A 504 plan is named after section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This section made it illegal for any organization receiving federal assistance to discriminate against people with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment” that “limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.” Major life activities include “caring for one’s self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, and learning.”
The Rehabilitation Act gives disabled students the right to a free and appropriate public education. This means that schools are required to give disabled students the accommodations they need to learn effectively. A 504 plan is a plan made by the school district to provide these accommodations. For example, a 504 plan made for a student with ADHD might give the student a quiet room where they can complete their schoolwork without being distracted.
Some disabled students have a right to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This right was guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, IDEA defines disability in a different way from the Rehabilitation Act. This means that some students who the Rehabilitation Act defines as disabled will still not qualify for an IEP. Thankfully, the definition of disability in the Rehabilitation Act is broader than the one in IDEA, which means that students who don’t qualify for an IEP may still qualify for a 504 plan.
It is discriminatory to deny a student a free and appropriate education on the basis of their disability. Every child deserves to learn and grow regardless of their individual circumstances.