Section 504
Meeting the needs of disabled students under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) is a federal civil rights law. It is designed to eliminate disability discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funds. Since all public school districts receive federal funds, all public school districts must comply with Section 504. Under Section 504, denying a disabled student a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”) constitutes disability discrimination.
Please see the following materials for more information about Section 504 and LWSD.
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
FAQ now that you have a 504
- New School Year
- Responsibilities of the 504 Monitor
- Responsibilities of the General Education teachers
- Who do I talk to if these FAQs do not answer my specific question?
New School Year
Responsibilities of the 504 Monitor
Responsibilities of the General Education teachers
Who do I talk to if these FAQs do not answer my specific question?
FAQ now that you are in high school
To help you begin understanding how to advocate for yourself, these FAQs are meant to guide you toward taking ownership for your own education.
FAQ when getting ready for college
This FAQ has been created for you, the student.
You have now been at your high school for a while and it’s time to prepare for taking the PSAT in 10th grade. For questions about accommodations on the PSAT/SAT tests, please visit the College Board Website. For questions about accommodations on the ACT test, please visit the ACT Testing Website.
These FAQs answer some basic questions about what to look for in a college; and what to expect once you get to college. All of the advice given to any high school student applies to you too! Here are some additional things to know about.
Examples of accommodations that may be available. The list below only provides examples; the 504 team can create accommodations that they agree will best provide the student FAPE.
Aids/Assistance:
- Calculator/manipulatives
- Graphic organizers/visual aids
- Multiple edits and guided edits
- Task broken down into smaller components
- Timeline for component parts
- Other
Format:
- Braille or large print
- Opportunity to computer-generate or hand-write
- Voice or text
- Other
Other:
- P - making progress on goals and objectives for elementary students
- P - passing grade for secondary students
- S - satisfactory grade for secondary students
- School/home communication system
Presentation:
- Audio versions of text
- Books on tape
- Braille, large print, or low vision devices
- Check for understanding
- Directions read orally
- Eye focusing strip
- Isolate portions of the assignments to focus (mask)
- Isolate portions of the text
- Mnemonic devices
- Note-taker
- Orally-presented directions may need to be reworded (with simplified vocabulary and/or sentence structure), visually represented, or physically demonstrated
- Prompts/tests read orally to students
- Provide appropriate models of articulation and/or grammatical errors
- Task broken down into smaller steps
- Text to speech software
Response:
- Allow additional processing time
- Calculator/manipulatives
- Computer-generated response
- Graphic organizers/visual aids
- Mnemonic devices
- Multiple edits/guided edits
- Note-taker
- Opportunity to computer generate or handwrite
- Physical supports (easel, arm stabilizer)
- Speech to text software
- Use of spelling/grammar devices
- Other
Scheduling/timeline:
- Alternate times of day offered
- Extended time beyond length of course (e.g. across semester)
- Fewer courses per semester - more years to graduate
- Reduced length of assignments
- Regulated breaks/physical movement
- Other
Settings:
- Adult proximity
- Allow noise buffers/headsets
- Allow the use of sensory items, such as fidgets, wiggle seats, etc.
- Alternative setting: individual or small group
- Freedom for student to move or stand as needed
- Isolated area provided
- Physical supports (easel, magnifier, arm stabilizer)
- Preferential seating
- Work on assignments in special education setting
- Other