IEP & 504 Plans for Students with Sickle Cell Disease

Health challenges related to sickle cell disease may impact school performance.  

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973¹ is a Federal law that protects students from disability-based discrimination in any school (ranging from preschool to university/postsecondary education) that receives financial assistance from the federal government.If your student with sickle cell disease is in K-12, then their parent/guardian should contact their student’s school to request a Section 504 Plan for their child/teen. If your student with sickle cell disease is in college or technical school, they should contact their school’s office of student disability/support services to request disease-related accommodations.  

Read more about Section 504 protections for students with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) here.² 

Additionally, students who are eligible for special education services need an individualized education program (IEP)³. While there are many reasons that students could be eligible for an IEP, some common conditions could be cognitive challenges, developmental delays, emotional disorders, autism, physical disabilities, and learning concerns. The purpose of an IEP is to outline the goals and any additional support services that the student needs in order to succeed in school.  

Click here to review comparisons between an IEP versus a 504 plan.⁴