Need Accommodations in School? SIX Reasons You Might Be Told “NO” –  And What You Need to Know

Parents, have you ever wondered what Section 504 means for your child? It’s a federal law that protects students with disabilities and ensures they have the same opportunities as other students.

To qualify for Section 504, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. For example, it’s harder for them to learn, focus, concentrate, breathe, etc.

Disabilities such as:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• diabetes

• asthma

• allergies

• seizures

• anxiety

and other disabilities not listed here can qualify a student and make them eligible for Section 504 accommodations.

But schools sometimes say "NO" to providing services — even when they shouldn’t. Let’s explain why schools might say “NO” and what you can do about it.

1. “Your child is doing fine in school, so they don’t need additional help.”

Good grades doesn’t mean your child doesn’t need accommodations. If a disability makes everyday school life harder — like focusing, managing emotions, or physical needs — your child may still qualify for support. Schools must look at other factors, not only grades for example:

• Teacher observations

• Test results

• Medical information

• Parent input

2. "We don't do 504 Plans here."

Section 504 is a federal law that all public schools in the U.S. must follow. A Section 504 Team at the school determines eligibility, and accommodations are then written and provided if needed. If your child has a disability and needs help, the school is required to evaluate and provide accommodations if they qualify.

3. "If we provide accommodations, more parents will ask for them."

Every child deserves support if they qualify. Schools must evaluate each request individually — and the number of parents asking should never stop them from doing the right thing.

4. "There's no money in the budget for accommodations."

Budget problems can’t be used as a reason to deny services. Schools have to find a way, even if it means training current staff or adjusting resources.

For example, a school might claim they can't afford a nurse to monitor a student with diabetes. In such cases, the school must train other personnel to monitor diabetic students to meet their needs.

5. "We don't have the staff to provide accommodations."

Suppose a Section 504 Team determines that accommodations are necessary. In that case, the school must find a way to provide them—even if it means training existing staff or reallocating resources to find appropriate staff.

6. "Your child has a Health Care Plan – that’s enough."

A Health Care Plan helps manage medical needs, but it’s different from a 504 Plan. If your child needs classroom accommodations due to their disability—like extra time on tests or breaks for medical care—they would have both plans.

An example would be a student who has seizures. They would have an Individual Health Care Plan to address their medical needs and a Section 504 Accommodation Plan for the accommodations.

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