What is Section 504?
Section 504 is the part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which applies to individuals with disabilities. Section 504 is a civil rights act which protects the civil and constitutional rights of individuals with disabilities.
Section 504 states that no individual with a disability can be excluded from or denied benefits of any program receiving federal financial assistance.
To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to:
Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits access to general education, have a record of such impairment; or be regarded as having an impairment.
A physical or mental impairment is defined as any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems:
Neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.
How are children with disabilities identified?
Supporting a student with a suspected disability begins with the Child Find process. If a parent, teacher or other individual knowledgeable about the child suspects an impairment or disability, a Child Find Evaluation for Section 504 may be requested. Each school has a designated person(s), typically the school counselor who will handle the process. In evaluating a student for eligibility, all determinations are made on the basis of individual inquiry.
What are accommodations?
Accommodations are adjustments made by the classroom teacher(s) and other school staff to help students access the general education curriculum.
The School 504 Coordinator will:
- Call a pre-planning to determine what if any evaluations are needed to determine eligibility.
- In attendance: counselor, teacher, student, and parent(s), along with anyone else that have expertise in the area(s) of concern.
- Within 60 Days:
- The team will meet again to determine eligibility and if eligible a 504 can be written.
- Convene a group of persons knowledgeable about the student to collect and review information about the student from a variety of sources.
- Work with the team to review the data about the student to determine if the student has s physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, and thus, is eligible to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE)
- As a member of the team decide if, because of the disability, the educational needs of the student are not met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled students in order for the student to be entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE)
- After the team determines that a student is eligible for a Section 504 Plan, work with the team to develop a Section 504 Plan for the student
- As part of the team, determine the student's needs as they relate to the identified disability.
- Complete the Section 504 Plan by outlining the education or services, reasonable accommodations that the student requires.
- Plan a review meeting date.
- Obtain signatures of team participants.
- Send copies of 504 Plan to designated individuals.
- Monitor the implementation of the 504 Plan.
- Reconvene the team on the date agreed upon to review and reassess any change in status.
MSSD14 504 Parental Rights
Counselors
UPES
Crystal Sherwood
E-mail: csherwood@mssd14.org
Phone: 719 685 2209
MSES
Meredith Hinds
E-mail: mhinds@mssd14.org
Phone: 719 685 2160
MSMS
Eric Holt
E-mail: eholt@mssd14.org
Phone: 719 685 2135
MSHS
Christopher Lewis (A-K)
E-mail: clewis@mssd14.org
Phone: 719.685.2050
Phone: 719.685.2059
If there are any questions concerning this information, please feel free to contact
Kolleen Johnson, Section 504 Compliance contact for Manitou Springs School District, at 685-2040 or email at kjohnson@mssd14.org.
