This document provides an overview of Section 504 plans. It compares 504 plans to Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), noting that 504 plans ensure accommodations for students with disabilities but do not require specialized instruction like IEPs. To qualify for a 504 plan, a student must have a mental or physical impairment that affects a major life activity. The process for creating a 504 plan includes referral, evaluation, determining eligibility, developing accommodations, and holding an annual meeting. Key documents for the process are also outlined.

1. SECTION 504
OVERVIEW
Jessica Taormina & Bonnie Olinto
April 23, 2014

2. AFTER THIS WEBINAR, PLEASE VISIT
BIT.LY/POSTCHARTER504 TO COMPLETE
A POST-WEBINAR SURVEY.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

3. Overview of Today’s Learning Outcomes
1. Participants will be able to compare and contrast a 504 Plan and an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP)
2. Participants will be able to determine when a child is eligible for a 504 Plan
3. Participants will be able to create a 504 Plan & hold a 504 Plan meeting
2013-2014 UCP Institute

4. WHAT IS A 504
PLAN?
What is the difference between a 504 Plan
and an IEP?
2013-2014 UCP Institute

5. What is Section 504?
-Section 504 is a federal civil rights law under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that
provides protection against discrimination for individuals with disabilities.
-Section 504 is designed to provide equal access and fairness in general education to
students with disabilities that do not require specialized instruction, including access
to extracurricular activities.
-The educational services provided to students with disabilities must be equivalent to
the service provided to students without disabilities.
- Can include behavior plan, if needed.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

6. 504 vs. IEP
A section 504 plan is created to ensure that a student who is identified as having a
disability and is attending an elementary/secondary school receives the necessary
accommodations to provide access to the learning environment.
An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is created to ensure that a student who is
identified as having a disability and is attending an elementary/secondary school
receives the necessary accommodations, specialized instruction and related
services to provide access to the learning environment. An IEP requires
documentation of measurable growth (goals) under IDEA.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

7. WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A 504 PLAN & AN IEP?
2013-2014 UCP Institute

8. ELIGIBILITY
DETERMINATION
How does a student qualify for a 504 Plan?
2013-2014 UCP Institute

9. Requirements for Qualification: Ask yourself two questions
- Does the child have a mental or physical impairment?
* Impairment may be: current, temporary, episodic, remission
If yes, ask the next question. If no, the child is not eligible.
- Does the mental or physical impairment affect a major life activity?
If yes, the child qualifies. If no, the child is not eligible.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

10. Specialized Instruction
-Students under Section 504, have been identified as having a disability under IDEA
and requiring accommodations but DO NOT require specialized instruction.
-What is specialized instruction?
- Adapting instruction through change in content, methodology or delivery of
instruction
-If a student requires specialized instruction, they should be evaluated for an IEP.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

11. Examples of Impairments
2013-2014 UCP Institute
-HIV/AIDS
-Tuberculosis
-Arthritis
-Asthma
-Anxiety
-Allergies
-Diabetes
-Obesity
-Epilepsy
-Heart Disease
-Chronic Fatigue
-Orthopedic
- ADD/ADHD
- Migraine Headaches
- Tourette Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cancer
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Bipolar Disorder

12. Major Life Activities
2013-2014 UCP Institute
- Caring for oneself - Eating
- Walking - Standing
- Seeing - Lifting
- Hearing - Bending
- Reading - Concentrating
- Speaking - Breathing
- Learning - Thinking
- Working - Sleeping
- Performing manual tasks - Major Bodily Functions

13. WHO QUALIFIES FOR A 504 PLAN?
2013-2014 UCP Institute

14. CREATING &
HOLDING A
MEETING
What steps are required to create a 504 Plan
and to hold a meeting?
2013-2014 UCP Institute

15. Referral
-Anyone that has interaction with a student can refer them evaluation for a 504 plan.
- Teachers
- Parents
- Nurses
- Therapists
- School staff
-If a child is referred, a meeting must be held.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

16. Process
- Referral
- Evaluation (Does not mean testing must take place, existing data can be used)
- Must have parent consent
- Must be completed in a reasonable amount of time (60 days)
- Data and information gathered from a variety of sources
(student grades, disciplinary referrals, health information, parent information,
language surveys, non-school factors (cultural and economic- do not want to
misidentify)
2013-2014 UCP Institute

17. Possible Outcomes
- Eligible and plan needed
- Eligible, plan when active
- Technically eligible, no plan needed - receives protections under IDEA, procedural
safeguards
- Not eligible
-Administrator or Staffing Specialist must submit eligibility results into SMS
2013-2014 UCP Institute

18. Eligible?
- If a student is determined eligible for a Section 504 plan, an annual meeting must
occur (re-evaluate, determine continued needs for accommodations).
- Accommodations must be documented and made available upon request
- Lesson plans
- Narratives (logs, journals, anecdotal notes)
- Student portfolio
- 504 Students are protected in the same manner as IDEA students.
-FAPE, LRE
2013-2014 UCP Institute

19. Sample Accommodations
- Modified homework, class work
and tests
- Extra time for homework, class work
and tests
- Extra set of books for home
- Alternative books with similar
concepts at easier reading level
- Preferential seating close to source
of instruction
2013-2014 UCP Institute
-Assistance when moving about the
building
- Grading based on individual
progress or effort
- Test retake for better grades
- Visual aids
- Read test directions orally
- Frequent breaks

20. Documents
- Meeting Notice
- Procedural Safeguards
- Eligibility Determination
- Teacher Input
- 504 Plan w/ Behavior Plan if needed
- Meeting Notes
(Any documents used to determine eligibility)
2013-2014 UCP Institute

21. WHAT IS REQUIRED TO CREATE A
504 PLAN & HOLD A MEETING?
2013-2014 UCP Institute

22. In Review Learning Outcomes
1. Participants will be able to differentiate between a 504 Plan & an IEP.
2. Participants will be able to determine what makes a student eligible for a 504 Plan.
3. Participants will be able to create a 504 Plan & hold a 504 Plan meeting.
2013-2014 UCP Institute

23. PLEASE VISIT BIT.LY/POSTCHARTER504
TO COMPLETE A POST-WEBINAR SURVEY
2013-2014 UCP Institute

24. QUESTIONS?
Jessica Taormina
5th Grade ESE Teacher
JTAORMINA@UCPCFL.ORG
Bonnie Olinto
5th Grade ESE Teacher
BOLINTO@UCPCFL.ORG