Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act continues to be a source of confusion, discord, and significant legal risk for educational teams across the country. While the statue ensures access and non-discrimination among those with disabilities, the implementation and intersectionality with special education remains a topic of uncertainty with variable fidelity with its requirements. Many educational teams also struggle with Section 504 procedures, oftentimes misapplying IDEIA practices to the civil rights statute. This presentation will review issues of child find, FAPE, identification, eligibility, and accommodations while also considering the comparisons and points of separation to IDEIA. Attendees will leave with tangible and practice guidance for navigating Section 504 within their educational settings.
Presenter:
Dr. Erich Merkle (or Erich Merkle, PhD, EdS, NCSP)
Pupil Adjustment Program, Office of Special Education, Akron Public Schools
Past President, Ohio Psychological Association, 2019-20
Former President, Ohio School Psychologists Association, 2014-15