Welcome to the 504 Services section of the website. On this page, you will find resources to help personnel and students and their families to connect with our department. We hope that this page continues to grow and to be as interactive as possible.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 C.F.R. Part 104), is a federal civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance stating: “No otherwise qualified individual with disabilities in the United States… shall solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 

Section 504 establishes a student’s right to full access and participation in education and all school-related activities and requires schools to provide appropriate related services and aids to meet the individual needs of qualified students. Section 504 sets minimum standards for providing services to students with disabilities that substantially limits a major life activity. Section 504 applies to elementary and secondary schools, preschool and adult education.

Additionally, public school districts are government entities covered by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. While the U.S. Department of Education is responsible for enforcing Section 504, a role of the EAC is to provide technical assistance concerning Section 504.

• ADE: DESE Equity Assistance Center

• Section 504 Overview Video

• USDOE Office of Civil Rights (OCR)