Which option is considered a reasonable accommodation under Section 504?

• A. Eliminating homework.
• B. Subsidized medical insurance.
• C. Behavioral exemptions.
• D. Accessible elevators.

Answer: (D)

The correct option, which identifies a reasonable accommodation under Section 504, is providing accessible elevators. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates that individuals with disabilities should have equal access to programs and facilities. To ensure this access, reasonable accommodations are necessary, which often involve modifications to the physical environment to enable individuals with disabilities to use those facilities independently and effectively.

Accessible elevators are a prime example of this principle in action. They allow individuals with mobility impairments to access different floors in a building, ensuring that they are not excluded from events, services, or educational opportunities due to physical barriers. This type of accommodation aligns with the fundamental goal of Section 504, which is to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities and provide them with equal opportunities.

In contrast, the other options presented do not meet the same criteria. Eliminating homework may not directly address accessibility or equal opportunity in the same way that physical modifications do. Subsidized medical insurance is a benefit but does not necessarily relate to the accommodation of accessibility in educational or employment settings. Behavioral exemptions may address specific cases but are not universally applicable as reasonable accommodations under Section 504 in the same manner as the provision of accessible facilities like elevators.