The Rehabilitation Act was passed in 1973 to prohibit entities receiving federal funds from allowing disability discrimination. Subpart C of the Rehabilitation Act, commonly known as "Section 504" requires school districts to make programs and activities accessible to and usable by all individuals with disabilities. Section 504 is a civil rights statute and not a special education statute. It states: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

Since the Blue Valley School District receives federal money, we are required to provide eligible disabled students with equal access to our programs, and activities. We aim to ensure that students are evaluated and provided 504 Plans when a need has been demonstrated and that there is no discrimination against all students with disabilities. At each school, the responsibility for ensuring Section 504 compliance rests with the building principal or principal's designee. (Updated 3/3/2010)