Seventeen states are currently involved in a lawsuit with the federal government related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This law protects people with disabilities from discrimination in federally-funded programs and activities. Currently, schools receiving federal funding must provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, ensuring they have equal access to education and participate fully in school activities, essentially prohibiting discrimination based on disability within the school environment; this means schools must provide necessary support to allow students with disabilities to learn alongside their non-disabled peers. Students eligible for 504 plans must be diagnosed with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as learning, seeing, hearing, walking, or self-care, benefit from Section 504 in schools; this can include students with conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, epilepsy, asthma, anxiety, visual impairments, hearing impairments, or chronic health issues. This lawsuit was filed last fall by 17 States, and is known as Texas v. Becerra, and is focused on clarifying that gender dysphoria cannot be considered as a disability under updated Section 504 rules. AASA is following the lawsuit and providing regular updates. Join our LinkedIn group to receive updates as well.
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