High School vs. Postsecondary Services

High School	Postsecondary
LAWS:
IDEA (Individuals w/ Disabilities Education Act)	504 (Section 504, Rehab Act, 1973)
504 (Section 504, Rehab Act, 1973)	ADA (Americans w/ Disabilities Act, 1990)
ADA (Americans w/ Disabilities Act, 1990)
RESPONSIBILITY:
School districts are responsible for identifying, evaluating, and planning educational interventions.	Students are responsible for self-identification and for obtaining disability services.
INTENT
Legal mandate	Civil rights, non-discrimination
Foster success	Equal access
IDEA is to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment to eligible students with disabilities, including special education and related services. 504/ADA are to ensure that no otherwise qualified person with a disability is denied access to, benefits of, or is subjected to discrimination in any program or activity provided by any public institution or entity.	504/ADA ensure that no otherwise qualified person with a disability will be denied access to, the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any public institution or entity.
All infants, children and youth requiring special education services until age 21 or graduation from high school are covered. A list of disabilities is provided in IDEA and includes specific learning disabilities.	All qualified persons with disabilities who meet the entry age level criteria or particular program entry criteria of the college and who can document the existence of a disability as defined by the ADA are covered.
	DISABILITY is defined as “any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; having a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having an impairment.”

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Students must be “otherwise qualified,” which requires meeting established criteria (e.g. admissions, course expectations, graduation).