--- title: What conditions qualify for a 504 plan? description: "What conditions or legal disabilities qualify for a 504 plan? Unlike for IEPs, there is no list of specific conditions that are eligible for a 504 plan. Learn more.\n" slug: what-conditions-qualify-for-a-504-plan author: Andrew M.I. Lee, JD published: '2021-09-08T18:58:47.535Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/69pjg2YXwZ4uOXWjxU2L54/61d3a90c9741e64a778c3320f241e2f2/G1387739693.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-conditions-qualify-for-a-504-plan lang: en --- # What conditions qualify for a 504 plan? **Q. Someone at our school told me there are specific conditions that qualify a child for an IEP. But I’m wondering about a 504 plan. What is the list of conditions or legal disabilities that qualify a child for a 504 plan?** **A. **This is a bit of a trick question. Unlike for an IEP, there is *no *list of specific conditions or disabilities that qualify a child for a [504 plan](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-504-plan). I know that sounds odd. But it’s because eligibility for a 504 plan is very broad. It would be nearly impossible to create a list because there would be too many conditions. What we can do is look at examples of conditions that qualify for a 504 plan. To get a 504 plan, a student must have a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.” That’s a mouthful. It’s from Section 504, the law that covers 504 plans. The important thing to know is that many different conditions can be impairments. And most things people do each day — from eating and sleeping to learning and thinking — are major life activities. That’s why learning and thinking differences often qualify for a 504 plan. For example, ADHD can be an impairment under the law. It impacts activities like thinking and paying attention. Likewise, dyslexia can be an impairment that impacts reading. Beyond learning differences, many other conditions also qualify. In a typical school, there will be 504 plans for anxiety, food allergies, vision problems, illnesses, and more.  There’s one last thing to keep in mind. Depending on the impact of their condition, a student might qualify for a 504 plan, an IEP, or neither. For example, if a student has very mild ADHD, it might not impact their life in a way that’s a legal disability. So, they don’t qualify for any plan. Or the ADHD could create so many challenges that the student is eligible for an IEP. If you found this helpful, you might want to read about: - [ADHD and IEPs](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/are-kids-with-adhd-covered-under-idea) - [How a 504 plan might cover anxiety](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/can-you-get-a-504-plan-for-anxiety) --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [What is a 504 plan?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-504-plan) - Learn what’s in a 504 plan and how kids qualify for this common kind of school support. Watch an explainer video and see a sample 504 plan for a child with ADHD. - [Are evaluations for IEPs and 504 plans different?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/are-evaluations-for-ieps-and-504-plans-different) - Q. My fifth grader is having trouble following directions and finishing his work, especially in math. The teacher mentioned having him evaluated for either an IEP or a 504 plan. Are the evaluations different for IEPs and 504 plans? A. Technically speaking, yes. The evaluations are different because - [504 plans: A guide for teachers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/504-plans-a-guide-for-teachers) - As a general education teacher,you likely have several students in your class who learn and think differently. Some of them may have 504 plans, which means youre responsible for implementing accommodations and other supports for these students. So what exactly is a 504 plan? And what do you need to --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-conditions-qualify-for-a-504-plan#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-conditions-qualify-for-a-504-plan","description":"What conditions or legal disabilities qualify for a 504 plan? Unlike for IEPs, there is no list of specific conditions that are eligible for a 504 plan. 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