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Allowing a student with hyperactivity to keep a small object in their desk to manipulate quietly.Preparing a student for upcoming changes in routine.Providing a student with low-distraction work areas.Allowing a person with ADD or other learning disability extra time for test taking.Providing a student who is visually impaired books with larger print to keep up with schoolwork.Allowing a student in a wheelchair to leave the classroom a few minutes early to account for longer passing time.Under Section 504, schools may not ban or refuse to allow a student to participate in activities without making any reasonable effort to accommodate the student reasonably.Įxamples of reasonable 504 accommodations may include:
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Section 504 requires schools to make “reasonable accommodations” to help people with disabilities perform effectively.
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#504 accommodations full#
Under these circumstances, schools may not ban or prevent students from obtaining the full benefits of a solid education based on a student’s disability and reasonable request for accommodations. What Constitutes a “Disability”?Īccording to Section 504, a student is said to have a disability if the student has “a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one of more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.” This may include a broad range of disabilities – including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), epilepsy, food allergies, dwarfism, bi-polar disease and many more. While Section 504 does not require schools to provide individualized educational programs - like those required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - it is a federal law that schools are expected to follow. In the school setting, “504 accommodations” refer to simple, inexpensive changes a school must take to allow students with disabilities the chance to succeed in a classroom setting. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that bans discrimination against people with disabilities. Sometimes students with certain mental and physical disabilities do not qualify as disabled under traditional state or federal laws, but may still need special accommodations to fully succeed in school.
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