504 Plan Eligibility

DISEASE

IMPAIRS MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITY?

IS 504 ELIGIBILITY AUTOMATIC?

TYPE 1 DIABETES

T1D is an autoimmune disease that impairs the endocrine system - the pancreas no longer produces life-sustaining insulin - and therefore, substantially limits a major life activity.

2008 ADA Amendments Act definition of "major life activities" explicitly includes major bodily functions such as the endocrine system.

YES

Schools are required to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure student:
(1) safety
(2) equal access to education
(3) privacy

TYPE 2 DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes impairs the endocrine system. Even though Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune disease and the pancreas still functions, Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance which limits how the body regulates glucose.

2008 ADA Amendments Act definition of "major life activities" explicitly includes major bodily functions such as the endocrine system.

YES

Schools cannot consider "mitigating measures", such as the effects of medication, diet, exercise to determine 504 Plan eligibility.

ALLERGIES

Allergies can substantially limit major life activities, such as breathing, eating, and the function of major bodily systems (respiratory, gastrointestinal)

Severe allergies can trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that severely impairs breathing and digestion.

NO

Allergy must meet the legal definition of a disability and "substantially limit a major life activity".

Medical documentation to verify diagnosis and extent of limitation may be needed.

A 504 Plan may not be needed if Emergency Action Plan is enough, or if the school has effective allergy management policies.

ASTHMA

Asthma may impair breathing, a major life function.

NO

Not automatic for mild asthma, but a student with chronic or severe asthma is entitled to a 504 Plan.

ATTENTION DEFICITY DISORDER
(ADHD)

ADHD (diagnosed by a medical professional) substantially limits concentration, learning, organization.

NO

To be eligible for a 504 Plan, a student must have a medical diagnosis and the ADHD must impair the student's ability to function in a school setting. Not required if symptoms do not significantly hinder academic performance or ability to function in a school setting.

AUTISM

Autism can substantially impair learning, concentrating, communicating, socializing, all of which are major life activities.

NO

Must prove that the condition impairs school functioning, daily life activities.

Cardiovascular Disease

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), heart muscle diseases, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HDM), or chronic illness from cardiac issues.

The disease substantially impacts a major life activity if the disease impacts daily life (walking, breathing, stamina, fatigue).

NO

Must prove that the condition impairs school functioning, daily life activities.

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CYSTIC FIBROSIS

CF is a disability that substantially limits major life functions (breathing and digestion).

NO

Students with CF are not automatically eligible for a 504 Plan, but are almost always eligible.

Requires a documented physical or mental impairment that show the CF limits one or more major life functions.

Eligibility is individualized, decided by a school 504 team.

DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia substantially limits reading or learning, which are major life activities.

NO

The dyslexia must significantly impact the student's ability to access the curriculum. a formal diagnosis is not enough if the student manages well without accommodations.

Schools evaluate on a case-by-case basis if student's learning is impacted.

EPILEPSY

Epilepsy substantially limits normal neurological function, which is a major body function and therefore a mjor life activity.

Epilepsy can affect individual walking, learning, concentrating, thinking, and communicating, which are also major life activities.

NO

Epilepsy qualifies for a 504 Plan if the epilepsy "substantially limits a major life activity". If the epilepsy meets the legal definition, then the student is eligible for a 504 Plan, even if the seizures are well controlled by medication.

Determined case-by-case. The epilepsy must affect the student's ability to access learning or function in the school setting.

Epilepsy is covered even if episodic, if the episodes limit a major life activity.

KIDNEY DISEASE

Kidney disease often substantially limits learning, attendance, or self-care.

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NO

Most students with kidney disease qualify because the condition often impacts daily life, substantially limits a major life activity, such as learning, eating, or bathroom usage.

Medical documentation verifies the need for accommodations.

MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety Disorder substantially impairs a major life activity, such as learning, concentrating, thinking, or communicating.

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YES

The anxiety does not need to be "sever", but must be more than minor or transitory. A doctor's diagnosis or therapist letter helps but is not needed; evidence of declining grades, frequent absences, or behavioral changes may be enough to determine eligibility.

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MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

NO

OCD must impact the student's ability to function in the school environment.
A medical diagnosis is important, but the school must conduct an evaluation to determine the functional impact of the OCD on the child's education.

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OCD is a mental health condition that can substantially impair a major life activity, such as learning.

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Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder of the nervous system that causes people to have tics, which are sudden, repetitive, and involuntary movements or sounds that cannot easily be controlled.

Tourette Syndrome may substantially impair a major life activity, such as learning, concentrating, or speaking.

Vocal tics (uncontrolled sounds or repeating words) can interrupt speaking, making it difficult to hold conversations.

Motor tics (and co-occurring conditions like dysgraphia) can severely limit the ability to write clearly or maintain the speed required for school.

The mental energy require to suppress tics can lead to exhaustion and loss of focus.

Frequent eye-blinking tics, head jerking, or OCD rituals can make reading a slow and arduous process.

Complex tics or socially inappropriate vocalizations can lead to social stigma, bullying, or isolation.

YES

Tourette Syndrome may substantially impair a major life activity, such as learning, concentrating, or speaking.

The 2008 ADA Amendments make clear that episodic conditions, like TS, are eligible even if they wax and wane, as long as when they are active, they substantially impair a major life activity.