Section 504 of the Reh. Act 1973
A Brief But Powerful Law
Who's covered for what?
Section 504 states that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States Postal Service.
504 Highlights
- A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
- Each Federal agency has its own set of section 504 regulations that apply to its own programs
- Requirements common to these regulations include reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility; effective communication with people who have hearing or vision disabilities; and accessible new construction and alterations.
- Section 504 doesn't provide funding but it requires institutions receiving federal funding to set aside part of that funding for the necessary accommodations.
- Each agency is responsible for enforcing its own regulations.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & Rehabilitation Act of 1973