Section 504

Section 504 of the American with Disabilities Act provides equal access for all individuals with mental or physical impairments or disabilities. Unlike Special Education services outlined in an IEP (Individualized Education Program), Section 504 is a GENERAL Education initiative and, under this law, students are provided accommodations necessary to access the curriculum.

American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Law

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services. The current text of the ADA includes changes made by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-325), which became effective on January 1, 2009. The ADA was originally enacted in public law format and later rearranged and published in the United States Code.

The 2010 Regulations

On Friday, July 23, 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder signed final regulations revising the Department's ADA regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The official text was published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010 (corrections to this text were published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2011).

The revised regulations amend the Department's 1991 title II regulation (State and local governments), 28 CFR Part 35, and the 1991 title III regulation (public accommodations), 28 CFR Part 36. Appendix A to each regulation includes a section-by-section analysis of the rule and responses to public comments on the proposed rule. These final rules went into effect on March 15, 2011, and were published in the 2011 edition of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The 1991 Regulations

ADA Regulation for Title II, as printed in the Federal Register on July 26, 1991, and effective until March 15, 2011.
ADA Regulation for Title III, as printed in the Code of Federal Regulations July 1, 1994, and effective until March 15, 2011.

excerpt from http://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm

The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

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Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Tel: (617) 289-0111
TTY: (877) 521-2172
FAX: (617) 289-0150

www.ed.gov