Rights of Students With Disabilities (Section 504 / IDEA)
“You’re Not Asking for Special Treatment — You’re Asking for Your Rights: A Guide to 504 and IEP Protections”
When you have a disability, whether visible or hidden, school life can feel much more complicated. But federal law gives you real protections: you have the right to be accommodated so that you can learn on an equal footing with other students. Understanding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and how it protects you can make a big difference — giving you tools to ask for what you need.
Section 504 says that any “qualified individual with a disability” in a school that receives federal funding cannot be discriminated against just because of their disability. That includes “hidden disabilities” — things like learning disabilities, chronic illnesses (like diabetes), or mental health needs. The school has to provide what’s called a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE), meaning the supports and changes you need should be offered free of charge.
One big area where this matters is discipline. Under Section 504, schools cannot punish a student for behavior that’s directly related to their disability without following special rules. If your disability causes behavior that violates school rules, the school needs to do a “manifestation determination” — basically, they have to check if the behavior is a part of your disability before suspending or removing you. There are federal guidelines that say if they don’t do this right, it could be discrimination.
If you need accommodations or feel like your disability is being ignored:
Ask your school for a 504 plan (or check if you already have one).
Document times when you need help (like extra time on tests, or more breaks).
Talk to your parents or a trusted adult and request a meeting.
If things go wrong, you or your family can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Rights of Students with Disabilities (Section 504)
U.S. Dept. of Education — Section 504 FAPE FAQ-http://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/disability-discrimination/disability-discrimination-key-issues/disability-discrimination-providing-free-appropriate-public-education-fape
OCR: “Requirements Under Section 504” (PDF)-https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/FAPE504.pdf?utm