Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities. Section 504 provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . ."
For the purposes of eligibility for a 504 plan a person with a disability is one who:

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
2. has a record of such impairment
3. is regarded as having such impairment

Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504