The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are both meant to protect individuals with disabilities, but they do so in different ways. ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, while Section 504 is a federal law that requires recipients of federal funding to provide equal opportunity for people with disabilities. In this post, we will explore the differences between ADA and Section 504 and how they can benefit people with disabilities.
What is ADA?
ADA is an acronym for the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is a civil rights law that was passed in 1990 with the intention of providing persons with disabilities equal opportunity in all aspects of life. ADA protects disabled persons from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.
The ADA also establishes requirements for making buildings and facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. ADA is enforced by three government agencies: the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Transportation. ADA has been widely successful in improving access to employment, education, and other opportunities for persons with disabilities.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The law applies to all federally funded programs and activities, including schools. Section 504 ensures that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from education. Under the law, schools must provide accommodations and modifications as necessary to ensure that students with disabilities can participate fully in the educational process.
Section 504 also prohibits the use of ability-based groupings, such as tracking, which can limit students’ opportunities to learn. Section 504 is an important law that helps to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed in school.
Difference between ADA and Section 504
- ADA and Section 504 are two different laws that provide protection for disabled individuals. ADA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and government services. Section 504, on the other hand, is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
- In order to be protected under ADA, an individual must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Under Section 504, an individual must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities OR have a record of such an impairment. As a result, ADA provides broader protection than Section 504.
- However, both ADA and Section 504 are important laws that help to ensure that disabled individuals have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
Conclusion
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are both laws that protect people with disabilities. However, they have different scopes and applications. The ADA applies to employers with fifteen or more employees, while Section 504 applies to any organization receiving federal funding. The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment, while Section 504 requires reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
