Discrimination against public areas is an issue that no one wants to face, especially students with accommodations. Section 504 helps students as well as families by ensuring they have equal access to education.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 is a US federal law that requires schools to provide education to students with disabilities. It provides disabled students with their educational needs, such as classroom accommodations and paraprofessionals to those who need it.
The law was first introduced in 1973 by Dr Frank Bowe. It was the result of the growing awareness of the needs and rights of disabled people.
In the 2022-2023 school year, 7.5 million students received accommodations, as reported by The National Center for Education Statistics. Among these students, the most common category seen was specific learning disabilities, which was 32%.
Who can benefit from a 504 Plan?
Students eligible to get 504 plans must have one or more disabilities that affect daily life or learning. These disabilities can include vision or hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and mental health conditions. Students who are returning to school after serious illness or injury may also be eligible.
What does a 504 Plan include?
A 504 Plan is based on a child’s needs and disability. Accommodations can include having a specific desk or chair in the classroom, extra time on tests or quizzes, and occupational or physical therapy.
If a parent requests an accommodation, the school is unable to provide one, the school might suggest another one that could also help. Most 504s don’t affect what a student learns, rather, they remove barriers from learning.
How can I request a 504 plan for my child?
To get a 504 for your child, parents, school personnel, or a therapist must first ask the school to evaluate a student for a 504 plan. Every school handles 504s a bit differently, but usually has 504 teams that include the principal, the school nurse, school counselors, and the school’s child psychologist.
The team then looks at the child’s grades, test scores, medical records, etc.,. When the team decides that the student is eligible, they will then collaborate with the parent to determine what type of accommodations the student needs. The 504 plan lists these accommodations.
Do 504s carry over to college?
Colleges cannot decline to admit students with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires all people to have equal access to programs, services, and programs, including colleges.
There are a few different steps that students as well as parents can take to make sure that the accommodations carry over to college. The first step that students can take is to reach out to their school counselor and teachers.
“They may have insights into colleges and universities that provide strong support for students with disabilities,” said George Guilani, PsyD, in an interview with Today.
Students and parents should also contact the university to learn about additional services.
Are 504s being threatened in 2025?
There is a lot of news surrounding the 17 states filing lawsuits to claim Section 504 as unconstitutional. Texas first filed the lawsuit in September 2024. The lawsuit was a result of the Biden Administration expanding Section 504 to recognize “Gender Dysphoria as a mental and physical disability.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration because he said changing the law was “abusing executive action”. In an interview with Forbes, Paxton claimed that the state was suing because “HHS has no right to rewrite definitions and classify ‘gender dysphoria’ as a disability.”
Who will be the head of 504s now?
As of March 2025, President Trump has announced that RFK Jr will oversee 504s.
What to do if 504s get abolished
If RFK Jr does side with the 17 states that want to get rid of 504s, it is recommended that parents reach out to stay informed, know your student’s rights under Section 504, and connect with local and state officials.
