Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
A “person with a disability” includes any person who 1) has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more of such a person’s major life activities; 2) has a record of such impairment, or 3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
A “qualified person with a disability” is defined, as one who meets the requisite academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in the postsecondary institution’s programs and activities. Section 504 protects the civil right of individuals who are qualified to participate and who have disabilities such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Cerebral palsy
- Deafness or hearing impairments
- Epilepsy or seizure disorders
- Mental retardation
- Orthopedic impairment
- Specific learning disability
- Speech disorder
- Spinal cord or traumatic brain injury
- Blindness or visual impairments
- Chronic illnesses, such as AIDS, arthritis, cancer, cardiac diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, psychiatric disabilities
- Drug or alcohol addiction (Section 504 covers former users and those in recovery programs and not currently using drugs or alcohol)
