504 Solutions

Services

Accessibility

A hallmark of compliance with disability laws in education is ensuring schools provide accessible
education programs, services and facilities to individuals with disabilities. Section 504 Solutions assists in
the review of physical facilities for accessibility as well as electronic/website access for individuals with
disabilities.

Civil Rights Data Collection and Compliance

Accurate data collection is critical to demonstrating compliance with disability laws. The Civil
Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is the largest national data collection conducted by the U.S. Department
of Education and all public schools are required to participate. Inaccurate data gathering, poor data
collection practices, lack of solid policies related to data can have a variety of negative impacts on
schools. Section 504 Solutions provides training, policy reviews and direct guidance on CRDC compliance
and reporting.

Policies & Procedures

A school’s response to accusations of disability discrimination begins with strong, well-worded
policies and procedures. Section 504 Solutions drafts the full spectrum of policies and procedures and
conducts reviews of procedural safeguards, policies, procedures, internal and external manuals and
grievance procedures related to disability laws in schools at clients’ request.

Non-Discrimination

Section 504 Solutions provides training and response assistance to complaints of discrimination
on the basis of disability. Disability discrimination can include denial of a FAPE, failure to evaluate or
identify a student with a disability, different treatment, unlawful restraint and/or seclusion, hostile
environment and retaliation.

About Us

Section 504 Solutions is your go-to support system for training and guidance on compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and serving students with disabilities.

Betsey Helfrich and Anne Bradley have practiced in the unique field of education law with a focus on special education and civil rights compliance since 2006. Betsey and Anne formed Section 504 Solutions to combine their respective expertise and help school districts in their efforts to comply with and implement Section 504.

Since 2006, Betsey has provided general counsel, litigation services and due process representation to school districts. She is a nationally recognized expert and a highly sought-after speaker on the topic. Betsey is a published author on the topic of educating students with disabilities.

Anne spent over 12 years as an attorney for the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) attorney, rising from investigative attorney to a supervisory attorney. Anne processed and investigated hundreds of civil rights complaints at OCR and conducted trainings on legal obligations of Section 504 and other civil rights statutes enforced by the Department.

Betsey and Anne’s combined expertise, together with their 20-year friendship, make them a dynamic and engaging speaking duo. Section 504 Solutions is here to guide your district and staff through Section 504 and answer all your disability-law related questions.

We conduct in-person and virtual seminars, workshops, in-services and training sessions. We train the full spectrum of audience members and tailor our training to meet your needs. We also draft, update and review disability-related policies, procedures and manuals and grievance procedures. Section 504 Solutions can also assist in questions related to the Civil Rights Data Collection.

About Anne

Anne Bradley is a founding partner of Section 504 Solutions, L.L.C. Anne is an attorney specializing in education law, with a focus on civil rights and disability law. She provides training in matters involving special education, students with disabilities and civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment on the basis of disability, race, color, national origin, age and sex.

Anne spent over a decade as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). She started her career at the Department of Education as an investigative attorney, processing and investigating complaints alleging civil rights violations by schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary graduate programs, medical schools and law schools. Her work enforcing federal civil rights laws spanned the states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and more recently, Arkansas. After ten years as a successful investigative attorney, Anne was promoted by the Department to a senior attorney with subject matter expertise. In this capacity, Anne conducted complex compliance reviews and provided training to school districts and other groups on civil rights compliance. Anne was then promoted to supervisory attorney, a position in which she oversaw a team of Department attorneys and their investigative work. In addition, to disability law, Anne’s expertise includes the use of statistical information in the enforcement of civil rights laws, student discipline and sexual violence on school campus.

Upon leaving the Department of Education in December 2020, Anne has provided training and guidance to clients in disability law and civil rights compliance. Most recently, in April 2021, Anne gave the closing address to the Tyler Technology International Conference on The Intersection Between Data and Civil Rights Compliance in Schools.

Anne graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2006 and the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2003.

About Betsey

Betsey A. Helfrich is a founding partner of Section 504 Solutions, LLC. Betsey is an attorney specializing in education law, with a focus on special education law. She has represented school district clients against a variety of state and federal courts as well as in special education due process hearings and appeals, including the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Betsey provides general counsel to schools and conducts local and national trainings regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all areas of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Betsey frequently guides clients in emerging issues in the education law community. She is a national presenter and published author on the topic of virtual instruction and the impact on special education students. In 2020, her book Virtual Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Meeting IDEA and Section 504, was published by LRP Publications. In 2020, Betsey conducted a webinar regarding Virtual Instruction During the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Legal Aspects for Special Education Students to guide schools and other school attorneys during unprecedented times. Betsey presented on this topic at LRP’s Annual Special Education School Attorneys Conference in 2020 and 2021 and spoke at the 40^th Annual National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities regarding the Legal Aspects of Blended Virtual Instruction in May 2019. In spring 2019, Betsey gave the keynote address at the Transporting Students with Disabilities Conference in Frisco, Texas. Betsey was invited to present at LRP’s 38^th & 39^th Annual National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities. Betsey is also a frequent presenter for the National Business Institute. In 2012, Betsey was invited to speak at the National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys seminar in Santa Fe, New Mexico, regarding the Children’s Internet Protection Act. In 2013, Betsey presented at ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education Conference held in San Antonio, Texas. In 2015, Betsey was invited to present at the National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys seminar, held in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2016, Betsey spoke at the National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys seminar in Portland, Oregon, regarding student mental health and student suicide. Betsey also served on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s workgroup regarding youth suicide prevention and awareness.

In July 2014, Betsey was honored by Missouri Lawyers’ Weekly as a recipient of the Up & Coming Award. This award recognized Missouri attorneys age 40 and younger who demonstrate professional accomplishment, skill and leadership and demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to the community through their volunteer service and leadership.

Betsey graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2006 and in the same year was selected as the Tierra Farrow Outstanding Woman Law Student.

From 2015- 2020, Betsey has been recognized as a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Trainings

Section 504 Solutions conducts in-person and remote trainings each month as well as customized training for every type of staff member with personalized tips for best practices and content tailored to the needs of attendees. Frequently check our website to learn more about upcoming trainings or to request one for your group.