Evaluated and currently has physical/mental

disability that substantially limits a

major life activity

Must qualify under one of the 13 disability

categories

Evaluation Required for identification Required for eligibility

Comparison

Area of Comparison Section 504/ADA Special Education

FAPE

General education accommodations, special education,

and/or related services

Must be eligible and need special education; then

related services can be added if they are necessary.

Service ToolAccommodation Plan

and/or written documentation

Individual Education Program

Team Section 504 Team IEP Team

Reevaluation Periodically Every 3 years

Comparison

Area of Comparison Section 504/ADA Special Education

Least Restrictive Environment

Based upon the Section 504 Plan and unique needs of the

student

Based upon the IEP and unique needs of the

student

Attention Deficit Disorder

Is identified if the disability substantially

limits a major life activity

Could be served under the categories of LD,

OHI, ED, or TBI.

Comparison

Area of Comparison Section 504/ADA Special Education

Grievance ProcedureRequires a grievance

procedure to deal with discrimination issues.

Grievance procedure not required.

Complaints can be file with the State.

PostsecondaryServices are

provided if eligibility is determined.

Services end at high school graduation or age

ceiling.

Section 8

Summary and Conclusion

Questions?

Section 504 Post-Test

Story

Thank You!