Contact Us

Office of Special Education P. O. Box 609 424 Martin Luther King Drive Purvis, MS 39475

Phone: 601-794-8121 Fax: 601-794-2005

Section 504

SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. The law states that no student with disabilities shall, solely by reason of a disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in Section 705(20) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service. 29 U.S.C. Section 794.

Lamar County School District Section 504 Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Lamar County School District will not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities to the extent provided by law.

The following person has been designated as the Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator and will handle inquires regarding the Lamar County School District's nondiscrimination policies, the filing of grievances, and request for copies of grievance procedures covering discrimination on the basis of disability.

Coordinator of Section 504/ADA Mrs. Josette Sirmon Jefferson Todd Educational Center 424 Martin Luther King Drive Purvis, MS 39475 Phone: 601-794-8121 Fax: 601-794-2005

Child Find

What is Child Find?

The Lamar County School District is participating in an ongoing state wide effort to identify, locate and evaluate children birth through twenty-one who have a physical, mental, communicative and/or emotional disability.

Who may be referred?

All children (ages 0-21) who are suspected of having a disability and are residents of Lamar County School District.

What happens after a referral is made?

District personnel, agency personnel and parents/guardians will review data that has been collected to determine the need to pursue a special education eligibility. If the individual is determined to be in need of special education and eligible for services, parents will be contacted to provide written consent for inception of these services. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be developed to outline the specific needs of the individual.

Disability Categories The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA 2004) recognizes thirteen separate disability categories:

Autism Deaf-Blind Developmental Delay Emotional Disability Hearing Impairment Language/Speech Intellectual Disability Multiple Disability Orthopedic Impairment Other Health Impairment Specific Learning Disability Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Impairment

If you suspect your child may have a disability, please contact your child's school or Mrs. Suzanne Walters at 601-794-8121.