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This July marks 33 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law, prohibiting the discrimination of people with disabilities and removing barriers to ensure the same opportunities including employment, services, and programs as everyone else. For students with disabilities, it expanded on of the protections from section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. These three designations are commonly referred to as the ADA, 504s and IEPs, and they each provide different protections for students with disabilities.
An IEP is given if a student has a disability which interferes with educational progress. This designation provides designing specialized instruction at no cost to the parents to meet the unique needs of the child. Students with an IEP may receive exemption from course requirements within classroom settings.
A 504 is given if a student has an impairment that limits a major life activity, but may not require specialized instructions. Students with a 504 receive changes within the classroom or school building to enable students to complete curriculum expectations.
The ADA provides basic protection for all individuals with disabilities, and should be referenced if a child is unable to access the services they need. Below are resources that provide guidance on how to navigate providing health and education services for students with IEPs and 504s. We hope they are useful to you in your work.
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