How does a student qualify for Section 504 disability?
To qualify as a student with a Section 504 disability, students must have been evaluated and determined by a team, including the parents, to have a mental or physical impairment that substantially impacts a major life activity. There are multiple steps that can take place prior to conducting a 504 evaluation such as identifying potential concerns and working to provide interventions and strategies to address the noted concerns, unless there is a clear reason to suspect a disability under Section 504 or IDEA.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that is designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education.
A child may be found to be an eligible student under Section 504 if he/she has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Under Section 504, the Franklin County R-II School District recognizes the responsibility to prevent discrimination in policies and practices regarding its students and staff. Additionally, the District has specific responsibilities outlined under Section 504 to identify, evaluate and determine eligibility, as well as to ensure that students with disabilities have access to a free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.