Colleges and universities have an obligation to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II). Section 504 prohibits
disability discrimination by schools receiving federal financial assistance. Title II prohibits disability discrimination by public entities, including schools.
Accessible technology may afford students, including students with disabilities, an opportunity to have access to high-quality educational instruction during an extended school closure, especially when continuing education must be provided through distance
learning. Recent guidance from the U.S. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights aims to assist postsecondary institutions with meeting their obligations under federal civil rights laws during the COVID-19 outbreak.