Urgent action is needed to encourage the US Department of Education to release updated rules on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which provides educational accommodations for children who have ADHD. The process for this release has currently slowed due to a complication at the US Department of Justice, and time is running out.

CHADD’s public policy committee wants the White House and the Department of Justice to take action now so that the Department of Education can move forward and issue the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which outlines the department’s plan to achieve updated rules on Section 504. These updated rules will help to protect students with disabilities and remove barriers to their education.

Please copy and paste the message BELOW into a new email to each of the following email addresses:

White House: DPCscheduling@who.eop.gov
Department of Education, OCR: ocr@ed.gov
Department of Justice: Ask.CRT@usdoj.gov

Section 504 Direct message template:

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a member of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). I am writing to urgently demand the immediate release of a Department of Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The current regulations, which have remained unchanged for nearly 50 years, have created significant gaps in access to reasonable accommodations in both K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. Failure to update these regulations will perpetuate devastating impacts on students with disabilities.

These updates are absolutely critical to our community. Students with ADHD, in particular, face a heightened risk of school failure. Studies have consistently shown that youth with ADHD exhibit substantially lower standardized achievement scores and school grades, as well as higher rates of grade retention and school dropout compared to their peers. Therefore, students with ADHD are in dire need of reasonable accommodations and teachers who are equipped with the necessary knowledge to support them effectively.

As a member of CHADD, I am deeply appreciative of the US Department of Education for issuing the 2016 Dear Colleague Letter and Resource Guide on Students with ADHD (the DCL) in response to CHADD’s request and evidence-based information. However, while this guidance was a significant step forward, it is not sufficient. Updated 504 regulations are essential to ensure that consistent methods for Section 504 implementation are readily accessible and clear to educators of students with ADHD and their families.

I implore you to recognize the urgency of this matter and take immediate action to prioritize the release of the Department of Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Section 504. By doing so, we can ensure that all students, regardless of their disabilities, have equal access to education and the necessary support to thrive academically.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I urge you to stand with us in advocating for the rights and needs of students with disabilities.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Address and/or State]
[Your Email Address]