There are many New York parents who have children with special needs. These children require special help when they enter school and there are many laws that protect their educational interests. One federal law is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This law requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations for their students with disabilities.
Definition of disability
According to Section 504, a student has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity. These disabilities can include Attention Deficit Disorder, hearing loss, food allergies, bi-polar disease, and many more.
A student who has a disability has the right to reasonable accommodations at their school. Examples of reasonable accommodations under Section 504 include:
- Providing a visually impaired student with large print books
- Allowing a child in a wheelchair to leave class early to get to their next class on time
- Allowing a child with ADHD extra time to take a test
- Provide a child with ADD a fidget to help him concentrate
- Provide a student with a low-distraction work area
In the event of denial of 504 accommodation
If a student is denied a 504 accommodation, they may want to seek help from an attorney who specializes in special education. An attorney understands the state and federal laws that protect students with disabilities in a school setting. They can advise their client on what their options are when it comes to 504 accommodations. Many times, these children may not need special education services but need some form of accommodation to fully benefit from school. Although New York Schools have a responsibility of finding and helping children who need 504 accommodations they don’t always do so. An experienced disability lawyer can help a family streamline the process and get their kids the help they need.