1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

The effort to overturn Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 threatens to strip away crucial protections for students with disabilities across the nation. This law safeguards the civil rights of individuals with disabilities, ensuring they cannot be discriminated against or denied access to programs and activities that receive federal funding, including public education. Section 504 has been vital in securing accommodations and support services for students with a wide range of needs, from physical impairments to mental health conditions like ADHD and depression. Revoking these protections would represent a severe regression in the fight for equal educational opportunities for all students. This legal challenge not only jeopardizes the rights of students but could also lead to broader rollbacks of disability rights protections across various sectors that rely on federal funding. We cannot afford to move backwards on this fundamental issue of civil rights and inclusion. Preserving Section 504 is essential to upholding the values of equity and access that our education system should embody. I urge you to consider the far-reaching consequences of undermining these vital safeguards and to take a firm stand in defense of the rights of students with disabilities.