What conditions qualify for a 504 plan?
Answer:
This is a bit of a trick question.
Unlike for an IEP, there is no list of specific conditions or disabilities that qualify a child for a 504 plan. I know that sounds odd. But it’s because eligibility for a 504 plan is very broad. It would be nearly impossible to create a list because there would be too many conditions.
What we can do is look at examples of conditions that qualify for a 504 plan.
To get a 504 plan, a student must have a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.” That’s a mouthful. It’s from , the law that covers 504 plans. The important thing to know is that many different conditions can be impairments. And most things people do each day — from eating and sleeping to learning and thinking — are major life activities.
That’s why learning and thinking differences often qualify for a 504 plan. For example, ADHD can be an impairment under the law. It impacts activities like thinking and paying attention. Likewise, dyslexia can be an impairment that impacts reading.
Beyond learning differences, many other conditions also qualify. In a typical school, there will be 504 plans for anxiety, food allergies, vision problems, illnesses, and more.
There’s one last thing to keep in mind. Depending on the impact of their condition, a student might qualify for a 504 plan, an IEP, or neither. For example, if a student has very mild ADHD, it might not impact their life in a way that’s a legal disability. So, they don’t qualify for any plan. Or the ADHD could create so many challenges that the student is eligible for an IEP.
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The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the country’s first civil rights law for people with disabilities. Section 504 is the part of that law that gives your child important rights in public and private schools.
