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504 Operating Procedures

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794 (“Section 504”) is a federal law designed to prohibit discrimination against individuals with a disability. Section 504 provides: “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…”  Section 504 is a broad antidiscrimination law that protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in any public school or other institution receiving federal funds to provide persons with disabilities, to the greatest extent possible, an opportunity to fully participate with their peers.  For example, all qualified elementary and secondary public school students who meet the definition of an individual with a disability under Section 504 are entitled to receive regular or special education and related aids and services that are designed to meet their individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of students without disabilities are met.  34 CFR § 104.33.  Section 504 also requires, among other things, that a student with a disability receive an equal opportunity to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities, and to be free from bullying and harassment based on disability.