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Comparison of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504

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Comparison of IDEA, Section 504, and ADA Chart. Requirements in the Law: IDEA (K-12) Provides free, appropriate, public education in the least restrictive environment. Section 504 (K-12/College) Requires any agency, school or institution receiving federal financial assistance to provide persons with disabilities to the greatest extent possible, an opportunity to be fully integrated in to the mainstream. ADA (College/Empl) Extends coverage of section 504 to employment, public & private education institutions, transportation providers & telecommunications, regardless of presence of any federal funding. Definitions in the Law: IDEA (K12) Specific disability categories are defined in the law; covers students with educational disabilities that require special services from specially trained teachers. Not all students with disabilities are eligible. Section 504 (K-12/College) Defines persons with disabilities who: Have a physical or mental impairment which limits one or more major life activities; Have a record of such an impairment; or Are regarded as having an impairment. ADA (College/Empl) Definitions of disability essentially same as Section 504 & extends coverage to persons without disabilities who may be related to or associated with a person with a disability; Includes HIV status, contagious & non-contagious diseases. Who is Covered: IDEA (K12) Covers students with educational disabilities that require special educational service ages 3-21 or until graduation. Section 504 (K-12/College Protects all persons with a disability from discrimination in educational setting based solely on disability. ADA (College/Empl) Protects all persons with a disability from discrimination in educational setting based solely on disability. Services Provided: IDEA (K12) Offers educational services that are remedial in addition to services available to all mainstream students (i.e., PE, Art, field trips). Section 504 (K-12/College Eliminates barriers that would prevent a student from full participation in programs/services offered to the general school population. ADA (College/Empl) Eliminates barriers that would prevent a student from full participation in programs/services offered to the general school population.Comparison of IDEA, Section 504, and ADA Chart. Funding: IDEA (K12) Schools receive federal funding to provide remedial services. Section 504 (K-12/College Requires that schools not discriminate based on student’s disability & must provide appropriate accommodations, but schools receive no additional financial support to provide support services or auxiliary aids. ADA (College/Empl) Requires that schools not discriminate based on student’s disability & must provide appropriate accommodations, but schools receive no additional financial support to provide support services or auxiliary aids. Evaluation/Documentation: IDEA (K12) School district is responsible for identifying & evaluating students with disabilities. Evaluations are the responsibility of the school & are performed at no expense to student/parent. Parents must consent to evaluations & placement decisions. Section 504 (K-12/College) K-12: School district is responsible for identifying & evaluating students with disabilities. Evaluations are the responsibility of the school & are performed at no expense to student/parent. Parents must consent to evaluations & placement decisions. College: Students must self-identify as having a disability & must provide documentation of disability. Evaluations/ documentation of disability are student’s responsibility & expense. Student has responsibility for advocacy, negotiating accommodations plan. ADA (College/Empl) Students must self-identify as having a disability & must provide documentation of disability. Evaluations/documentation of disability are student’s responsibility & expense. Student has responsibility for advocacy, negotiating accommodations plan. IEP/Accommodations: IDEA (K12) Individual Education Plan (IEP) developed with parents, teachers & other specialists involved. Section 504 (K-12/College 504 Plan developed with parents, teachers, school personnel involved (for elementary/secondary students). Accommodation plan developed with college student, Disability Services Coordinator on campus. ADA (College/Empl) Accommodation plan developed with college student, Disability Services Coordinator on campus. Classroom Placement: IDEA (K12) Placement must be in the least restrictive environment; may be special classrooms, resource, or regular classroom. (Elementary & secondary students) Section 504 (K-12/College Placement is in regular classroom with support services to eliminate barriers to the educational experience. (Elementary, secondary, & college students). ADA (College/Empl) All courses are mainstreamed with accommodations provided to students who qualify under ADA.

Source: Academic Achievement & Access Center. “Comparison of ADA, Section 504, & IDEA.” Student Access Services, The University of Kansas , 21 Dec. 2015, https://access.ku.edu/sites/access/files/2021-07/Comparison%20of%20the%20IDEA%2C%20Section%20504%2C%20ADA%20%281%29%20Updated%2007-07-21.pdf.