Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, PL 101-336) is a civil rights law that was signed by President George Bush in July of 1990. It is a comprehensive piece of legislation that promotes the right of people with disabilities. It is similar to, yet more extensive than 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which prevents discrimination against persons with disabilities by organizations that receive federal funds. 

Federal law (ADA and Section 504) requires that adult education and literacy programs adhere to the following policies to ensure compliance:

  1. Ensure that all program services are accessible and barrier - free in accordance.
  2. Access to program enrollment and orientation will be in accordance with the ADA.
  3. All adult education and literacy programs are legally responsible for five specific administrative requirements in the ADA and are:
    • Each program must have a designated ADA coordinator.
    • Each program must provide public notice.
    • Each program must have an established ADA grievance policy. Procedure in this policy should include how, where, and with whom a grievance can be filed, a reasonable time period for filing, reviewing and ruling a grievance, an appeals process, and how each step in the grievance process will be documented. If the program is part of a larger agency, know the components of that agency’s grievance policy, especially if that agency requires all divisions under its purview to follow them.
    • Each program must conduct a self-evaluation.