Curb Cuts Section 504

When it comes to curb cuts section 504 of the rehabilitation act is the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities act and Detectable warnings at curb ramps.

Q. What is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act?
A. Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act

“No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 706(8) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service....” —29 U.S.C. § 794(a) (19 73).

Section 504 is a civil rights act which protects the civil rights of persons with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by the federal government, federal contractors, and by recipients of federal financial assistance. Organizations that receive federal funds are required to make their Programs accessible to individuals with disabilities. Although its protections are limited in that they only apply to Programs or businesses that receive federal funds, it was an important model for the ADA. Title II of the ADA applies the same requirements to state and local government entities. The biggest difference is that Section 504 applies to federally funded Programs and that the ADA applies to state and local government funded Programs (Title II). Between the two laws, all government funded Programs are covered. Of course, there are many programs, such as school districts which receive federal, state and local funds, and are therefore are covered by both laws at the same time.