Which law prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs receiving federal funds?

• A. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)
• B. Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
• C. Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975)
• D. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004)

Answer: (C)

Discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal funds is prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This provision applies to any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance, including most public schools. It requires those programs to be accessible and to provide reasonable accommodations so individuals with disabilities can participate and benefit equally.

In the education setting, this means districts must ensure access to services and facilities for students with disabilities, even if they don’t qualify for special education under other laws. Examples include making buildings accessible, providing seating accommodations, or supplying assistive technology, so students can participate in classes and activities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act broadens protections to employment, public accommodations, and other areas, but the specific requirement about nondiscrimination in programs that receive federal funds comes from Section 504. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, later renamed IDEA, focuses on ensuring a free appropriate public education for eligible students and the provision of special education services, not the general nondiscrimination guarantee across all federally funded programs.