Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed during the Civil Rights movement. The section served as an amendment to a document created by the Chicago Office of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The Vocational Rehabilitation and Other Rehabilitation Services, Section 794 provides individuals with disabilities, protection from discrimination within any organization or program that receives federal financial assistance. Before the Act, individuals were expected to deal with physical and mental disabilities without accommodations and received minimal assistance from society. Americans with disabilities, faced discrimination in schools, the job force, and living arrangements before the act was passed. Furthermore, …show more content…
Public schools receive federal financial assistance, therefore are required to abide by the regulations outlined in Section 504. Students who qualify for services under Section 504 receive appropriate accommodations for their disability within an educational environment. For example, a student who suffers from seizures is provided services based on Section 504. The school will create a plan covering the basis of the student’s condition and what procedures or accommodations are necessary for the student. A majority of these services or accommodations will be administered within the general education classroom. There are some instances where a child receives both Section 504 accommodations and services from an Individualized Education Program (IEP). For example, a student with a learning disability and cerebral palsy may have both an IEP for her learning disability, which is covered by IDEA and a Section 504 plan for her cerebral palsy, to assist with mobility across the school campus. Students who enter public education with a disability are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) regardless the severity of their condition. Therefore, this statute is imperative for public education because it reassures parents that their children who are disabled, impeding one or more major life activities, can receive a free productive education in