FTCE Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 Practice Test

In addition to mental impairments, what other conditions can qualify for protection under Section 504?

1. Only chronic health conditions

2. Only learning disabilities

3. Physical impairments

4. Only conditions diagnosed over a year ago

The correct answer is: Physical impairments

Your choice of physical impairments as the correct answer reflects a comprehensive understanding of Section 504. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination in programs receiving federal funding. This includes not only those with mental impairments but also individuals with physical impairments. Physical impairments encompass a wide range of conditions that can significantly limit one or more major life activities, such as mobility restrictions, sensory impairments, or any condition affecting physical functioning. Therefore, this aligns with the protective scope of Section 504, which aims to ensure that all individuals with disabilities have equal access and opportunity. While chronic health conditions and learning disabilities are indeed relevant to Section 504's protections, physical impairments are explicitly included in the definitions of disabilities under this law, making your answer particularly apt. Conditions that are time-sensitive, such as those diagnosed only over a year ago, do not capture the essence of what qualifies under Section 504, as the law focuses on current functional limitations rather than the duration of a diagnosis.