Office for Students with Disabilities

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

What is "504"?

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, states "no otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States" ...shall, solely by reason of ... disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Section 504 requires that "reasonable accommodations" be made for students with documented disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

What is the law?

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights guarantee for persons with disabilities in the United States. It provides protection from discrimination for individuals on the basis of disability.

How does ADA affect institutions of higher education? The ADA upholds and extends the standards for compliance set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to employment practices, communications, procedures, and practices that impact the treatment of students with disabilities.

Who is Disabled?

An individual with a disability is defined as someone who has a disabling condition, who has a history of having a disability or who is perceived by others to be disabled. A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits or restricts one or more of the major life activities.

Examples of major life activities: