About the 504 Project
Our Mission
At the 504 Project, our mission is to break barriers and to challenge and change policies and practices which limit or deny services or infringe upon students’ rights to a free and appropriate education.
Why Project 504?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794 (Section 504) is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Section 504 provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . 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 . . "
How the 504 Project was founded?
There are federal laws and state/local district practices which impede meaningful participation in the IEP process for guardians and families. These practices can include a failure to explain the eligibility and/or IEP process, timelines and regulatory requirements, or even denying assessments.
Families are handed an extensive document of “rights” and expected to read and understand the complexities. A lack of consideration that some parents themselves may have disabilities, are English as a second language learners, need interpreters or materials translated, or simply have an elementary education/reading level or understanding, can lead to miscommunication and adverse outcomes for students.
Our Story
Our Founding
For almost 20 years, Shannon Secrest, the Founder & CEO of the 504 Project, has worked in the disability community. Her son has multiple diagnoses of intellectual delay, autism, deafness, and severe behavioral health issues. Her daughter is twice exceptional, and has been diagnosed with severe anxiety and trichotillomania. She has suicidal ideations which began in the 2nd grade (*shared with permission).
Shannon's road to advocacy began at the local school level for her own son when he was just 3 years old. She was continuously told she didn’t understand per pupil spending or school finance when challenging her son's IEP and educational needs. Her first stab at hands-on advocacy was becoming the Chair of her local Special Education Advisory Council in an attempt to change how school districts saw and engaged families.
Throughout the years, she was repeatedly told she simply didn’t understand policy, legislation, or rules whenever she asked questions or didn’t agree with processes. She later shifted into health policy when she experienced the same biases when dealing with Medicaid, long term care, case management, and community centered boards.
She decided to return to school and received a Bachelor of Science in Corporate and Business Communication in 2015 and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy in 2021.
Shannon is an avid mentor, trainer, advocate, and activist. Having been diagnosed with ADHD (combined type) in 2024 ,the work is not only personal, but compels her to ensure the system is equitable and accessible to and by all Coloradans. She believes all individuals, within their capacity, should be involved and helping to create and implement the policies and practices in which they rely upon for daily living. No one should be excluded because they don’t understand, or treated as though they don't!
Our Growth
Over the years, the 504 Project concept has grown from a small idea as continued frustration and disappointment with the system coming to fruition. Year after year and working with family after family codified the need for a permanent solution.
Like climbing a mountain, growing requires perseverance, hard work, and a clear vision of the path ahead.
Our Future
At the 504 Project, we measure our success by the impact we have on the lives of those we serve. We expect to have a positive impact in our community and beyond.