Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a US federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. It requires educational institutions, government agencies, and other federally funded organizations to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. In higher education, Section 504 is the legal foundation requiring universities to provide academic adjustments such as extended test time, accessible course materials, sign language interpreters, and CART captioning. Along with the ADA, it forms the primary legal framework for disability rights in American educational institutions.