The Law and Disabilities

Congress enacted the "Rehabilitation Act of 1973" and the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990"(ADA) in order to ensure the rights of those with disabilities. These laws require educational institutions to reasonably accommodate a qualified individual with a disability when appropriate documentation is provided.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 states:

"No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States...shall, solely by reason of...handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

Who is protected under the law?

A "handicapped person" means any "person who (i) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities, (ii) has a record of such an impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having such an impairment."

A "qualified handicapped person" is defined as one who meets the requisite academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in the postsecondary institution's programs or activities. Section 504 protects the civil rights of individuals who are qualified to participate and who have disabilities.