Section 504 safeguards apply to which of the following?

• A. Only students in public schools
• B. Individuals with disabilities in all life areas covered by the law
• C. Only postsecondary students
• D. Only students with a 504 plan

Answer: (B)

Section 504 safeguards are civil rights protections that cover individuals with disabilities across all life areas the law touches, not just in education. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 bars disability-based discrimination in any program or activity that receives federal funds, which means things like public schools, colleges, workplaces, housing programs, and health care facilities all fall under its scope. In education, a 504 plan is one way a school provides accommodations, but the safeguards themselves extend beyond the classroom to ensure equal access and non-discrimination in daily life and other settings as well.