Call to Action - Save Section 504

This page will be updated with additional resources and information as we receive it.  Please check back for more information. 

From the National Council on Independent Living:

In September 2024, 17 states filed a court case against the United States government. The states want to get rid of Section 504. The case is called Texas v. Becerra.

Read the complaint (PDF) here.

What is Section 504 and why is it important for a person with dwarfism?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 isn’t just legal jargon—it’s a lifeline for our community. This law, passed nearly 50 years ago, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities—people with dwarfism included—in any program or activity that receives federal funding. In everyday terms, it means that schools, workplaces, and public services are required to make accommodations so that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can have a fair shot. For people with dwarfism and our families, Section 504 has been a critical tool in making sure that we can participate fully and equally in society.

Section 504 has helped open doors for all of us—ones that might otherwise remain closed if it were to be repealed. It’s the reason why many of us have seen improvements in accessibility at schools and in our workplaces: adaptive equipment, modified classroom or school bathroom setups, public building access, and modified public transportation. 

What could happen if Section 504 is repealed?

Section 504 is the foundation that ensures disabled children, including children with dwarfism, have the accommodations they need to thrive in school through individualized accommodations called 504 Plans and that adults in federally funded workplaces receive the support they need to succeed without fear of discrimination.

If Section 504 is declared unconstitutional, it could have devastating consequences, including:

  • Schools may no longer be required to provide 504 Plans that offer necessary accommodations for students with disabilities.
  • Federally funded workplaces could roll back accessibility measures, fire, refuse to hire, or deny accommodations to employees with disabilities.
  • Public transportation systems could revert to inaccessible conditions that prevent disabled individuals from navigating their communities.
  • Hospitals and healthcare facilities could refuse to provide accommodations such as sign language interpretation and accessible medical equipment.

Most importantly, if Section 504 is declared unconstitutional, it would weaken the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is modeled after Section 504 and if it is ruled unconstitutional, opponents of disability rights could use the ruling as a basis to challenge the ADA and further erode nondiscrimination protections for disabled individuals.

What can I do?

If you live in one of the states listed, we urge you to contact your state’s attorney general:

Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia 

To find out who your state’s attorney general is and their contact information, please visit HERE. Additionally, you can find a template of an email to send to your state’s attorney general HERE. 

Even if you don’t live in one of these states, you can still ask your state’s attorney general to submit an “amicus brief” supporting the importance of Section 504. This would allow them to formally share their interest in the case and advocate for the continued protection of disability rights.

There are members of our community who remember what life was like before the protections of Section 504 or the ADA. They remember when it was legal to exclude, deny access, or refuse to accommodate a disabled person or person with dwarfism. Without legal backing and protections like Section 504, discrimination and refusal of access could creep back into schools, workplaces, and public spaces, creating a society where accessibility and inclusion are optional rather than guaranteed. We have lived this before. We cannot go back.  Take action today.

How can I learn more?

To learn more about what Section 504 and the ADA is, we have provided the following resources:

FAQs on Texas v. Becerra (from DREDF.org) 

Section 504 and Your Rights (PDF)

DREDF.org - Disability Community Briefing Webinar Recording