Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

Physical or mental impairments.

Section 504 defines a physical or mental impairment as any

• physiological disorder or condition,

• cosmetic disfigurement, or

• anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine.¹⁰

The Section 504 definition of physical and mental impairment also includes any mental or psychological disorder.¹¹ The definition does not include all specific diseases and conditions that may be physical or mental impairments because of the difficulty of ensuring the completeness of such a list.