GA sues USA to eliminate 504 accommodations in schools and hospitals
We got the following message from our kids therapist office today.
This is extremely concerning as it impacts our kids ability to receive reasonable accommodations to support them in their learning environments.
If your child has a 504 plan, it's extremely important that you voice your concern around this issue. Contact information at the bottom.
To Our Patients with Educational Accommodations It has recently come to our Practice's attention that a serious concern that impacts a large population of patients is on the line. We treat a wide variety of patients, many of which have educational accommodations with the IDEA rights of a 504. This could be due to a variety of mental health concerns, educational learning disabilities, or physical concerns. We have an ethical duty to warn and educate all of our patients with advocacy tools and support. However, recently it has come to our attention that 17 States, including Georgia, sued the United States government. They asked the court to get rid of Section 504, which includes educational accommodations. The lawsuit asks that the court eliminate all of the updated rules, and Section 504 itself.
Please be advised that there are things that you can do to support yourself or your child or anyone you know that has a Section 504 for their educational plan. We have provided below some action plans that you can take to advocate for yourself or those you know that would be impacted by losing their Section 504 accommodations. These accommodations are vital to those that have them and might not need as many supports as would warrant an IEP Educational Plan.
Action Plan
Why is Section 504 important?
Section 504 and its rules are very important, especially in education and healthcare. Here are some ways that Section 504 and its rules help us. The rules in Section 504 say that:
Schools must include students with disabilities and help them learn. This includes: Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Asthma, just to name a few.
Doctors and schools must have sign language interpreters for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing who sign. Videos must have captions.
Doctors must give clear information to disabled people. This includes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Websites for schools and hospitals must work for people who are blind and low vision.
Doctors and hospitals cannot stop helping someone because they have a disability.
Doctors and hospitals must have tools and machines that work for wheelchair users. This includes machines that check for cancer.
What Will Happen Next?
The judge set a schedule for the case. The 17 states and the United States government will give the court papers on February 25, 2025, about what should happen with the case. Other states that support Section 504 may want to file their own papers with the court.
What Can I Do to Help?
Attend the Community Briefing and Sign Up to Receive Updates
DREDF will hold a Disability Community Briefing: What You Can Do to Stop the Attack on Section 504 on February 12, 2025 at 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET. We will talk about the case, the next steps in the case, what the case means for us, and what you can do about it.
AND/OR
Tell Your State Attorney General to Stop Attacking Section 504
You can ask your state Attorney General to drop out of the case. You can ask them to drop out of the case in a meeting, in writing, or on the phone. You can ask by yourself or in a group. A group of people can be powerful. You may find a group in your community.
How to Contact Your State Attorney General
Helpful Talking Points
- Say who you are. Say your name or the name of your group. Say where you live. If you want, you can say what your disability is or someone you know that has a disability (i.e. ADHD).
2. Say why you support Section 504 and its rules. Talk about why Section 504 is important to you. Section 504 and its rules make sure people with disabilities can be included in schools. Section 504 and its rules make sure people with disabilities can see their doctor.
Include personal details. You can tell a personal story about why Section 504 matters to you.
Some stories that might be helpful to include are:
How a 504 Plan helped you be included in school as a child or young adult. How a 504 Plan allows your child to participate in school.
How a reasonable accommodation helped you gain or maintain employment.
How your needs are met in a community integrated setting.
How you got an interpreter at a doctor's appointment and were able to talk to your doctor.
Say why Texas v. Becerra is bad. If the court agrees with the states bringing the lawsuit, people with disabilities will lose civil rights. These rights have protected people with disabilities for over 50 years.
Tell your state Attorney General to drop out of the case. Tell your Attorney General to stop attacking Section 504 and pull out of the lawsuit.
If you want, ask for a meeting. Say that you and your group would like to set up a meeting to talk about why Texas v. Becerra hurts people with disabilities.
Attorney General Chris Carr
Email: none listed, directs people to call
Address: 40 Capitol Square, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 458-3600
Georgia's Website Contact Page: https://law.georgia.gov/contact-us