Which protects students with disabilities who do not qualify for services under IDEA by ensuring that they have access to needed and approved supplementary aids and services?

Which protects students with disabilities who do not qualify for services under IDEA by ensuring that they have access to needed and approved supplementary aids and services?

• A. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• B. The Assistive Technology Act of 1998
• C. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• D. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Answer: (C)

Section 504 protects students with disabilities who do not qualify for IDEA by guaranteeing access to the general education program through reasonable accommodations and supplementary aids and services. This means schools must remove barriers so eligible students can participate in instruction and complete coursework, even if they don’t need or qualify for a full IEP. A 504 plan might include extended time on tests, preferential seating, assistive technology, or modified assignments—supports tailored to the individual’s needs to ensure equal access to learning. In contrast, IDEA provides special education and related services to students who meet its criteria, while Title IX focuses on sex discrimination, the Assistive Technology Act supports system-level access to assistive tech, and the ADA provides broad anti-discrimination protections outside the education context. The scenario described specifically aligns with Section 504’s goal of ensuring access through appropriate accommodations for students who are disabled but not IDEA-eligible.

Section 504 protects students with disabilities who do not qualify for IDEA by guaranteeing access to the general education program through reasonable accommodations and supplementary aids and services. This means schools must remove barriers so eligible students can participate in instruction and complete coursework, even if they don’t need or qualify for a full IEP. A 504 plan might include extended time on tests, preferential seating, assistive technology, or modified assignments—supports tailored to the individual’s needs to ensure equal access to learning.

In contrast, IDEA provides special education and related services to students who meet its criteria, while Title IX focuses on sex discrimination, the Assistive Technology Act supports system-level access to assistive tech, and the ADA provides broad anti-discrimination protections outside the education context. The scenario described specifically aligns with Section 504’s goal of ensuring access through appropriate accommodations for students who are disabled but not IDEA-eligible.