Who Does Section 504 Cover?
At first glance, it can be difficult to tell if you’re covered by the protections granted in Section 504. According to the legal text, the law applies to a “qualified individual with a disability.” So how does the OCR determine whether you apply? The provisions define qualified individuals as those with a physical or mental condition that substantially restricts one or more major life activities. The Department of Education (ED) provides some examples of these types of impairments. However, please keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list:
Disability Specific
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
www.add.org
www.chadd.org - Autism Spectrum Disorder
www.autism-society.org
www.autismspeaks.org - Blind and Visual Impairments
www.vdbvi.org
www.afb.org - Learning Disabilities
www.ncld.org - Mental Health/Psychiatric Disorders
www.nimh.nih.gov
www.nami.org