Anchor Bay School District

Mission Statement

Anchor Bay Schools, in partnership with the community, will produce lifelong learners who respect diversity, adapt to change, and function as responsible citizens.

Resources

Section 504 FAQ

What Is It?

Section 504 is a part of a set of civil rights laws (Rehabilitation Act of 1973) that ensures that individuals with “handicaps” receive appropriate accommodations to assist with their handicaps. School districts must make reasonable accommodations to allow students with handicaps an opportunity to successfully participate in school and school-related activities. It is not intended that Section 504 programs are fundamentally different from opportunities that exist for all students.

What Does “Handicapped” Mean?

In regard to Section 504 “handicapped” means “a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Major life activities are defined as things like: learning in school, caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing and working. The law also indicates that an individual can also “have a history” of having such an impairment or can be “regarded as having” such an impairment. Impairments are things like:

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Asthma
  • Communicable Diseases such as HIV, Tuberculosis, AIDS
  • Allergies
  • Temporary Medical Conditions due to illness or accident
  • Obesity
  • Drug/Alcohol Dependency
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Hemophilia
  • Behavioral Difficulties

How Do I Know If My Child Qualifies for Section 504 Accommodations?

If a parent, guardian, educator, adult age student or relevant outside agency feels that the child may need accommodations under Section 504, a referral can be made to the staff member responsible for handling Section 504 inquiries at the child’s school. The school’s responsibilities then include:

  • informing parents of the need to evaluate
  • providing an evaluation for the student
  • determining whether the student is eligible for Section 504 accommodations
  • providing necessary accommodations.

What Are Accommodations

  • allowing the student to be seated near the teacher
  • providing an assignment sheet to track assignments
  • reducing the amount of work the student is required to do
  • providing reminders for the child to stay on task
  • repeating directions to ensure they were understood

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