Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funds. It also requires school districts to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified person with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the person's disability.
The US Department of Education states that in order for an educational program to be considered "appropriate," it must be designed to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities and it must be of a quality equal to the educational programs provided to non-disabled students. This regulation, coupled with the federal mandate that students with disabilities be educated, to the fullest extent possible, with their non-disabled peers, leaves school districts with an often daunting task.
To provide the level of disability services required in today's electronic age, school districts must obtain and maintain a level of knowledge and expertise that they have never before needed. Ramp Up to Access has gathered several valuable resources to assist educators with meeting not only the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law as well.