Groundbreaking at the time, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on a person’s disability, including ADHD. This law has opened doors for students and adults to receive appropriate accommodations at school and in the workplace, that allow them to thrive. It has helped children become more successful students and has prevented ADHD from impeding their learning. For many adults, it has allowed them to reach their career goals. 

Recent court challenges to Section 504 could mean a weakening of those rights and protections in academic and workplace settings. Depending on the federal court’s final rulings, it could also mean that Section 504 would be eliminated entirely, along with the protections and accommodations children and adults with ADHD currently receive. 

CHADD’s advocacy and public policy committee is following this situation closely and will join with other organizations in encouraging the courts to affirm and continue to support Section 504. 

Seventeen states are included in the lawsuit: Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.  Send a message to your Attorney General to denounce the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit regardless of your state of residence.