Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that:

“College programs and activities shall be conducted in such a manner that no otherwise qualified individual shall, solely by the reason of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any such program or activity receiving federal financial assistance”.

A “qualified person” 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 rights of individuals who are qualified to participate and who have disabilities such as, but not limited to, the following:

  • Blindness or visual impairments
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Hearing Impaired/Deaf
  • Specific Learning Disabilities
  • Mobility Impairment
  • Chronic Illnesses (to include AIDS, cancer, diabetes)
  • Epilepsy or seizure disorders
  • Speech disorder
  • Psychological Disabilities

Eligibility and Definition of Disability under Section 504 and ADA

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Relay Texas Numbers: 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) or 1-800-735-2988 (Voice) or 711. A disability student can request an accommodation by following the proper steps but is not required to accept the accommodation.

Students who have documented disabilities, and who have completed the necessary paperwork in order to initiate a file, are eligible for services through our office. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of

1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act mandates institutions to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations based on disability and individual need. Eligibility for services must be determined prior to providing accommodations to an individual.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are driven by information concerning the functional impact of impairment rather than the label or diagnostic category. Each person is evaluated individually, and accommodations are granted on a case-by-case basis. Disability services are free to the student. Under Section 504 and ADA, a person with a disability is one who has:

  • A physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more of the individual’s major life activities (walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, learning…etc.).
  • A record of such an impairment, or
  • Is regarded as having such an impairment