What Families should know about Section 504 in College
Most families are familiar with Section 504 plans in high school. A student with a disability receives a plan that lists accommodations, and the school is responsible for making sure those accommodations are provided.
In college, Section 504 still applies. But how it works is different, and many families do not realize that until a problem comes up.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits disability discrimination by institutions that receive federal funding. That includes nearly every college and university in the country. The law requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations so that students with disabilities can participate in their programs.
But Section 504 in higher education does not work the same way it does in K-12.
The High School 504 Plan Does Not Carry Over
In high school, a 504 plan is developed by the school with parent involvement. The school identifies accommodations and is responsible for implementing them. Teachers are notified. The plan follows the student from year to year.
In college, there is no automatic 504 plan. The student must contact the disability services office, provide documentation, and request accommodations. The college evaluates the request under its own process and determines what accommodations are reasonable in the college setting.
A student who had extended time on tests in high school may receive extended time in college, but it is not guaranteed simply because it was provided before. The college makes its own determination.
What Section 504 Actually Requires from Colleges
Section 504 requires colleges to provide reasonable accommodations that give students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in their programs. It does not require schools to lower academic standards or fundamentally alter their programs.
Common accommodations in college include extended time on exams, reduced-distraction testing environments, note-taking assistance, flexibility in attendance policies where appropriate, accessible housing, and use of assistive technology.
The specific accommodations depend on the student's documented disability and how it affects their ability to participate in the academic program.
When Section 504 Problems Come Up
Accommodation disputes in college can take several forms. A student may be told that a requested accommodation is not reasonable. A professor may not follow the accommodations that have been approved. A student may be denied accommodations because the documentation was considered insufficient. A student with a new diagnosis or injury may not know how to begin the process.
In some cases, the issue goes beyond accommodations. A student may face a situation that looks like disability discrimination, such as being treated differently because of a disability, being excluded from a program, or being subjected to a disciplinary process that does not account for a documented disability.
These situations can involve Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or both.
The Grievance Process
Colleges that receive federal funding are required to have a grievance procedure for disability discrimination complaints under Section 504. If a student believes the school has violated their rights, they can file a grievance through the institution's internal process.
Students can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. OCR investigates complaints of disability discrimination against educational institutions.
Understanding both options, and the timelines involved, matters. Internal grievance deadlines and OCR filing deadlines can affect what remedies are available.
Why This Matters for Families
Families who understood the 504 system in high school sometimes assume they understand how disability rights work in college. The shift catches people off guard because the legal framework is similar but the practical experience is different.
Students are responsible for initiating the process. Documentation requirements may be different. The school's obligations are framed around reasonable accommodations, not the broader support structure that existed in K-12. And when something goes wrong, the path to resolving it is not always obvious.
Understanding how Section 504 applies in higher education helps families recognize when an accommodation issue is a routine process question and when it may involve a legal right that is not being met.
