Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973Melyssa AndrewsTexas Women's UniversitySection 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973Individuals with disabilities in the United States have the right to receive an unbiased education that is as similar to the education that non-disabled children receive. Some children with disabilities need additional care and specific programming to reach developmental milestones and improve their knowledge. All children must have access to an education tailored to their specific needs and abilities to achieve these milestones. This means that regulation is a necessity to ensure children with disabilities have equal access to education and other services that will help perpetuate continued growth in their quality of life. According to Koster (2010), when students with disabilities are separated from the general school population through “special education classes,” their social interaction with their peers is limited or nonexistent. This has a direct impact on the child's social development and leads to the possibility that these children will not develop age-appropriate social skills, which can lead to a negative self-image (2010). It is important to understand that the inclusion of students with disabilities does not guarantee that they will develop appropriate social skills. This allows opportunity and exposure, which can help children feel smarter and more socially confident. A study led by Ramakrishnarao (2013), the general population of primary school teachers viewed the inclusion of children with disabilities in the education system as a positive aspect of a child's life. There are many reasons why inclusion is so important in the lives of children with disabilities. Equality...... middle of paper ...... with special needs in mainstream primary education in the Netherlands. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 57(1), 59-75. doi:10.1080/10349120903537905.Ramakrishnarao, K. (2013). Attitude of primary school teachers towards inclusive education. Indian Streams Research Journal, 3(4), 1-6. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, USC § 504 (2008). http://section508.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Section504.pdf. Taylor, KR (2011). Inclusion and the law. Education Digest, 76(9), 48-51. Weber, M. C. (2010). A new look at Section 504 and the ADA in special education cases. Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, 16(1), 1-27.Zirkel, PA (2009). What does the law say? Teaching Exceptional Children, 41(4), 68-71.Zirkel, PA (2012). Public Schools' Obligation for Impartial Hearings Under Section 504. Widener Law Journal, 22(1), 135-181.