Shaping education for students with disabilities: A once in a 30 year opportunity

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) was the first law to mandate the civil rights of students with disabilities, enabling them to participate in school and to benefit from that participation. When it comes to education for students with a disability, most people think about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Since its passage in 1975, the IDEA has helped millions of students with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education (FAPE).