Get schooled on 504 plans: How to protect your child's right to a fair and equal education.

Q What is a 504 plan? Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. A 504 plan, then, is a legal document designed to ensure that students with a disability such as diabetes can manage their condition at school and receive the same education as other kids. The plan, which applies to all public schools and any private schools that receive federal funds, uses diabetes management goals developed by a student’s health care provider to spell out for the school exactly how the child’s diabetes should be managed during the day.