Many parents of students with disabilities have learned the basics of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, as students and their families prepare for the transition from secondary school to postsecondary options they often find they are less familiar with the protections provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The following Overview of Section 504 was written by David M. Richards, Attorney at Law, to serve as an introduction to the various duties imposed by Section 504 on public elementary and secondary schools.