Final answer:
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 indeed defines the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in and have access to program benefits and services, promoting accessibility and non-discrimination in federally funded programs.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 defines rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in and have access to program benefits and services. This act played a critical role in providing equal opportunity for employment within federal government programs for both physically and mentally disabled individuals and established that federally funded programs could not discriminate on the basis of disability. Section 504 was instrumental in promoting the right to accessibility and non-discrimination in federal programs and services. Furthermore, the Rehabilitation Act paved the way for subsequent legislation, specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which expanded protections to include non-discrimination in the private sector and required reasonable accommodations in various settings, including employment and public services.