Nos. 4156/5150

PERSONNEL/STUDENTS

Series 4000/5000

SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

Policy

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) is an Act that prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving Federal financial assistance.  Section 504 defines a person with a disability as anyone who:

    1. has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (major life activities include activities such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working);

    2. has a record of such an impairment; or

    3. is regarded as having such an impairment.

In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Region 15 Public Schools recognize a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel, students, parents, and members of the public who participate in school sponsored programs.  No discrimination against any person with a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices in the school system.  Persons who feel that they may have been discriminated against on the basis of disability should contact the Region 15 Public School’s Section 504 Coordinator.

The School District also has specific responsibilities under the Section 504 with respect to providing access to appropriate educational services for students who qualify under Section 504.  These responsibilities include the obligation to identify, to evaluate, and to afford access to appropriate educational services.  If the parent or guardian disagrees with the decisions made by the professional staff of the school district with respect to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of their child, he/she has a right to an impartial hearing.

If there are questions, please feel free to contact the Director of Student Services, Section 504 Coordinator for the Region 15 Public Schools, at phone number 203-758-1729.

Legal References:  29 U.S.C. § 794

                   34 C.F.R. § 104 et seq.

Adopted:11 September 2006